A thousand miles from here in New York tonight a old coliseum stands between the north and south of cork city . It has been long the great building that has brought the city together a tough rugged marina is the pathway in which it can be entered .It is a beautiful old stadium nothing like what I have seen here in the states .Its beauty is enriched in its stone .On hot days in june and july my skin has burnt from its hot stone .its yellow pathways can be seen from above the skys but never have they devided the fans that have enjoyed great moments there . My early memories of the pairc I was 9 playing street league hurling with the glen .It was county final day I think 1989 , I never forgot the buzz of that day it never leaves you no matter where u go . In 1992 the aul fella threw me over a aul gate to watch cork v limerick milky moos and piss warm cidona but the buzz of the flags on the black rock end and the city end was better than any drug kids take today .my greatest memory of the pairc was clare v tipp and I was steward that day a old neighbour had me minding the gate on the left hand side of the city end the day john leahy from Tipperary blssted a shot at davey fitz of clare who stopped it to earn a draw .So the old stadium tomorrow will host its last hurling game before it is tore down .The stadium has been in my life for 34 years .I always knew when I returned to cork it was always there , after tomorrow that wont be the case . I always wondered what went on in that field at night as cork slept .Did those who once graced its hollowed walls return . Could the studs of boots once worn be heard from the tunnels of this great coliseum , did the ash and ball echoe around the stands .Was christy ring awoke from his resting place to be called for one last game with those great hurling men that had passed to the other side I like to think so . I hope tonight as darkness arrives in cork that christy ring , johnny clifford , bertie og senior , the kid , etc put on the old red jerseys and one last time beneath the old walls play one more time on its hallowed turf .I miss the old place like my youth it is another memory .I have been to old trafford , craven cottage , giants stadium Yankee stadium .But nothing will ever stay in my heart like the place that we cork people call the pairc .I hope those that arrive for the final young and old get there early . To say good bye we never have this place again .soak in the red and white and the green and white , eat the milky moos and piss warm soda and breathe , watch as the castle lyons pipe band parade the teams , enjoy the screams the chants your a part of history , Goodbye old stadium you served us rebells well Slan old friend
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 23:05:30 +0000
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