From British Army barracks to Headquarters of Kildare GAA - The story of Cedral St Conleth's Park

Sunday March 23 and Kildare defeated Meath at St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, to retain their Division 2 status for 2024.
That was the last game played at the Headquarters of Kildare GAA, the bulldozers moved in within 24 hours and the re-development of the stadium got under way immediate.

Fast forward to this Sunday, October 27, 2024 and the stadium is about to be re-opened.

New stand with some 3,000 seats; floodlights in situ; pitch has been re-aligned, lengthened, dressing rooms and all the anciliary facilities top class.

The dream is about to become a reality.

St Conleth's Park was originally part of the British Army Barracks.

In 1928 Kildare Co. Board met the Board Of Works seeking part of the area as a GAA ground; up to that point Kildare played their home games in McGuinness' Field, the grounds of Newbridge College, and at Naas Racecourse.

After negotiations that lasted some three years, a 20-year lease was agreed for a rent of some £20 per month.

In 1931 GAA Secretary Padraig Ó Caoimh officially opened St Conleth's Park after a new agreement had been signed.
Dog racing came along in 1948 on the perimeter of the pitch, and continued, amid much rancour, until 1968.

1984 saw Kildare Co. Council build the new entrance, including turnstiles while they (Co. Council) took charge of the adjoining car park.

St Conleth's Park has seen some great games down the years; it was a venue for many Leinster Club Championships finals along with Leinster Championship games.

But there is little doubt that a game held in 2018 will probably go down as the most famous of them all.

2018 was a tough year for Kildare; relegated from Division 1 of the Allianz Football League and dumped out of the Leinster Championship by Carlow.

And so on to The Qualifiers where Kildare disposed of Derry and Longford before drawing Mayo in Round 3, and being the first out of the 'hat' were entitled to a home venue.

Croke Park, however, did not agree, insisting the game be moved to Croke Park.
And so one almighty row developed, practically overnight.

Cian O'Neill Kildare manager at that time was interviewed on RTÉ flagship news programme (Six One) where he coined the phrase 'Newbridge Or Nowhere.

With the backing of the players — the Co Board had little choice but to support the stance — the entire county of Kildare backed O'Neill and if the truth be know the entire country backed Kildare as the row made headlines on TV, local and national newspapers as The Lilies went toe-to-toe with The Big Wigs, in a real David v Goliath scenario.
Those in authority remained steadfast the game had to be played at Headquarters but manager O'Neill said “Mayo can go to Croke Park but we (Kildare) will be in St Conleth's Park that day.”

And so a stand-off ensued.

Eventually, and after much rancour, many meetings, much mediation and indeed much threatening by the powers that be, Croke Park relented and the game was fixed for St Conleth's Park on Saturday June 30, 2018, a late Saturday throw-in due to the fact that Irish Derby was taking place just up the road at the Curragh the same day.

The game was a ticket-only affair (before ticket only became the norm), and was a sell-out.

The TV cameras were in situ to record the game and on a beautiful sunny day the crowds gathered in Newbridge early on; the atmosphere on the streets was electric.

And to cap it all, Kildare caused a major upset when they defeated Mayo on a score line of 0-21 to 0-19.

The scenes after the game were reminiscent of a team after winning the All-Ireland with the pitch invaded by young, and many not so young, Kildare fans.

Now Kildare players, fans and everyone involved with Gaelic games in the county and indeed further afield, can hold their heads high; at last The Lilies have a home to be proud of.
A 15,000 capacity, fans and player facilities second to none.

Sunday will see the Joe Mallon Motors senior football championship final when Naas will be hoping to make even more history as they are bidding for their fourth senior title in a row against the side they defeated in the finals last season, Celbridge.

The game throws in at 2 pm but prior to that Uachtaráin Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Jarlath Burns will address an invited audience, Chairman of the Co. Board, Mick Gorman will say a few others, and possibly an address from one or two.

And then after a wait of more years, more disappointments and more set-backs that anyone cares to remember St Conleth's Park will be officially opened.

Now to be officially known as Cedral St Conleth's Park.

The dream has finally become a reality!