Kieran Shannon: Páirc Uí Rinn the pioneer for shining lights on footballers and hurlers

UNDER THE LIGHTS: Páirc Uí Rinn in Cork was a pioneer for floodlights. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

With all the furore over what it’s bigger brother down the road could be called going forward, there hasn’t yet been any light shone on the fact that Páirc Uí Rinn over the next month celebrates two significant anniversaries for its pioneering capacity to shine lights on footballers and hurlers.

This Saturday night six matches of the opening round of the National Football League will be played under floodlights, from Tralee and Croke Park in Division One featuring all four of last year’s All Ireland semi-finalists to Thurles and Portlaoise in Division Four where Carlow and Longford constitute the visitors.