The importance of having Inclusive Experience at Roscommon GAA

Father’s Day and GAA – a combination that tugs at my heartstrings. This year, I found myself on the road again, supporting the mighty Mayo lads in the third round of the Senior All-Ireland Championship. Our neutral venue? The wonderful Dr. Hyde Park, home of Roscommon GAA. With a 3:45 pm throw-in on Sunday, June 16th, it was destined to be a day filled with emotions, memories, and, of course, some thrilling Gaelic football.

Father’s Day has always been special to me, a time to reminisce about the great days out with my dad, traveling across Ireland to cheer on the Green and Red. Although Dad passed away almost 14 years ago, he’s always in my heart, especially on days like this.

This year, my brother, now a dad himself, assembled his merry crew – his two boys and their dear aunt (me!). With tickets, jerseys, and the essential ‘hang’ sandwiches, we set off for the Hyde around midday, arriving in the bustling main square of Roscommon just after 1:30. The town was awash with a sea of blue and navy, and the distinctive Dublin accent made it feel like we were on Clonliffe Road heading to Croker!

The weather was typically Irish – humid with the occasional drop of rain. After a brisk 7-8 minute walk, we arrived at the grounds and were warmly greeted by friendly staff and stewards. They guided us into the main stand, where we had the pleasure of meeting Roscommon GAA secretary Brian Mullins. Brian couldn’t have been more welcoming and showed us the way to the new accessibility viewing deck.

Walking through the tunnel at the back of the stand, I immediately got that thrilling sense of being part of something special. The viewing deck was nothing short of amazing. I had an UNRESTRICTED BIRD’S EYE VIEW of the pitch and could see every play and score perfectly. This is how accessibility should be done, and I hope other County Grounds take note!

Although the renovations at Dr. Hyde Park are still underway, the efforts to ensure accessibility were clear. They even provided an accessible port-a-loo that, while not the cleanest, was a thoughtful touch considering the ongoing construction of new bathroom facilities.

This level of awareness and ease of access needs to be rolled out at all County Grounds, making GAA games more accessible for everyone. The efforts at Roscommon GAA set a fantastic precedent, and I can’t wait to see other grounds follow suit.

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As for the game, it ended in a draw between these two frenemies, both teams continuing their quest for the Sam Maguire in 2024. Dare I dream that Mayo will be finalists once again?

But before all that, hats off to the Rossies for being such wonderful hosts!

#Mayo4Sam2024