The special history of the famed 'Comer Road soccer grounds in Kilkenny, 1950-1973

Where Newpark Lawn housing estate stands today, was once the famed ‘Comer Road Soccer grounds in Kilkenny City.

Through the benevolence of Alice Scott-Dove, nee McCreery, the local Kilkenny League played their games at the venue mainly at the weekends. Alice McCreery was a daughter of Lt Colonel Nathaniel and Alice Mary McCreery of Newpark House. Alice born in Hampshire England married Major John Scott-Dove in 1915.

Alice McCreery (25) pictured on her wedding day in 1915 with John Scott Dove (35). The picture is very likely to have been taken at Newpark House, Castlecomer Road which today forms part of Newpark Hotel. Source A H Poole (Waterford) collection.  The man in uniform is Mona JN McCreery, Capt, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, son of the late Lt-Col N McCreery, RAMC and of Mm McCreery, Newpark House, Kilkenny. The bridesmaid on our left looks like a McCreery, too, could it be cousin Ernestine (40ish?). The bridesmaid on our right looks like the groom's side of the family. The woman behind must be the mother of the bride, Alice Mary, and the other guy is... the best man

The Kilkenny League which had been reformed in 1948 leased the field from Alice Scott Dove circa 1950. It was located at the junction of the Castlecomer Road and Lover’s Lane, Newpark and opposite the former Newpark Inn. Thus the shortened version of the name…. ‘Comer Road. The field was just about able to contain the minimum dimensions of a FIFA approved soccer pitch. The tree lined pitch was an ideal location as it was so convenient for many city teams to play there. Soccer in Kilkenny dates back to 1893 when Kilkenny AFC partook in the Leinster Football Association Cup.

Following independence and the establishment of the Irish Free State a Kilkenny League was founded in 1926 at Parnell Street, Kilkenny. However, Kilkenny Celtic AFC was founded in 1911 and the first formal League was established in 1912 with its first secretary D W Lloyd of Ormonde Road. Alderman John Holohan of Castlecomer Road and a teacher at St Canice’s NS was a great supporter of soccer in Kilkenny from the 1930s. He procured the McCalmont Cup for Kilkenny soccer in 1937. This cup is regarded as the blue riband competition of Kilkenny soccer right to this day.

The Kilkenny League at the time consisted mainly of local city based teams such as Evergreen, Freebooters, St Mary’s Athletic, CYMS, Talbot’s Inch, Nore Rangers, Irishtown, Park United and Green Celtic with a sprinkling of other teams such as Barrow Rovers (Carlow), Deen Rovers (Castlecomer) and Spa United (Johnstown). Alice Scott Dove was a very generous benefactor to the Kilkenny League and charged just a nominal rent.

At the plaque unveiling

The 'Comer Road grounds opened on February 25, 1950 with a Kilkenny City Challenge Cup Final game played between Talbot’s Inch and Nore Rangers. The players involved were Talbot’s Inch: Quigley, Kennedy, Downey, Breen, Hoban, Crotty, Boyle, O’Toole, Brannigan, Taylor and Maher. Nore Rangers: Quinn, Cantwell, Gibbs, Bergin, McAlister, Coyne, Nolan, O’Neill, Power, Hogan and Parle. Referee was Mr R Wyse. The cup and trophies were put on display at the Gas Showrooms, High Street, Kilkenny.

Paddy Henderson
The Kilkenny League were a go ahead ambitious and dynamic outfit at the time for they built a Pavilion at the ‘Comer Road grounds in 1959 led by its chairman the very enterprising Managing Director of Fit Remoulds Paddy Henderson and his committee. The Hendersons and the Hehirs were very much involved with St Mary’s Athletic and soccer in the city. The Pavilion still proudly stands today in the back garden of a resident of Newpark Lawn.

When the Pavilion was opened, the local mayor of the day was not available to do the honours so both Kilkenny League and the Football Association of Ireland pulled out all the stops to make it a major occasion with many of the ‘top brass’ such as FAI President Tom Scully and FAI Secretary Liam Rapple attending.

Fr McGrath CC, that wonderful community priest at St Canice’s Parish attended and blessed the Pavilion. Newpark at this time was located in St Canice’s Parish.

Older soccer people will have very fond memories of the ‘Comer Road grounds and the many splendid games played there especially Provincial and national cup ties by Kilkenny teams. Some of the greats of League of Ireland football played there mainly in exhibition games. The venue was very convenient for supporters to attend and a number of regulars were Friars and Brothers from the Capuchin Friary in Kilkenny. This writer has fond memories of watching the legendary Liam ‘Chunky’ O’Brien perform his magic on a number of occasions especially when playing for Kilkenny and District League in Oscar Traynor games.

Among those who played a huge part in the administration side of the game at this period of time were PJ Henderson, Billy Walsh, Terry Cullen, Michael ‘Moc’ Lawlor, Joe Doyle, Pat Maher, Superintendent Reynolds, Dick Hehir, Milo Grogan, Tom Hogan, Marty Buckley, Con Downey, Paul Fennelly, John Breen and a young Ber Scott, Ray McCauley, Tom and Noel Dowling.

Grand National stopped a game at the ‘Comer Road
Many great stories have emerged over the years about games at the ‘Comer Road but this one story beats them all and apparently its true……..it is said that on the day of the Aintree Grand National at Liverpool that a referee who had a bit of a passion for the ‘sport of kings’ stopped a game and both he and the protagonists adjourned to Walsh’s Public House, which was directly opposite the grounds at the Castlecomer Road to watch the race. We never found out if he actually collected but as things transpired both he and the players returned to the pitch to resume the game after the race finished.

Hotelier Bobby Kerr led a consortium of Messrs Walsh and Prior who acquired the Newpark House and its lands including Newpark Fen circa 1965. The new Newpark Hotel was to emerge the following year in 1966 and become Kilkenny’s first new Grade ‘A’ Hotel in the 20th Century. Messrs Kerr, Walsh and Prior also acquired a property at New Ross which was later to become The Five Counties Hotel.

Bobby Kerr bought out his colleagues and he was well known for his acts of philanthropy in Kilkenny City and he allowed Kilkenny League continue its use of the ‘field’ for almost another decade until the ground was eventually sold for development. The soccer authorities of the day were not in a position to afford the market price of the lands at that time and Newpark Lawn estate was built in 1974.

The final soccer game of significance to be played at the ‘Comer Road grounds was played on Sunday, January 7, 1973 was an FAI Oscar Traynor Cup game between the Kilkenny and District League and Waterford League, when the home side in front of a very large crowd were the victors on a convincing 3-0 scoreline.

For the record the Kilkenny League was represented by Ger Ward, Denis Halpin, Paddy Ryan all Cahir Park, Larry Ryan and Ger Kavanagh both Highview Athletic, Chris Bateman and Tommy Gaffney Emfa, Eugene Jordan, Liam O’Brien, Larry Drennan all Evergreen, Sean Scanlan Valley Rovers and Pat Keane Ormonde Villa. Referee Nick Delaney (Wexford), Linesmen Terry Cullen and Tom Hogan both Kilkenny Branch, Irish Soccer Referees Society.

It would be remiss of me not to mention a couple of former soccer players who graced the entire era of soccer at the 'Comer Road grounds since the 1950s, namely Joe Doyle and Tom Hogan who are still hale and hearty and here to witness this momentous occasion at Lover’s Lane. They both have continuously served the cause of soccer at every level over the years. Ber Scott followed closely on their heels a decade later.

Kilkenny soccer is very pleased to recognise the generosity of the Newpark Lawn Resident’s Association in allowing the special 50th Anniversary Commemorative Plaque be erected at their estate to mark this special occasion.

So many of the former players, a number of whom are in attendance today, who would have graced the ‘Comer Road grounds are very proud today to witness this historic occasion. The manufacture and erection of the plaque by Molloy’s of Callan was sponsored by Pius Phelan, Glendine Inn, Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny and the Kilkenny and District League.