Croke Park opts for English turf over the old sod again

The GAA will again import English turf when they re-lay the Croke Park pitch this summer.

Since 2009, GAA HQ’s surface has come from a speciality turf farm in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire and the 1,500 sods will also be sourced from there when the playing surface is replaced in July following Beyoncé’s concert on July 6.

The decision has been taken as the damage caused to the pitch by the stages in front of Hill 16 for the event on top of the two Bruce Springsteen gigs in late May is not recoverable.

GAA stadium and commercial director Peter McKenna said: “At present, there are no Irish suppliers that can provide us with the type of grass composition (60% poa pratensis, 40% perennial ryegrass) and maturity that we require and we will again look for from this farm in Lincolnshire.

“We’d only be delighted to purchase from an Irish supplier. There is an opportunity in that space for somebody to do it in Ireland. The RDS from time to time have looked for the same. It’s a big business and somebody in Ireland could take advantage if they are inclined to diversify.”

The GAA are confident the relaying and knitting process will be complete in time for the Leinster SFC final on July 17.

The pitch was last relaid in 2011 when the top surface was removed ahead of two Take That concerts. The new field was playable in less than a week of the fresh sods going down for that year’s Leinster SFC semi-final double header.

The work wasn’t as extensive as seven years ago when it cost €1.2 million to overhaul the surface after U2 packed out Croke Park on three occasions. At the time, the operation cost €1.2 million.

While the turf may be of foreign soil, more of the 145 metre long by 88m wide playing area is Irish. The sand that forms the base underneath comes from Wexford and measures at a depth of 260 millimetres compared to the 40mm sod.