Ground-by-ground Guides - Turner's Cross

Ground: Cork City initially moved to Turner’s Cross in 1986, and it has been the permanent home of the club since 1995 after a short spell away. ‘The Cross’, as it is affectionately known as by fans of the club, is widely recognised to be one of the premier stadia in the League of Ireland, and was the first all-seated and all-covered football stadium in the whole of the country following it’s redevelopment back in 2009. Even now, there is now only one other – the Aviva Stadium.

Perhaps the most iconic stand in the ground is ‘The Shed’, which was initially the only covered terrace, standing behind the goal at the west end of the stadium. It is still the atmospheric hub of the ground, although not as much as back in the days when its patrons stood. The St. Anne’s End is at the opposite end of the ground, behind the other goal, while the diminutive Derrynane and the grand Donie Ford – the main stand, where the majority of fans and the press box is housed – make up the flanks.

Turner’s Cross was first opened in the mid-to late 1800s, and has been renovated twice – first during the 1980s, and most recently in 2009. Cork City moved out there in two separated spells –first in 1986 after two years in Flower Lodge (now Pairc Ui Rinn, the GAA ground), and then in 1995 after a two year stint in Bishopstown, where the City U19 squad still play and the first-team train. While the current capacity of the stadium stands at 7,365, the record attendance stands at 12,000 – against Dundalk in 1991.

How to get there: Turner’s Cross is a suburb located on the outskirts of the city, and is only a very short step away from the city centre. From the South Mall just off Patrick’s Street, you can get the number 206 bus to directly outside Turner’s Cross Church, and then you can travel by foot out the Curragh Road, until you find the stadium right before your eyes.

Ticket prices: Adults are €13, juveniles (13-18) are priced at €8, while senior citizens and children (under 13) are charged €5.

Away Allocation: Visiting supporters to the ground are housed on the extreme left side of the St. Anne’s End, right behind the goal at the west end of the ground. A shop is sometimes available to sell food, although its presence is quite sporadic, and only really appears at a very big game with a large travelling support.

Nearby Time-Killers: Turner’s Cross is located just ten minutes from the city centre, so there really is a lot to do for visiting fans. While there isn’t a whole lot to do in the immediate vicinity of the ground, in the city centre there are a wide variety of shops, restaurants, pubs and public parks. If you really have a lot of time on your hands, then Fota Wildlife Park, just out by Cobh in East Cork, is just a half an hour away by car.

Nearby Pubs: Pubs are one thing you won’t find in short supply when visiting Cork City FC. Either side of the ground there are two pubs, the Horseshoe Inn and , while just down the road is the Mountain and the Evergreen. If you choose to head into town, you will be greeted with an even greater multitude of pubs.

Local Food: On the cuisine front, Cork really does offer a lot. With the city centre being in such close proximity to the stadium, visitors have countless options. If you’re looking for a quick bite right outside or inside the ground however, there’s a huge number of chipper vans at hand, and a SPAR just down the road offers an alternative choice for a snack.

Accommodation: The Rochestown Park Hotel is located just past Douglas on the outskirts of the city, and seems to be the most popular place for visiting fans to spend the night. Many hotels, such as Jury’s Inn and the Gresham Metropole are located in the city centre, which is in very close proximity to the ground.

Parking: Unfortunately, car parking isn’t exactly plentiful around Turner’s Cross. You should really try to get there early and park in one of the nearby estates, but an alternative would be to park in town, in the Merchant’s Quay car park – although this will induce a fairly lengthy walk.

Did you know: Eamon De Valera, the former President of Ireland, once scored a penalty at Turner’s Cross, in a rugby match between Cork Constitution and Rockwell.