Should we sacrifice cricket?

irishpacker

Anyone who is involved in an outdoor team sport (rugby, GAA, american football, soccer etc...) in Trinity will no doubt be familiar with the routine of dragging your ass out to Santry on wet, cold and miserable evenings in december to train. And I am sure you have looked in disgust at the horrible state of the rugby pitch on the Trinity Campus. Perhaps you have looked at the area currently consumed by the cricket pitch and even the bowls green in new square and though "Sure it is full of history and tradition of our college, but could these areas not be used for something better? something for the benefit of the majority instead of the minority?"

I put forward a radical idea that the Cricket pitch in Trinity be ripped up, and be replaced by either a proper atheltic track with soccer pitch in the centre, or, put 3 new rugby sized pitches (there is enough room!) in the area. Perhaps one or 2 of them could be all-weather.

I say this because I feel that regardless of the history and tradition of the cricket club in trinty, and I am not attacking cricket by the way in saying this, I think that cricket when compared to all the other sports in trinity is a minority club. There are alot more people involved in Rugby soccer etc... that deserve quality facilities that they are simply not getting at the moment. For the progess and development of our already creaky college ammenities, should we not sacrifice our historic cricket pitch to pave way for better sports facilities for all?

This is a controversial idea I agree, but I don't think it is an idea to be ignored...

godtabh

It doesnt need it.

The main sports can easily go hand in hand with each other.

These being
Hockey,
Rugby,
Soccer,
Cricket.

If the GAA lads could get in it be great as well but I dont think there is room on the cricket pitch and the rugby pitch is in ****. If that was looked after better it could be used.

They all just need to be a bit more flexible.

Gileadi

I think there is a campaign to get gaa goals put up in college park so that it could facilitate gaelic/hurling matches but one of my friends in the club was telling me that DUCAC aren't very keen on it

Marshy

No, "ripping up" the cricket pitch would be sacrilegeous IMO.

Pet

I dunno. The cricket pitch is a really nice, well-maintained green spot in the middle of campus, and if it was to be replaced with a muddy, torn-up sports pitch, it'd kinda ruin the effect, I think.

I know it sucks that GAA is relegated to Santry [and really, who's surprised? It is Trinity, after all], but we suffer in other ways due to the size of the campus, and it's just something we have to deal with.

The idea of putting a pitch down at the Ussher library end, though, is not such a bad one.

Kovik

Hanging out on the sidelines watching a game of hurling or football would certainly be a lot more entertaining than watching fat blokes in sweaters barely break a sweak.

Ron DMC

I love the cricket pitch just the way it is. We shouldn't go ruining its aesthetic beauty.

Cantab.

The cricket pitch is a top-quality sporting facility that should not be compromised because other sports feel hard-done-by. It has a lovely Pavilion and perfect seating: the atmosphere is unique and should not be altered.

And besides, the GAA and DUAFC do actually play games on college park (Collingwood Cup etc.) using temporary, removable goal-posts. They do this for the big matches and works well: the grass does not get destroyed.

The simple fact is: there's not enough room to facilitate all sports on campus. If the GAA/American football people were serious about their sport and having the best facilities worthy of a top-100 university, they'd be campaigning the Provost and DUCAC to sell off the kip that Santry has become and purchase a plot of land closer to home -- a fortune could have been made if the land was sold to property developers in 2006. The Santry sports grounds are now overlooked by hideous egg-box apartment complexes and class A knackers (I'm talking proper Ballymun types who'd have no problem stabbing you) roam around freely taking drugs and vandalising the facilities.

I agree that Santry is a disgrace. The trouble is though, that College would sooner drop €100k getting that brass globe outside the Berkley revolving than invest in world-class sporting facilities.

The rugby pitch is a disgrace and could be infinitely times better. The whole area from Pearse Street, through the rugby pitch and across to College Park is a higgledy-piggledy mess. Wouldn't it be great have a state-of-the-art rugby surface and install a small grandstand? We should knock down those Pearse Street residence halls and the Civil Engineering buildings (civil engineering could move to an architecturally significant building on the site of a demolished Luce Hall). Of course all this would cost a fortune and won't happen unless some rich graduate bequeaths his fortune to a load of moaning ungrateful poor students getting a free education off the back of the taxpayer.

ilovemybrick

Cantab. wrote: »

The rugby pitch is a disgrace and could be infinitely times better. The whole area from Pearse Street, through the rugby pitch and across to College Park is a higgledy-piggledy mess. Wouldn't it be great have a state-of-the-art rugby surface and install a small grandstand? We should knock down those Pearse Street residence halls and the Civil Engineering buildings (civil engineering could move to an architecturally significant building on the site of a demolished Luce Hall). Of course all this would cost a fortune and won't happen unless some rich graduate bequeaths his fortune to a load of moaning ungrateful poor students getting a free education off the back of the taxpayer.

Pearse street fronting is listed and cannot be demolished.
Also the luce hall site is the intended setudent centre. So that is a no go.

bright

Culture is culture, weather or not you like it. Cricket is one of the central sports in Trinity's history. Even if there are those, who believe it an outdated, remnant of British oppression, and the playing surface in question would much better be used for GAA- It is still part the history of the college and I for one don't think it should go.

Santry is a shambles, though, I agree.

godtabh

bright wrote: »

Even if there are those, who believe it an outdated, remnant of British oppression, and the playing surface in question would much better be used for GAA- It is still part the history of the college and I for one don't think it should go.

It shouldnt go but every one has to learn to share. Sports that are suitable should be allowed to play there. Score, hockey and cricket on the cricket pitch.

Rugby, hurling and football on the rugby pitch. I'm not sure if American football is suitable on it or not. I've no idea about it. And the fact that its only starting off i dont think it should be allowed.

SOL

Why don't you try raise money and buy up Merrion square?

But seriously, given the state of the rugby pitch during the winter, I wouldn't like to see that happen the cricket area...

Ron DMC

SOL wrote: »

Why don't you try raise money and buy up Merrion square?

That'd be awesome. (and some sort of underground tunnel from campus behind the pav right up under lincoln place would be awesome too).

ApeXaviour

Cantab. wrote: »

We should knock down those Pearse Street residence halls and the Civil Engineering buildings

They appear to be doing just that.

ilovemybrick wrote: »

Pearse street fronting is listed and cannot be demolished.

The buildings with protected fronts will be refurbished. 183-187 Pearse St. are being demolished however (building offices, DURC, environmental sciences etc.). The residence housing 47, 48, 51 and 52, that are connected to the medical centre are also being demolished next year... thank christ. For purpose-built residence student residences, constructed little more than 15 years ago they are seriously lacking in ergonomic design.

Here is an impression of the proposed view from the rugby pitch:


And here's the architectural model:


Planning permission has been granted. Taken from: http://www.tcd.ie/Buildings/projectspearcestreet.php

dragonkin

The cricket pitch should obviously not be sacrificed, it is a unique and valued part of current college life and history it looks magnificent and is one of the crown jewels of irish cricket. Minority sports and their assets should be protected from increasingly powerful and oppressive sports which in many ways enforce a conformist if not nationalistic identity at odds with a traditional university's identity as an independent institution.
Anyways don't the GAA club use the local GAA clubs pitches in Ringsend?

Sparks

Rip it up, get rid of it. That land's a perfect 50m rifle range going to waste...

Brian

Sparks wrote: »

Rip it up, get rid of it. That land's a perfect 50m rifle range going to waste...

You don't need a designated zone in Trinity to shoot Catholics.

Cantab.

Cantab. wrote: »

The cricket pitch is a top-quality sporting facility that should not be compromised because other sports feel hard-done-by. It has a lovely Pavilion and perfect seating: the atmosphere is unique and should not be altered.

And besides, the GAA and DUAFC do actually play games on college park (Collingwood Cup etc.) using temporary, removable goal-posts. They do this for the big matches and works well: the grass does not get destroyed.

The simple fact is: there's not enough room to facilitate all sports on campus. If the GAA/American football people were serious about their sport and having the best facilities worthy of a top-100 university, they'd be campaigning the Provost and DUCAC to sell off the kip that Santry has become and purchase a plot of land closer to home -- a fortune could have been made if the land was sold to property developers in 2006. The Santry sports grounds are now overlooked by hideous egg-box apartment complexes and class A knackers (I'm talking proper Ballymun types who'd have no problem stabbing you) roam around freely taking drugs and vandalising the facilities.

I agree that Santry is a disgrace. The trouble is though, that College would sooner drop €100k getting that brass globe outside the Berkley revolving than invest in world-class sporting facilities.

The rugby pitch is a disgrace and could be infinitely times better. The whole area from Pearse Street, through the rugby pitch and across to College Park is a higgledy-piggledy mess. Wouldn't it be great have a state-of-the-art rugby surface and install a small grandstand? We should knock down those Pearse Street residence halls and the Civil Engineering buildings (civil engineering could move to an architecturally significant building on the site of a demolished Luce Hall). Of course all this would cost a fortune and won't happen unless some rich graduate bequeaths his fortune to a load of moaning ungrateful poor students getting a free education off the back of the taxpayer.

That was a good rant if I do say so myself!

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI

Cantab. wrote: »

That was a good rant if I do say so myself!

I was with you till you mentioned putting in a rugby grandstand, and destroying Pearse Street buildings..not exactly the nicest of buildings but I think they'd be a lot nicer, if cleaned up properly, than anything the College would dream up!

A nice building on the site of the Luce Hall would be great, 2 years later and the place still smells like sweaty gym socks.

Señor Juárez

kearnsr wrote: »

It shouldnt go but every one has to learn to share. Sports that are suitable should be allowed to play there. Score, hockey and cricket on the cricket pitch.

This absolutely could not work. Not only is hockey totally crap on a grass surface, but it would completely destroy the pitch, rendering it worthless for cricket.

It is a pity that rugby cannot be played on an astroturf surface (right?) or the existing rugby pitch could be converted and used for rugby and soccer and hockey.

johnl

Señor Juárez wrote: »

This absolutely could not work. Not only is hockey totally crap on a grass surface, but it would completely destroy the pitch, rendering it worthless for cricket.

If this subject is a little too personal and evocative for you to discuss maturely perhaps you should reconsider contributing.

Señor Juárez

I demand that this user be banned for a week.

Boston

It should be maintained. There are literally thousands of GAA pitches all over the city but rather few cricket pitches. For those of us involved in non main stream sports, it hard not to feel that we're at the raw end of the stick. I utterly despise the GAA, the organisation is a parasite destroying all in it's wake.

ApeXaviour

Lads, grow up and stop taking the piss. Alansparrowhawk is a reincarnate account of a user who was previously site banned so many times it gave the site admin a headache.
We usually turn a blind eye. A weeks ban was very lenient in light of this.

Cantab.

ZWEI_VIER_ZWEI wrote: »

I was with you till you mentioned putting in a rugby grandstand, and destroying Pearse Street buildings..not exactly the nicest of buildings but I think they'd be a lot nicer, if cleaned up properly, than anything the College would dream up!

A nice building on the site of the Luce Hall would be great, 2 years later and the place still smells like sweaty gym socks.

It could be removed an re-built elsewhere on campus. Would make for a great pavilion bar or rugby club house.

Cantab.

Señor Juárez wrote: »

I demand that this user be banned for a week.

But if abortion is so morally correct, why are you getting so upset?

Boston

Cantab. wrote: »

It could be removed an re-built elsewhere on campus. Would make for a great pavilion bar or rugby club house.

A lot could be done with the Luce sports hall. A lot.

Cantab.

Boston wrote: »

A lot could be done with the Luce sports hall. A lot.

Yeah, demolish it. If the SU get their hands on it, it will be a sad day for student life and the "Trinity Experience".

johnl

I think soccer shouldn't be played on the campus, but I'm happy enough with rugby and Gaelic.
The cricket pitch should not be messed with though.

Luce Hall could be a great space for exhibitions and events, if only they could get the smell out.

Captain Flaps

johnl wrote: »

I think soccer shouldn't be played on the campus, but I'm happy enough with rugby and Gaelic.
The cricket pitch should not be messed with though.

Luce Hall could be a great space for exhibitions and events, if only they could get the smell out.

I'm glad you're happy, but I wonder what your problem is with soccer...

Juxta Dublin

Boston wrote: »

I utterly despise the GAA, the organisation is a parasite destroying all in it's wake.

*backs away slowly*

Captain Flaps

Boston wrote: »

It should be maintained. There are literally thousands of GAA pitches all over the city but rather few cricket pitches. For those of us involved in non main stream sports, it hard not to feel that we're at the raw end of the stick. I utterly despise the GAA, the organisation is a parasite destroying all in it's wake.

Literally thousands you say, and all over the city? That's rather a stretch don't you think?

Sparks

Juxta Dublin wrote: »

*backs away slowly*

Yeah, but Boston does have a point to an extent; it does eat up all available resources, which squashes other sports.

Not really "parasitic" though Boston - it's too good at what it does, basicly.

Boston

Captain Flaps wrote: »

Literally thousands you say, and all over the city? That's rather a stretch don't you think?

Actually, yes. I'm not talking stadiums, but rather GAA fields. Dublin is a big place yea know.

j1smithy

Boston wrote: »

It should be maintained. There are literally thousands of GAA pitches all over the city but rather few cricket pitches. For those of us involved in non main stream sports, it hard not to feel that we're at the raw end of the stick. I utterly despise the GAA, the organisation is a parasite destroying all in it's wake.

A parasite destroying all in its wake?! You are having a laugh right. I wouldn't count GAA as being among the most "powerful" clubs within the college at all one of the reasons why they are relegated to Santry.

While I don't think the Cricket pitch should be torn up, I do think it should be utilised by more mainstream sports more often. I mean it is lovely sitting out on a sunny evening in May watching the cricketers do their thing but to be perfectly honest the majority of people do not A) Have a clue what is going on and care. Wouldn't it be far better if a thousand students were watching a game they understood such as Rugby, Soccer or GAA on a warm summers evening in college? I could imagine it being great fun and an interesting way to reignite the the college spirit. When the Rugby have their sevens, they have a crowd watching. So do soccer when they play at lunchtime. I think it would be fantastic for sport in Trinity in general if it were exposed to a large crowd. We could easily have the best spectators of any university in Ireland.

The Rugby pitch should get an overhaul that it badly needs too. In a dry spell its nothing short of dangerous.

Boston

GAA is an organisation beyond Trinity. I could rant for hours about the GAA.

shay_562

j1smithy wrote:

I wouldn't count GAA as being among the most "powerful" clubs within the college at all one of the reasons why they are relegated to Santry.

I dunno - they may not have much sway in DUCAC, but the various GAA clubs have a ****ton of members who seem to be well-organised and hugely on-message (or so it seems at every election anyway, especially that sports referendum a few years back). I reckon they could take over DUCAC if they ever felt like it, but just don't bother.

Sparks wrote:

Not really "parasitic" though Boston - it's too good at what it does, basicly.

I'd argue with that. The attitude of a lot of GAA clubs, especially in rural areas, is that you can play GAA or you can play soccer, but you can't play both, and god help you if you don't choose GAA. Not sure how official that policy is, but unofficial GAA policy certainly seems to involve crushing any life out of other sports that may challenge its supremacy.

Topic? My problem with the cricket club isn't that it's a crap sport, it's that they seem to be a bit of a crap club. They had no stand in Freshers' Week, I'm pretty sure they didn't even have a captain for the first month or so of the year - if they were a less established club, they'd have folded by now. They certainly wouldn't get almost exclusive access to one of the few green areas on campus as an automatic right. I'd be very curious how their membership levels stack up against other clubs - anyone know if there's a way to get hold of that kind of information?

Brian

Disclaimer for above post : The fire assembly point is too small to throw a frisbee.

shay_562

Baza210 wrote:

Disclaimer for above post : The fire assembly point is too small to throw a frisbee.

The one on Fellows Square wouldn't be, but there's that monstrosity of a statue blocking the middle of it. Curses...

Brian

Curse those cobbles in Front Square! Astroturf, I say.

Captain Flaps

Boston wrote: »

Actually, yes. I'm not talking stadiums, but rather GAA fields. Dublin is a big place yea know.

Yeah, but thousands of pitches, specifically designated to GAA, within Dublin city? I'd contest that. There are plenty of fields which could be used yeah, but they could just as easily (and are far more likely to be) used for soccer. And I doubt there are thousands of them.

thebossanova

j1smithy wrote: »

The Rugby pitch should get an overhaul that it badly needs too. In a dry spell its nothing short of dangerous.

It is next March/April. Total resurfacing and match quality lights.

Boston

Captain Flaps wrote: »

Yeah, but thousands of pitches, specifically designated to GAA, within Dublin city? I'd contest that. There are plenty of fields which could be used yeah, but they could just as easily (and are far more likely to be) used for soccer. And I doubt there are thousands of them.

What figure would you put on it? I'm basing it on what I'd consider a high density in the inner city. That said, when I was out around Marley park the other week I noticed two large golf courses, it would seem the more affluent areas have less need for GAA pitches.

Captain Flaps

Boston wrote: »

What figure would you put on it? I'm basing it on what I'd consider a high density in the inner city. That said, when I was out around Marley park the other week I noticed two large golf courses, it would seem the more affluent areas have less need for GAA pitches.

Yeah, that whole area is golf courses from what I remember. I was just taking issue with something I believe to be an exaggeration, I can't put a specific number on it (can anyone?) but I think thousands is a stretch.

On Topic: The cricket pitch takes up a massive amount of room, if nothing else. They should stick a massive roll-up astroturf pitch on top of it for soccer and hockey, GAA and Rugby can play on the back pitch. Ultimate Frisbee can play window to window in the Arts Block, and the American Football players can sit at home because they have no friends. I don't think anyone would argue with this plan.

shay_562

Boston wrote:

That said, when I was out around Marley park the other week I noticed two large golf courses, it would seem the more affluent areas have less need for GAA pitches.

There's quite a few pitches in Marlay Park itself, as well as two local GAA clubs (Ballyboden Wanderers & Ballyboden St. Endas) for the few thousand people who live in the Ballyboden area who use, between them, around a dozen different pitches all within a mile or two of Marlay, including pitches in St. Enda's park, Scoil Mhuire, Cherryfield, Sancta Maria and Frank Kelly Park. (I'm not a crazy person, I've just lived in Ballyboden for most of my life)

Captain Flaps wrote:

Ultimate Frisbee can play window to window in the Arts Block,

Boo-urns.

Boston

Ballyboden?, you must know our mexican friend then. Anyway, the point was, there's loads and feic all cricket pitches.

Captain Flaps

shay_562 wrote: »

There's quite a few pitches in Marlay Park itself, as well as two local GAA clubs (Ballyboden Wanderers & Ballyboden St. Endas) for the few thousand people who live in the Ballyboden area who use, between them, around a dozen different pitches all within a mile or two of Marlay, including pitches in St. Enda's park, Scoil Mhuire, Cherryfield, Sancta Maria and Frank Kelly Park. (I'm not a crazy person, I've just lived in Ballyboden for most of my life)

There's also Ballinteer St John's club opposite LIDL on the Grange Road.

Also Boston, had you ventured INTO Marlay park, you would have seen the cricket pitch. Or cricket lawn as they call it. All very posh I'm sure!

j1smithy

Unfortunately the rugby pitch is too short for official games of GAA, still though I don't see why College park can't be used for say 6 GAA games a year. Let each club play their premier competition home game on campus (or colours). Using temporary, but full height posts of course. The use of temporary posts would allow the pitch to be shifted between games so no one spot is subject to abuse/wear. Of course cricket should also be played there too, but it shouldn't be the only field game allowed.

At the moment the situation is quite unreasonable, one of the smallest clubs has almost total control of the single largest plot of land in the college. I know its tradition and all, but that is too often used as an excuse for the better allocation of the scarce resources the college has. All too often its the "elite" that hide behind traditions, for change often means loss of privilege. The benefits of the change could be potentially very great, it could spark an interest in sport and could do wonders for college as a community of people.

Who wouldn't want to sit out in front of the Pav on a balmy April evening with a few cans watching our boys stick it to UCD? At the moment the biggest cheer the cricketers get is when a streaker runs across the field... says it all really.

Sparks

j1smithy wrote: »

Who wouldn't want to sit out in front of the Pav on a balmy April evening with a few cans watching our boys stick it to UCD?

Darn right.
Lets get that 50m rifle range set up ASAP, then DURC can kick UCDRC's rear ends in April.

j1smithy

Sparks wrote: »

Darn right.
Lets get that 50m rifle range set up ASAP, then DURC can kick UCDRC's rear ends in April.

In theory if it could be done safely I couldn't see why not (unlikely?). You would certainly get a boost in membership if your competitions were exposed to large crowds. Its something DUCAC should be looking at, increasing visibility of sport, will increase participation.

It wasn't me!

j1smithy wrote: »

In theory if it could be done safely I couldn't see why not (unlikely?). You would certainly get a boost in membership if your competitions were exposed to large crowds. Its something DUCAC should be looking at, increasing visibility of sport, will increase participation.

During shouldbestudyingforexams boredom, I drew up a rough plan of how to do it. It's possible to build a range pretty much anywhere, if you have space, resources and funds, and do so perfectly safely.