Derry City to play at home of Derry GAA in 2026

It is envisaged that Derry City will relocate to Celtic Park for a couple of months while a new pitch is laid at the Ryan McBride Brandywell

Derry City considered using Sligo Rovers' Showgrounds as a temporary home but the proximity of Celtic Park was the deciding factor. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Derry City will host some of their League of Ireland games at nearby Celtic Park for a period of next season while a new pitch is laid at their Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

After six years of shipping flak for operating a 4G artificial surface, the club’s billionaire owner Philip O’Doherty opted to fund the installation of a new hybrid grass pitch.

Northern Ireland Championship club Institute groundshares with the Candystripes and their regular season is expected to conclude in April.

It is envisaged that Tiernan Lynch’s side will begin the campaign in their current home, kicking off on the opening weekend of February 6, before relocating temporarily to the home of Derry’s GAA teams for a couple of months during construction works.

The key date for City returning to a completed home ground is mid-July, the dates set by Uefa for their Europa League first qualifying round.

Their prize for being the Irish representative back in Europe’s second competition is bolstered minimum prize-money of €550,000 from enjoying the fallback of entry into the Conference League second round.

Celtic Park has a capacity of 18,500 but City will be glad to reach a third of that maximum during their tenancy.

The addition of the north stand last year increased the Brandywell capacity to 6,239 but their average turnout over an erratic season which concluded with the runners-up spot was 3,408.

Derry used Buncrana in Co Donegal as a short-term solution in 2017 while their venue was being revamped. While they did consider seeking use of Sligo Rovers’ Showgrounds, the proximity of Celtic Park shaded the outcome.

O’Doherty outlined his objective to usurp domineering Shamrock Rovers for supremacy after Derry lifted the 2023 FAI Cup but the disastrous season that followed, failing to make the European places, proved a setback.

Lynch was handed the reins for last year, armed with a lucrative budget, and eventually sculpted his team into the closest rivals of Derry. Their late rally, however, couldn’t prevent the Hoops claiming their fifth title in six seasons with two games left.

Darragh Markey and Rob Slevin have been headhunted from Drogheda United and Galway United respectively over the past week, with further recruits planned.