Bohemian

Dalymount Park or “Dalyer” as it is affectionately known is one of the few football grounds to retain all the history and characteristics that many older fans insist is missing in modern all-seater stadiums. Situated in the north of Dublin, in the suburb of Phibsborough it is surrounded on two sides by Victorian housing, a school and a 1960's concrete shopping centre, however, its tall floodlights-erected in 1962, are visible from miles around. Up close the ground is very much hemmed in by its surroundings, and having bare concrete walls on three sides the rear of the Jodi Stand with its dark grey cladding, red and white turnstile entrances is a very welcome sight, as is the iron arch bearing the club name. As far as we are aware the iron arch originally stood above the black gate entrance to the St Peters School end but was moved to its current position after Bohemian won the League title in 2005.

Once inside it is easy to see why Dalymount Park was once capable of holding 45,000 capacity crowds in its heyday, when it regularly hosted both International fixtures and FAI Cup Finals up to 2002. Sadly, for safety reasons, the last decade has seen the stadium capacity drastically reduced to the point that now only two sides of the ground are in use. The newest part of the stadium is the Jodi Stand,  on one side which was opened in 1999 at a cost of just over £1 million. This replaced the original low wooden Main Stand. It has 2,742 dark grey seats on a single tier concrete deck, with the players dressing rooms and an executive lounge built into the concourse below. Unusually players emerge through a tunnel towards the east corner rather than on the pitch centre line. The stand offers an excellent elevated view of the pitch though it does have a couple of columns that may impede your view. Opposite the Jodi Stand is the former Connaught Street Terrace which, it will not surprise you to learn, looking at the photo of it above, that it is only half what it used to be following demolition of the western half for safety reasons. The area has been tarmaced and provides the club with revenue during non-matchdays as it is used as a commuter car park. The remaining terracing up to the corner exit has 3,720 red seats bolted to it-still with the intention of using the ground for international matches. Sadly the terrace never had a roof installed making it unpopular with fans, and unfortunately over the years the seats have faded to pale pink. Despite appearing sturdy enough the terrace was closed in 2011, so the only use it has now is to provide an elevated position for the covered camera gantry.

At one end is the Phibsborough Road Terrace (aka the 'Tramway End'), which extended around to the Connaught Terrace which must have looked awesome when packed to capacity. This area is closed as the Club sold off this part of the ground to raise funds (much like Bolton Wanderers did at Burnden Park). The fact that this end of the ground still sits empty rather than being demolished makes it something of a living museum. Following the demolition of Chesterfield's Saltergate Ground in 2012 Dalymount Park is, as far as we are aware-the only football ground in the UK & Ireland to retain Archibald Leitch designed crush barriers.

Opposite at the other end is the Des Kelly Carpets Stand, which is at the St Peters School End. The barrel roofed cover, affectionately known as “The Shed” only runs half the width of the pitch (it was originally built like that). The stand is effectively split into a front and rear section, the lower section having 11 rows of 1,485 plastic seats bolted to the former terrace. These have also turned from red to pink in recent years, whilst the upper half beneath the roof still retains its original Leitch crush barriers but is-as far as we are aware, closed for safety reasons. Eagle-eyed fans will no doubt spot an extra row of crush barriers along the open rear section, though the crumbling terrace beneath the barriers will indicate why the area has been closed off.

In 2018 Dublin City Council announced their intention to build a new municipal stadium on the Dalymount Park site. As part of this move, it has been agreed that Shelbourne FC will vacate their Tolka Park home and groundshare the new Dalymount Park Stadium with Bohemians. The new 6,000 capacity stadium is part of a wider regeneration plan for the area and follows on from the sale of Dalymount Park by Bohemians FC to Dublin City Council in 2015. Since then the scheme has trundled on with only recently the Council approving further funds for additional detailed planning. If the scheme does go ahead then it is expected that the construction will take two years to complete. Whilst construction takes place Bohemians will groundshare Tolka Park with Shelbourne for two seasons. Below is a video showing the proposed designs for the new stadium, which does look quite smart. Although it will be a shame to see the loss of two historic character grounds, which it will replace.

The New Dalymount Park

The above video was produced by Dublin City Council and made publicly available via YouTube.

As far as we are aware away supporters are accommodated in the Jodi Stand with the exception of Dublin derby games where a larger following from clubs such as Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne & St Patricks Athletic allows visiting fans to be switched to the Des Kelly Carpets Stand at the St Peters School End. The seating deck is bolted to the former paddock area so leg room may be a little bit tight and although there is a roof over half of the stand it will provide little cover in the rain. There is a small amount of terracing at the rear of the cover however as far as we are aware this is closed off for safety reasons.

There are three bars located beneath the Jodi Stand. One of these the Members Bar (in the middle of the three) admits away fans. Otherwise there are a number of shops and pubs in Phibsborough Road, which is located behind the tramway end terrace, two minutes walk from the Jodi Stand turnstiles, with a further selection of shops and pubs to be found further towards the City Centre surrounding Drumcondra Railway Station, close to Croke Park, around 5-10 minutes walk from the Jodi Stand along the North Circular Road.

From the North
Follow the M1 Southbound past Dublin Airport, the road then becomes the N1 at Santry. Keep following the N1 towards Dublin City Centre then shortly after passing beneath the Dromcondra Railway Station Railway Bridge turn right into Whitworth Road alongside the Royal Canal, then at the junction turn left into Prospect Road. You will then see a tall office block in front of Phibsborough Shopping Centre, with  the floodlights of Dalymount Park to the right hand side. Turn right into Connaught Street, then left into St Peters Road and the ground is down on the left.

From the Mid-West
Follow the N4 from Lucan towards the West suburbs of Dublin, continue straight on at M50 Junction 7, the turn left onto Lucan Road towards Chapelizod and Pheonix Park. Once in Chapelizod turn left to go over the River Liffey then right at the Junction to follow alongside Phoenix Park. Keeping following this road to the corner of the Park then turn left into Infirmary Road at Outer Orbital Junction 65,then follow the road right into North Circular Road to head away from Phoenix Park.Once you have reached Junction 67 turn left into Old Cabra Road, then at the crossroads turn right into the N3 Cabra Road.You will then see the spire of St Peters Church on your right hand side with the floodlights of Dalymount Park on the left. Turn left into St Peters Road and the ground is down on the left.

From the South West
Follow the N7 from Naas towards the West suburbs of Dublin. Continue straight on at M50 Junction 9 where the road becomes the N110 and follows alongside the Luas Red Tram Line. Continue following the tram line as it turns right into Davitt Road. At the Outer Orbital Junction 59 turn left and continue towards Phoenix Park. At Junction 64 turn right into Conyngham Road, then you will reach Junction 65,turn left into Infirmary Road, then follow the road right into North Circular Road to head away from Phoenix Park. Once you have reached Junction 67 turn left into Old Cabra Road, then at the crossroads turn right into the N3 Cabra Road. You will then see the spire of St Peters Church on your right hand side with the floodlights of Dalymount Park on the left. Turn left into St Peters Road and the ground is down on the left.

From the South
Follow the N11 from Bray into the South suburbs of Dublin. Once past Donnybrook Rugby Ground you may find it quickest to use Dublin's Outer Orbital Route rather than continue towards the busy Saint Stephens Green, Dublin Castle, River  Liffey and City Centre Shopping area route. To do this turn left at Junction 54 onto Grand Parade which runs alongside the canal. Continue on the road to Junction 64 at Phoenix Park then turn left at Junction 65 into Infirmary Road. Follow the North Circular Road to the right and head away from Pheonix Park. Once you have reached Junction 67 turn left into Old Cabra Road, then at the crossroads turn right into the N3 Cabra Road. You will then see the spire of St Peters Church on your right hand side with the floodlights of Dalymount Park on the left. Turn left into St Peters Road and the ground is down on the left.

Car Parking
There is a car park located inside the stadium which can be accessed via Connaght Street, Additional car park spaces can be found to the rear of the nearby Phibsborough Road Shopping Centre.

The nearest station is Drumcondra which is situated just under a mile from the ground. It is served by trains from Dublin Connolly which a three minute train ride away. Dublin Connolly can be reached by tram via the red line.

As you come out of Drumcondra station entrance turn right and go underneath the railway bridge. Walk for around a quarter of a mile and on reaching a branch of the Ulster Bank turn right onto the North Circular Road. Keep straight on this road and you will eventually see the floodlights of the stadium, behind some houses on your right.

By Tram Or Bus

Gary Cox adds; 'The Luas (Dublin Tram system) Green Line now has a stop at Phibsborough which is just three minutes walk to the ground. The stop is below street level and after walking up the steps you immediately see the large St Peters Church just along the road. By the time you reach the church, you will have seen the floodlights just across the road'.

Alternatively from the centre of Dublin you can catch Bus Numbers 4 and 83 both pass along Phibsborough Road beside the ground. See the Dublin Bus website for timetables and maps showing pick up points. 

Adults €15
OAP's/Students 18's €10
Under 12's €5

Official Programme €4

Fellow Dublin Premier League clubs Shamrock Rovers and St Patricks Athletic, plus Shelbourne.

Record Attendance

48,000 Ireland v England, May 19th 1957

For a Bohemian FC game:
45,000 v Shamrock Rovers
FAI Cup Final 1945

Average Attendance
2019: 2,878 (Premier Division) 
2018: 2,143 (Premier Division)
2017: 1,962 (Premier Division)

If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going. 

Official Website: www.bohemianfc.com

Official Social Media
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bfcdublin
Twitter: @bfcdublin

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, then please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I'll update the guide.

Special thanks to Owen Pavey for providing the information and photos of Dalymount Park.