Connacht Rugby confirmed earlier today that agreement had been reached with Mayo GAA for the use of Hastings Insurance MacHale Park for the province’s URC clash with Munster on Saturday 29th March. The game – Connacht’s first-ever competitive match in the professional era to be played in Mayo – gets underway that afternoon at 2.30pm.
Tickets for the fixture go on general sale on Monday 13th January, with early access from Friday 10th January for those who register their interest, which can be done here. Tickets are priced very competitively, with €25 for the main stand and €20 for everywhere else. Tickets for young adults and over-65s are €20 (stand) and €15, while tickets for U16s are priced at €5.
Confirmation that the URC game is going ahead at Castlebar means that there’s set to be a very short turnaround between it and our Connacht Championship opener against Sligo at the venue the weekend after. That’ll result in an extremely busy few days for those managing the pitch but the arrangement is obviously one that works for both parties.
The novelty at seeing a competitive rugby fixture being played at the home of Mayo GAA looks set to draw a big crowd to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park for the game. Connacht are currently restricted to a capacity of just 4,000 at The Sportsground as the Dexcon Stadium development works continue so this is an opportunity for them to host a crowd far in excess of that, while at the same time enabling the team to play a home game in a different part of the province. In that sense, the win-win nature of the arrangement confirmed today is even clearer.
Glorydays says:
December 24, 2024 at 2:49 am
Delighted that Connaught will be playing in Castlebar and I hope to go to the match but is anyonr else concerned about the state of the pitch after the game?
Jr says:
December 24, 2024 at 5:06 pm
I see Roscommon played their u21 finals in Bekan.
It could turn to a disaster if weather is bad.
Unfortunately we need the cash.
catcol says:
December 24, 2024 at 5:33 pm
Delighted to see this and hope to attend.
Still, I remember someone remarking a few years ago, that we were more likely to see Manchester United playing in McHale Park than Kilkenny or Galway hurlers. The weaker counties never get to see top class talent play in their neck (s) of the woods.
GlasagusDearg. says:
December 24, 2024 at 11:58 pm
Delighted to see this and hope, as also a rugby fan, to attend this historic event, altho' will possibly be away in Portugal. Great to see Connacht Rugby spreading out thro' the province-and much needed cash for our county board too. Hope to see a full house.
Jr says:
December 25, 2024 at 12:09 am
@. Catcol my late dad a Limerick man proposed 50 years ago that the Railway cup hurling final should be I a football county and the football in in a hurling county.
Ahead of his time, didn't see Limerick win the all Ireland's or his native Doon win their first county final this year
Getting old
Gizmobobs says:
December 25, 2024 at 12:01 pm
League of Ireland be next one you'd imagine. Not quite the money spinner rugby will be, but every little helps.
Blond64 says:
December 28, 2024 at 6:57 pm
Looking forward to the Rugby, not before time. We need the money.
mayomagic says:
December 28, 2024 at 7:29 pm
No big fan of rugby but when money is needed I can understand why this is done. Playing Sligo in the Connacht championship a week later, a heavy surface would be boost to the underdog.