Pairc Ui Chaoimh is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium located in Cork, Ireland. It is the home of the Cork senior hurling and football teams. The stadium has a capacity of around 43,500 and underwent major renovations in recent years. Determining which stand is covered at Pairc Ui Chaoimh requires looking at the layout and design of the stadium.
Overview of Pairc Ui Chaoimh Stadium
Pairc Ui Chaoimh contains four separate stands, each with its own name:
- The South Stand
- The North Stand
- The East Stand
- The West Stand
The stands surround the hurling and football pitch in a continuous oval shape. The South Stand is located behind one of the goals, while the North Stand is situated at the opposite end behind the other goal. The East and West stands run along the length of the pitch on each side.
South Stand
The South Stand at Pairc Ui Chaoimh has a covered section consisting of a cantilevered roof over the seating. This covered section stretches across much of the middle portion of the stand. However, the seating areas towards the far ends of the South Stand do not have any overhead cover.
The South Stand has a total capacity of over 11,000 spectators. The covered section can accommodate approximately 8,500 of those fans. So while not the entire stand is covered, a significant portion does provide shelter from the elements.
Key Facts About South Stand Covering
- Cantilevered roof providing cover for middle section of stand
- Approximately 8,500 seats under covered area
- Uncovered seating sections at far ends of stand
- Total capacity over 11,000
North Stand
In contrast to the South Stand, the North Stand at Pairc Ui Chaoimh does not contain any covered sections. This end of the stadium remains entirely open to the sky. Any fans sitting in the North Stand will not have any protection from rain or sun during matches.
The North Stand has a capacity of around 6,000 spectators. Due to its smaller size compared to the South Stand, it was not constructed with any roof cover. Plans likely existed to add a covering later on, but this has not yet materialized.
Key Facts About North Stand Covering
- No covered sections
- Fully open stand
- Around 6,000 seating capacity
- Remains uncovered after renovations
East Stand
The East Stand is the largest single stand at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, with a capacity of nearly 14,000 spectators. It runs the entire length of the pitch along one touchline.
In terms of covering, the East Stand features a continuous overhead roof. This provides complete cover for all seating areas in the stand. Fans in the East Stand will be shielded from the elements regardless of where they are sitting within the stand.
The angled cantilevered roof extends across the full stand and also covers the media facilities and team dressing rooms located underneath. It is an impressively large single uncovered structure.
Key Facts About East Stand Covering
- Capacity of around 14,000
- Entire stand covered by cantilevered roof
- No exposed seating areas
- Full stand width covered
West Stand
Mirroring the East Stand, the West Stand is another sizable covered stand at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. It has a similar capacity of approximately 13,500 spectators.
The West Stand also includes a continuous cantilevered roof covering all of the seating from one end to the other. This provides complete overhead shelter along the entire length of the stand. There are no open gaps or exposed areas in the stand’s covering.
The West Stand roof has a slightly curved profile and covers facilities located below the stand. Overall, it matches the size and coverage provided by the roof on the East Stand.
Key Facts About West Stand Covering
- Around 13,500 seat capacity
- Full cantilevered roof cover
- No open or exposed seating sections
- Similar size and coverage to East Stand
Comparison of Stand Coverings
To summarize the covering at each of the stands:
Stand | Covering | Covered Seating Capacity |
---|---|---|
South Stand | Partial | ~8,500 seats |
North Stand | None | 0 seats |
East Stand | Full | ~14,000 seats |
West Stand | Full | ~13,500 seats |
This comparison makes it clear that the East and West stands are the two fully covered stands at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Between them, they provide roof shelter for around 27,500 spectators.
The South Stand only has partial cover, while the North Stand remains completely open to the elements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the two stands that are covered in their entirety at Pairc Ui Chaoimh are the East Stand and the West Stand.
These similar large stands situatied along each touchline both feature complete cantilevered roofs covering their approximately 14,000 and 13,500 capacity crowds respectively.
In contrast, the South Stand only has cover for 8,500 of its 11,000 seats, while the smaller North Stand has no roof at all.
So if seeking cover from the rain or sun when watching a match in Cork’s famous Gaelic stadium, aim for tickets in the East or West stands.