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*