Donegal GAA pitch named among most beautiful sports venues in the world

Can you imagine playing a match here, on the edge of the Atlantic in one of the most scenic spots in the world?

A popular American sports blogger, Joe Pompliano, has ranked the world’s 50 most beautiful sporting venues.

Much to our surprise, one Irish venue has made it onto the prestigious list, beating out many other stunning venues around the world.

Can you imagine playing a match at the Donegal GAA pitch named among the most beautiful sports venues in the world?

Who is Joe Pompliano? – a US sporting expert

Mr Pompliano is a very well-known sports blogger in the United States with over 360,000 followers on Twitter.

He runs a highly successful sports and business website called Huddle Up, which breaks down the business and money behind sports for fans to better understand.

This time, Pompliano has released his list of sporting venues he deems to be the most beautiful in the world. These range from rooftop tennis courts to scenic golf courses to world-class stadiums.

Among the very top is one picturesque Donegal GAA pitch that he has named among the most beautiful sports venues in the world.

The most beautiful sporting venues in the world – top contenders

The list features some of the world’s most well-known sporting venues, such as Wrigley Field in Chicago and the F1 circuit in Monaco.

However, the breathtaking location of the old Killybegs GAA pitch has proven it can match up to these famous sporting venues; it is the only entry on the list from Ireland and the UK.

Henningsvaer Stadium in Norway comes in at the top spot on the list. Still, the Donegal GAA pitch claimed 11^th position on his list of most beautiful sports venues in the world.

The old Killybegs pitch can be found along the beautiful Wild Atlantic Way. It ranked just behind the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California, narrowly missing out on the top ten.

A history of the Donegal GAA pitch named among the most beautiful sports venues in the world – a hub of Irish sport and culture

Fintra Park, now the old GAA ground of Killybegs GAA club, was first opened in 1967 with a game between Donegal and Mayo. It later became known as McDevitt Park. However, since 2010 the Killybegs GAA Club has played at the Eamonn Byrne Memorial ground.

The old GAA ground is located right on Fintra Bay, offering a jaw-dropping view. Personally, we don’t think we’d be able to concentrate in a match if we had that view.

If you’re travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way, make sure to stop here to take in the incredible view and maybe have a kick around.

Ireland’s other world-class venues – plenty of worthy mentions

Ireland is home to many other stunning sporting venues. Croke Park, with a capacity of 82,000 people, is the fourth biggest stadium in Europe. .

Located in the heart of Dublin City, it is steeped in history and the atmosphere here cannot be replicated. Make sure to attend a game if you’re in town.

Thomond Park in Limerick is the home of Munster rugby. The stadium is built in the shape of a rugby ball, and the seats are painted to spell out the word ‘Munster’. This is an absolute must-see.

Lastly, a GAA pitch you simply must visit is the grounds at An Ghaeltacht GAA club in Murreagh, County Kerry. Looking onto the beach, it doesn’t get more beautiful than this place.