Nowlan Park — Home of Kilkenny Hurling

UPMC Nowlan Park — the spiritual home of Kilkenny hurling — is one of Ireland's most iconic GAA venues. Named after James Nowlan, the longest-serving President of the GAA (1901–1921), the stadium opened in 1927 on O'Loughlin Road in Kilkenny city. With a capacity of 24,000 (including approximately 18,000 seats across four stands), it serves as the home of the Kilkenny county hurling team — the most successful county in the history of the ancient sport. Kilkenny's extraordinary record in Gaelic games gives Nowlan Park a special status: it is a venue where history is constantly being made. Beyond hurling, the park is a major entertainment venue, having hosted Bruce Springsteen twice, as well as Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Rod Stewart, Andrea Bocelli, and Paul Simon. In June 2014 it made media history as the venue for the first GAA Championship match ever broadcast live to a UK-wide audience. UPMC, one of Ireland's largest private health providers, holds the naming rights.

Nowlan Park was developed in 1927, replacing the earlier county ground at St James Park, which had hosted key Kilkenny matches in the early 20th century. The acquisition was financed through a £1 levy on each Kilkenny club, along with contributions from W.T. Cosgrave and the Leinster Council. The park was named in dedication to James Nowlan, who served as GAA President from 1901 to 1921 — steering the association through the 1916 Rising, World War I, and the War of Independence while also serving as a Kilkenny alderman. The first competitive fixtures were held in 1928. Over the following decades, Nowlan Park grew into a proud hurling fortress, with Kilkenny's extraordinary All-Ireland success driving successive improvements to the ground. The Old Stand was supplemented by the Paddy Grace Stand (Hebron Road), the Ted Carroll Stand, and the City Terrace. A severe storm in February 2014 destroyed part of the Old Stand roof; the replacement was completed by early 2015. In 2019, UPMC signed a 10-year naming rights deal — one of the most significant commercial partnerships in provincial GAA history.

On a major hurling championship day, UPMC Nowlan Park is one of the most atmospheric sports venues in Ireland. The black-and-amber sea of Kilkenny jerseys, the crack of ash on ash, and the roar of one of hurling's most knowledgeable and passionate crowds create an experience unlike any other in Gaelic games. The compact city location means supporters can pour out of Kilkenny's celebrated medieval pubs and reach the ground in minutes. Leinster Championship days against rivals Tipperary, Galway, or Wexford generate a white-hot intensity. The ground also shines as a concert venue — the natural bowl created by the stands provides excellent acoustics.

Guided tours of UPMC Nowlan Park are available by arrangement through Kilkenny GAA. Tours take in the dressing rooms, players' tunnel, and pitchside areas, with knowledgeable guides sharing stories of Kilkenny's extraordinary hurling heritage and the stadium's history. Contact Kilkenny GAA via www.kilkennygaa.ie to arrange a visit.

UPMC Nowlan Park does not operate a standalone museum, but the stadium's guided tours provide access to Kilkenny GAA's trophy collection and memorabilia celebrating the county's All-Ireland hurling championship wins. A visit to Nowlan Park is itself a journey through the history of Ireland's most decorated hurling county.