On Saturday, 22nd July, an auspicious and historic day for Cumann Lúthchleas Gael (the Gaelic Athletic Association), Bishop Paul and Mrs Susan Colton were the guests of the Cork County Board at the Quarter-Final of the All-Ireland Hurling qualifier between Clare and Tipperary in the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork.  They were also invited to be present again on Sunday 23rd July for the second qualifier between Waterford and Wexford but were unable to attend.  Páirc Uí Chaoimh has been developed at a cost of €80,000,000 and replaces the previous stadium which was opened in 1976.

‘I remember when the previous stadium was opened,’ said Bishop Colton, ‘I was a teenager in Cork in those days.  The excitement was great then and there is the same excitement this week in Cork, as well as throughout the sporting community in general about the new stadium.’

At lunch prior to the first Quarter Final of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship 2017 were (l-r seated) Mrs Susan Colton, Mr Páraic Duffy (Director General of the GAA), and Mr Christy Cooney (President, GAA, 2009-2012), and (l-r standing) Father Seamus Gardiner (GAA), Mr Frank Murphy (Secretary, Cork County Board, GAA), and Bishop Paul Colton.

Before the matches of the day, the Bishop and Mrs Colton were also guests at a lunch in the new stadium.

Bishop Colton said:

Susan and I are thrilled to be guests of the GAA today and to be back at a match in Páirc Uí Chaoimh which we know well from attending matches each year.  The new stadium is simply magnificent and huge congratulations are due to everyone associated with the project.  I sat on the fence for today’s match between Clare and Tipperary.  Susan was less neutral as she has many cousins in Tipperary!

As reported by journalist Eoin English in the Irish Examiner,

It’s taken over €80m, 33,000 tonnes of concrete, 1,500 tonnes of steelwork, some 500 construction workers and about two years — but Ireland’s newest sports stadium has finally been unveiled. And the regenerated 45,000-capacity Páirc Uí Chaoimh GAA stadium in Cork is set to deliver an immediate €25m boost to the local economy this weekend.

Frank Murphy (Secretary, Cork County Board, GAA) welcoming the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton and Mrs Susan Colton to the new Páirc Uí Chaoimh. (Photo: George Hatchell)