We’re on the road again – Tralee, here we come!
If this is your car and you haven’t left already … well, you’ll probably miss the game (Pic: Balls.ie)
It’s time to check those tyres and top up that engine oil, Tralee here we come! We’re back on the road again for our first road trip of the 2017 National Football league campaign following the Green & Red. After the disappointing loss against Monaghan last weekend, it’s time to dust ourselves off, pack up the car and get ready to head for Tralee. The last time we played Kerry in their back yard was in the 1st round of the 2015 campaign at Fitzgearld Stadium in Killarney, where we bet Kerry 2-11 to 0-10 in front of 8,123 spectators. The last time we played Kerry in Austin Stacks in Tralee was in the 7th round of the 2012 league campaign. We drew with Kerry that day 1-12 apiece. Can we do better this weekend?
Club ’51 will also be making the trip south to this stunning part of the country (don’t tell them we said that!) and will be aiming to claim a significant proportion of Austin Stack Park for the green and red. Anecdotally, it appears that the Mayo faithful are hitting the road in huge numbers this weekend, so if you’re looking for a place to lay your head, get on it ASAP otherwise you’ll be kipping in the back of the car.
Getting There
It’s a fair trek down to the Kingdom! It’s roughly 273Km from MacHale Park to Austin Stacks Park in Tralee, which takes about 4 hours. We haven’t heard of any supporters buses travelling to the game as of yet apart from the usuals which are fully booked. Most people are making a weekend of it, some even travelling down to Tralee on Friday, so as to be well “refreshed” for the match on Saturday evening!
In typical Irish Mammy style we recommend leaving early (5am should do it) and please be careful on the roads folks, temperatures are set to drop during the weekend and the roads could be icy.
Parking
Please note that there is very limited parking around Austin Stack Park. Please respect the residences & businesses in the surrounding area. Kerry County Council have offered free parking in the Car Park adjacent to The Rose Hotel, Dan Spring Road, which is walking distance of the venue. Sound enough of them.
Tickets
- All patrons traveling to Austin Stack Park Tralee for the event are advised to arrive early as a large crowd is expected. Patrons are asked to obey the instructions of stewards & Gardai.
- Admission is €15 and entry to the stand will be on a first come first served basis.
- Tickets can be bought in advance in selected SuperValu and Centra outlets up til midnight tonight (Friday 10th) at a discount of 20%. Tickets can also be bought at full price on the day at the ticket vans positioned outside the ground.
- Usual Concession for Students and OAPs applies. Under 16s go free!
- Designated Gates will be in operation for Season Ticket holders – bring your card and get it scanned (make sure to keep an eye on the screen to ensure your card scans properly and check that your attendance has been updated after the game.
- Stiles will open at 5pm and additional stiles will be open at both the John Mitchels and Horans end of the Ground.
Club ’51 Meet-Up
In what is now becoming a time-honoured, revered and legendary tradition, Club ’51 will be assembling before the game in a local hostelry to mingle, give out about the weather and unanimously agree that Mayo is just as nice a spot as Kerry, we just don’t need to go on about it all the time.
We’ll be congregating at Paddy Macs Bar at the Mall from early afternoon, as we have it on good authority that it’s a good spot to watch the sports and apparently there are some other games involving balls (odd-shaped ones) happening this weekend too.
For later in the night there are plenty of local hostelries in Tralee to choose from. We hear that Séan Ógs on High Street is a good spot for some traditional Irish music sessions. Baily’s Corner on Castle St is another well known sports bar in Tralee, and both of these are on the way out to the pitch from town. Always looking out for ye, we are.
Bring The Colour – Bring The Noise
It might only be the second game in the League, but it marks the start of an another long road for this team, so let’s row in behind them and just like in Croke Park last September and October, be the 16th man again.
Bring a flag, claim the stand and make them wonder in Kerry if they took a wrong turn and ended up on MacHale Road.
And most of all stand tall and be proud of the green and red – our colours – and all they stand for as we look to the year ahead.
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Travel safe everyone and have fun!!! Maigh Eo Abú!