Tonight’s the night.
After four long months, the SSE Airtricity League is back and with it the hopes of supporters all over the country that this will be their team’s year.
The countdown to the first kick-offs is very much on but then again, it has been that way for some time.
As soon as the fixtures were released just before Christmas, supporters the length and breadth of Ireland were already eyeing out the big games.
Part and parcel of what is great about being a League of Ireland supporter though is the away trips.
For some, it’s a fortnightly occurrence, for others it’s a bi-annual thing and for even more it’s a rarity.
There’s nothing like getting together with mates though and following your side on the road. At least once this season you should endeavour to stay over and see all that an area has to offer and have the craic with away fans. That bond between supporters is what makes the league truly great.
With that in mind, LeagueofIreland.ie decided to rate the best away trips in the country. While facilities for away fans have to be taken into account, the craic and what a town/city has to offer were also brought into the equation.
Don’t agree with us on our list? Be sure to let us know your favourite away day outing.
1 Cork City
Okay, so no matter where you’re coming from this is a bit of a trek but with a good road, rail and bus network to Cork, it’s nowhere as bad as it used to be. The facilities at Turner’s Cross are amongst the finest the league has to offer while there are an abundance of places to stay nearby. There’s also an array of pubs, clubs and restaurants for you to enjoy before and after the game, with Soho Bar and others frequently doing post-match promotions. The Cork lads (and lassies) are a decent bunch too.
2 Galway Utd
Eamonn Deacy Park is a tidy little venue, not far from the city centre. Again, no matter where you’re based it’s probably one of the longer away trips but transport links aren’t half bad and what Galway has to offer more than makes up for it. There’s plenty of craic to be had in Galway and you’re certain not to be disappointed.
3 Sligo Rovers
The Showgrounds is another fantastic little venue with Sligo a very underrated town. There’s some lovely hotels, pubs and restaurants and the Sligo supporters are a decent bunch to boot. It’s size means it’s likely to be a little quieter than Cork and Galway but that means it’s easier to mingle with supporters. A bit of a hidden gem for an away trip and could even push for a higher place had it better road links.
4 Finn Harps
Let’s be honest about this, the road network to Ballybofey is arguably the worst of any League of Ireland club in the country, there’s very few transport links and despite a bit of work over the off season the facilities at Finn Park are a bit ‘meh’ at best. Still though, there’s really nothing quite like a break away in Donegal, with most supporters opting to stay the 20-odd kilometres away in Letterkenny. It’s also been the best part of a decade since Harps were last in the Premier Division (2008) so this is one trip that many haven’t got to experience for some time.
5 Wexford Youths
There’s quite a nice little setup at Ferrycarrig Park and the drive there from the perspective of around half of the league’s clubs is amongst the best in the country through the likes of the picturesque Glen of the Downs. Wexford is also a decent little town with plenty to offer and the people are decent. As this is Youths’ first year in the Premier Division it will also be a new experience for most making it certainly worth a trip.
6 Shamrock Rovers
Where to place Rovers in this list was one of the trickier calls to make. Tallaght Stadium has some of the best facilities in the league but Tallaght itself is not the most appealing place to visit and the home supporters have a habit of making you feel particularly unwelcome. Still, there is a hotel across the road from the pitch, plenty to offer in The Square shopping centre and while a bit of a trek, there’s always the option of the Luas into the city centre.
7 Derry City
A trip to The Brandywell would arguably have been higher in recent years. However, a combination of redevelopment work, some recent trouble for visiting supporters and the poor exchange rate between euro and sterling means it has slipped a little. Still though, the Derry fans are a decent bunch and you’ll not be disappointed with what the city has to offer either.
8 Bohemians
In many ways Bohs are a little unlucky not to be a little higher as Dalymount Park is still one of the better places to watch a game. However, an aging stadium – soon to be rectified hopefully – and the lack of attractions in Phibsborough means it falls down in comparison to others. It’s not too far away from Dublin City Centre though, has an Eddie Rocket’s, McDonald’s and Leo Burdock’s a stone’s throw away and McGowan’s Pub is always decent for a few scoops.
9 Longford Town
The City Calling Stadium is a decent enough ground but one that could perhaps benefit from some renewed investment. It’s hard to be overly critical of a ground that has some of the best parking facilities in the league but its major downside is its proximity a good distance outside of the town and the fact that Longford is not top of many people’s places to visit. This may change, however, if and when the Centre Parcs development is built.
10 St Patrick’s Athletic
Richmond Park is another venue that is probably a little unlucky not to be a little higher up the list. While the stadium is aging, it’s one of the better places to view a game given how close you are to the action. That said, there’s little in or around the ground of note and anyone visiting is surely hopping on a Luas into the city centre afterwards rather than staying in the ground’s vicinity.
11 Bray Wanderers
A flip of a coin can determine how good or bad your experience of the Carlisle Grounds is. On a summer’s day with the sun shining it can be a good experience but more often than not when the wind and rain are in full force, it’s not good. Bray itself is not as popular as it once was but does offer some good pubs, hotels and restaurants while the proximity of the train station to the ground is a definite plus.
12 Dundalk
The Lilywhites might be reigning champions on the field but off it they have a lot of work to do. There are restricted views in a number of areas of the away section at Oriel while the lack of cover makes it an unforgiving place to visit on a bad day. While there are some decent pubs and restaurants in the town and near the ground, it lacks a decent town centre hotel while it is a bit of a bugbear that the nearby train station does not offer fans a route home after the full-time whistle.