{{Short description|Sports stadium in Ireland}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox venue | name = Kingspan Breffni | nickname = | native_name = ''Páirc Bhreifne'' | native_name_lang = Irish | fullname = | former_names = | logo_image = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | pushpin_map = Ireland | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_relief = | address = Creighan, [[Cavan]], [[County Cavan]], H12 HX02 | location = Ireland | coordinates = {{coord|53|58|55|N|7|21|33|W |region:GB_type:landmark |display=inline,title}} | type = | event = | broke_ground = | built = | opened = 1923 | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = [[Cavan GAA]] | operator = | surface = Grass | scoreboard = Yes | production = | cost = | architect = | builder = | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = | seating_type = | capacity = 25,030<ref name="breffni capacity 2020">{{cite web |title=Special report shows huge effect one-metre rule would have on GAA crowds |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/special-report-shows-huge-effect-22184838 |website=irish mirror |access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> | suites = | record_attendance = | dimensions = 143 x 86 m | field_shape = | acreage = | volume = | tenants = | embedded = | website = {{URL|cavangaa.ie}} | public_transit = Tractamotors Bus Stop; Cavan Bus Station }} '''Breffni Park''', known for sponsorship reasons as '''[[Kingspan Group|Kingspan]] Breffni''',<ref name="From Borroloola to Mangerton Mountain">{{cite book|author=Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh|author-link=Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Exh5BIJi6hYC&q=breffni+park|title=From Borroloola to Mangerton Mountain|year = 2006|access-date=29 October 2009|page=21|isbn = 9781844881215}}</ref> is a [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]] stadium in [[Cavan]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. It is the home of [[Cavan GAA]]. The ground has an overall capacity of about 25,030, including 5,030 seated.<ref name="breffni capacity 2020" /> [[Kingdom of Breifne|Breffni]] is the historic name for the area of counties [[County Cavan|Cavan]] and [[County Leitrim|Leitrim]]. Cavan is often referred to as the Breffni County.<ref name="Eu will have to Erne the victory">{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/eu-will-have-to-erne-the-victory-14324911.html|title=Eu will have to Erne the victory|date=4 June 2009|access-date=26 October 2009|newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref> Kingspan Breffni is located on Park Lane to the south of Cavan town.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120829114800/http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,641965,803785,7,0 see Map]</ref> Breffni Park hosted the first test in the [[2006 Ladies' International Rules Series]] between [[Ireland women's international rules football team|Ireland]] and [[Australia women's international rules football team|Australia]]. It also hosted the first test during the [[2013 International Rules Series]].
==History==
[[File:Willie Doonans Memorial.jpg|thumb|Memorial to [[Willie Doonan]] outside Breffni Park]] Breffni Park was opened in 1923. The opening was attended by [[Eoin O'Duffy]] who gave a speech calling on the GAA to "bring together all sections of the Irish people" to "save the youth of Ireland from the sea of moral degradation into which they were travelling".<ref name="Eoin O'Duffy: a self-made hero">{{cite book|author=Fearghal McGarry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oZ3VaMhcFigC&q=breffni+park&pg=PA151|title=Eoin O'Duffy: a self-made hero|date = 22 September 2005|access-date=29 October 2009|page=151|isbn = 9780199276554}}</ref>
During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland|COVID-19 pandemic]], Breffni Park was used as a drive-through test centre.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.northernsound.ie/covid-19-testing-cavan-move-ballyhaise-kingspan-breffni-tomorrow/|title=Covid-19 testing in Cavan to move from Ballyhaise to Kingspan Breffni tomorrow|work=Northern Sound|date=26 March 2020|access-date=26 March 2020|archive-date=3 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403045607/https://www.northernsound.ie/covid-19-testing-cavan-move-ballyhaise-kingspan-breffni-tomorrow/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Athletics== In June 2009, Breffni Park was the venue where the world record for the 12-hour continuous relay race was broken by 1,868 participants.<ref name="Cavan: Record broken at Breffni Park">{{cite news|url=http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72356&Itemid=50 |title=Cavan: Record broken at Breffni Park |date=1 July 2009 |access-date=26 October 2009 |newspaper=[[The Irish Emigrant]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227010008/http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=72356&Itemid=50 |archive-date=27 February 2012 }}</ref>
==Camogie== The 2009 Cavan Camogie Development Fun Day to promote the development of [[camogie]] at underage levels was held at Breffni Park on 7 June 2009.<ref name="'The Clash of the Ash' in Kingspan Breffni Park.">{{cite web|url=http://ulstercamogie.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=162:-the-clash-of-the-ash-in-kingspan-breffni-park-cavan-&catid=38:current-news&Itemid=53| title='The Clash of the Ash' in Kingspan Breffni Park.|date=1 July 2009|access-date=26 October 2009|publisher=Ulster Camogie}}</ref>
==Gaelic football== Breffni Park regularly hosts matches in the [[Ulster Senior Football Championship]]. In the [[Ulster Senior Football Championship 2009]], it hosted [[Cavan GAA|Cavan]]'s unexpected 0–13 to 1–09 quarter-final defeat of [[Fermanagh GAA|Fermanagh]].<ref name="Glory days long gone, insists Carr">{{cite news|author=Donnchadh Boyle|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/glory-days-long-gone-insists-carr-1763720.html|title=Glory days long gone, insists Carr|date=6 June 2009|access-date=26 October 2009| newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref><ref name="Cavan 0-13 Fermanagh 1-09">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2009/0606/cavan_fermanagh.html |title=Cavan 0–13 Fermanagh 1-09 |date=6 June 2009 |access-date=26 October 2009 |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724024020/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2009/0606/cavan_fermanagh.html |archive-date=24 July 2009 }}</ref><ref name="Carr delight after Cavan victory">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/8087417.stm|title=Carr delight after Cavan victory|date=6 June 2009|access-date=26 October 2009|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref><ref name="Johnston inpsires Cavan win">{{cite news| url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/gaa/2009/0606/1224248231813.html| title=Johnston inspires Cavan win|date=6 June 2009|access-date=26 October 2009|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> Critics had beforehand doubted Cavan's ability to win the match.<ref name="Johnston reins in expectations">{{cite web|author=Julie Anne Sheridan|url=http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/other-sports/2009/06/08/Cavan-CarrJohnston-Reaction/gnid-56242/|title=Johnston reins in expectations|date=8 June 2009|access-date=26 October 2009|publisher=[[Setanta Sports]]}}{{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> ''[[The Belfast Telegraph]]'' described it as Fermanagh's "most inept championship performance for some time", saying Fermanagh were "gunned down".<ref name="Breffni blues in the pink">{{cite news| url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/breffni-blues-in-the-pink-14329968.html|title=Breffni blues in the pink|date=7 June 2009| access-date=26 October 2009|newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref>
Breffni Park has also hosted several matches at national level.
===All-Ireland qualifying matches=== Breffni Park has hosted a number of qualifiers for the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]].
The stadium hosted one game involving [[Cavan GAA|Cavan]] when they progressed to round four of the qualifiers for the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2005]]. The team entered the qualifiers in the second round where they beat [[Donegal GAA|Donegal]] by a score of 1–11 to 1–10 at the ground.<ref name="Cavan thank Reillys for victory">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2005/0703/cavan.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218031344/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2005/0703/cavan.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 February 2013 |title=Cavan thank Reillys for victory |date=3 July 2005 |access-date=26 October 2009 |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] }}</ref> Breffni Park also hosted the third round qualifying game between [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]] and [[Louth GAA|Louth]] which Monaghan won by 1–12 to 0–14.<ref name="Monaghan survive late Louth scare">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2005/0716/monaghan.html |title=Monaghan survive late Louth scare |date=16 July 2005 |access-date=26 October 2009 |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="Monaghan survive late burst to beat Louth">{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2005/0716/sport/cwkfcwaukfsn/|title=Monaghan survive late burst to beat Louth|date=16 July 2005|access-date=26 October 2009|publisher=breakingnews.ie}}</ref>
The round three qualifier for the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2007]] between [[Derry GAA|Derry]] and [[Laois GAA|Laois]] was played at Kingspan Breffni Park. Derry won by 1–18 to 2–11 to go through to the quarter-finals.<ref name="Laois 2-11 1-18 Derry">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/6920814.stm|title=Laois 2–11 1–18 Derry|date=28 July 2007|access-date=26 October 2009|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref>
In the 2011 Football Championship it hosted 25 June round 1 qualifier between Louth and Meath, and Cavan versus Longford.
===Allianz National League=== In 2004, Breffni Park hosted a Division 1B match between [[Cavan GAA|Cavan]] and [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] which Cavan won convincingly by 3–12 to 0–8.<ref name="Cavan hammer Armagh">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/3541319.stm|title=Cavan hammer Armagh|date=7 March 2004|access-date=26 October 2009|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> Armagh were winners of the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2002]] and runners-up in the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2003]].<ref name="Armagh stun Kerry to claim first All-Ireland">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2002/0922/gaa.html |title=Armagh stun Kerry to claim first All-Ireland |date=22 September 2003 |access-date=26 October 2009 |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311122657/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2002/0922/gaa.html |archive-date=11 March 2005 }}</ref><ref name="Result: Armagh 0-9 Tyrone 0-12">{{cite web| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/3146680.stm|title=Result: Armagh 0–9 Tyrone 0–12|date=28 September 2003|access-date=26 October 2009|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref>
Breffni Park was chosen to host the 2006 Division Two Final of the Allianz National League between [[Donegal GAA|Donegal]] and [[Louth GAA|Louth]]. There was controversy when Donegal's manager [[Brian McIver]] was upset as he thought the game should have been played at [[Croke Park]] in Dublin.<ref name="McIver: Finals should be at Croke"/> McIver said: "It defies logic and I think the sponsors might have something to say about it as well. It's very strange that the finals can suddenly be moved from Croke Park. [...] The National League is the second biggest competition in the GAA and the finals should be staged at Croke Park".<ref name="McIver: Finals should be at Croke"/> The GAA claimed it was due to "the geographic considerations in respect of the four Division One semi-finalists".<ref name="McIver: Finals should be at Croke">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/4915554.stm|title=McIver: Finals should be at Croke|date=17 April 2007|access-date=26 October 2009|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> Donegal's semi-final defeat of [[Westmeath GAA|Westmeath]] had also taken place at Breffni Park.<ref name="Donegal delay naming side">{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0412/donegal.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080216103241/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0412/donegal.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 February 2008 |title=Donegal delay naming side |date=12 April 2006 |access-date=26 October 2009 |publisher=[[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]] }}</ref>
==Hurling== ===National Hurling League=== Two of the National Hurling League Finals were played at Kingspan Breffni Park on 2 May 2009. These were the Division Three A Final between [[Meath GAA|Meath]] and [[Kildare GAA|Kildare]] and the Division Four Final between [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]] and [[Sligo GAA|Sligo]].<ref name="National Hurling League Finals">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0502/1224245839894.html|title=National Hurling League Finals|date=2 May 2009|access-date=26 October 2009|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref>
==International rules football== Breffni Park hosted the first test in the [[2006 Ladies' International Rules Series]] between [[Ireland women's international rules football team|Ireland]] and [[Australia women's international rules football team|Australia]]. This was the first test between the two teams. Ireland beat Australia by 134–15.<ref name="ladiesgaelic011106">{{cite web|url=https://ladiesgaelic.ie/tg4-international-rules-series-1st-test/|title=TG4 International Rules Series 1st Test|date=1 November 2006|publisher=ladiesgaelic.ie|access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="sportsfile311006">{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/D0610187/|title=Ireland v Australia – Ladies International Rules Series 1st Test Photos|publisher=sportsfile.com|date=31 October 2006|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="ladiesgaelic311006">{{cite web|url=https://ladiesgaelic.ie/galleries/ireland-v-australia-international-rules-game-in-kingspan-breffni-park/|title=Ireland v Australia International Rules game in Kingspan Breffni Park|date=31 October 2006|publisher=ladiesgaelic.ie|access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="irishexaminer311006">{{cite news| url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/cwidmhcwcwkf/|title=Breffni Park hosts first-ever women's International Rules tie|date=31 October 2006|access-date=26 October 2009| work=Irish Examiner}}</ref> The venue also hosted the first test during the [[2013 International Rules Series]].<ref name="42ie230213">{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/international-rules-kingspan-breffni-park-confirmed-for-series-opener-806472-Feb2013/|title=International Rules: Kingspan Breffni Park confirmed for Series opener|date=23 February 2013|publisher=the42.ie|access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="bbc230213">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/northern-ireland/21558433|title=Cavan's Breffni Park to stage International Rules match|date=23 February 2013|publisher=BBC|access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="irishtimes221013">{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaa-and-afl-meet-with-future-of-international-rules-series-on-the-line-1.1568664|title=GAA and AFL meet with future of International Rules series on the line|date=22 October 2013|work=The Irish Times|access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref>
==See also== * [[List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums]] * [[List of stadiums in Ireland by capacity]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Gaelic games venues}} {{Cavan GAA}}
[[Category:1923 establishments in Ireland]] [[Category:Cavan GAA]] [[Category:Cavan (town)]] [[Category:Gaelic games grounds in the Republic of Ireland]] [[Category:Sports venues in County Cavan]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in County Cavan]] [[Category:Sports venues completed in 1923]]