Virgin Media Park

Virgin Media Park, formerly Musgrave Park, is the Cork home of Munster Rugby and is also home to two of the All Ireland League Senior Club sides, Dolphin RFC and Sundays Well RFC.

A €3.2m investment by Munster Rugby saw major redevelopment works take place from June 2014 to January 2015. Stadium advancements included a new West Stand seating 3,500 – with the overall capacity of the venue at 8008 – while the East Terrace was also covered.

n 2018, a new modified 3G pitch surface was installed. The state-of-the-art pitch has allowed for a significant increase in games played across a number of sports and disciplines at the venue.

The economic benefit of Virgin Media Park for the surrounding area has grown exponentially in recent years with an annual series of concerts now taking place at the venue.

Virgin Media Park Park History by former Munster Branch Hon. Sec. Frank Byford

The ground was purchased by the Munster Branch I.R.F.U. in 1938, when the Ballyphehane area of Cork City, was still open country. The onset of the Second World a year later prevented the immediate development of the ground, but it was possible to build a small pavilion and to put in place two playing pitches. The Dolphin and Sunday’s Well clubs who at that time were having great difficulties in their grounds were installed as tenants. The grounds were named after the late Jimmy Musgrave who had been prominent in both Munster and Irish rugby for many years.

One of the driving forces behind the setting up of the ground was the then Honorary Secretary of the Branch T.W.O’Brien, Sunday November 10th, 1940 saw the opening of the ground, which was opened by the Lord Mayor of Cork Alderman William Desmond and was then followed by a charity match in aid of the Marsh Building fund between the Munster Branch President’s (Louis Daly) XV and the Branch Honorary Secretary (Tommy O’Brien) XV.

During the war the Cork Corporation stored turf on the ‘back pitch’ this mode of heat being so important to the people during those years. Eventually it was decided to provide a stand – it was a pity that when it was been built that it was erected on such lofty stilts. It was usually closed on match days, but on the odd occasion that it was opened to the public, such as a visit of a touring side or an interprovincial match it was usually half full. Eventually it was demolished and a structure almost the full length of the pitch installed, the timber seating came from the old West Stand in Lansdowne Road. The venue has come a long way since those far off days.

On the field some of the highlights was the day that Munster held the mighty All-Blacks, the visitors gaining a share of the spoils with an injury time penalty, while the province have registered a hat-trick of wins over the Wallabies at the venue, their last success came in 1992 when the Australians were World Champions. Other events that have been staged at the ground included major Pipe Band competitions as well as a European Cup soccer match.