Cork’s iconic stadium, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, is to be renamed SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, as part of a new ten-year partnership with the retailer, it was announced today.
The official naming rights will be finalised on Thursday, at a special meeting of delegates to the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
The partnership is part of a broader commercial strategy by Cork GAA, which aims to put the organisation on stable financial footing, to help develop the game at both local and country levels.
Páirc Uí Chaoimh
The GAA grounds first opened in 1904, as Cork Athletic Grounds. It hosted a variety of sports over the years, before it was repurposed as Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 1976.
The grounds, named after Pádraig Ó Caoimh, who fought for Irish independence and served as general secretary of the GAA from 1929 to 1964, underwent an extensive renovation before reopening in 2017.
Previous reports that the stadium was to be called SuperValu Páirc were met with backlash from the public and the family of Ó Caoimh.
SuperValu, which is part of the Musgrave Group, sponsors the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and the Cork Senior Ladies’ Football team. It also supports clubs in every community around the country.
‘New Journey’
On the development, Cork GAA chief executive Kevin O’Donovan said, “We are very excited to embark on a new journey with our partners in SuperValu, a retailer that has community and family at its core.
“We are confident that they will bring these shared values to the future of the home of Cork GAA.”
SuperValu managing director Ian Allen said of the news, “This partnership is a natural fit for SuperValu, which, like the GAA, is at the heart of communities across Ireland.
Allen continued, “SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh is an iconic Cork location with nationwide reach, attracting national audiences to the exciting matches and entertainment on offer.”
Located in Ballintemple, on the banks of the River Lee, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh is the home of Cork GAA.
The Musgrave Group headquarters have been located in Cork since its founding by the Musgrave family, 148 years ago.
