‘Guided By These Ancient Lights’ | The Myth of the Dalymount Park Floodlights

The Bohemian area of Phibsboro, like many North Dublin suburbs has seen plenty of change in recent years. Cool bars and cosy coffee shops seem to pop up every other week. The extension of the Luas Line to the Northside now means that Phibsboro (Or Phibsborough, depending on how you fancy spelling it) is very easily accessible from the city centre. What is also very noticeable is that Phibsboro’s population is becoming more and more international. With the Dublin rental market becoming more and more ridiculous by the day, international working professionals are exploring their options on the Northside instead of coughing up the abhorrent prices Landlords are quoting them in the boujee districts of South Dublin.

One of the many new bars that has sprung up in Phibsboro | Photo Credit

Despite the ongoing change, there is one iconic, ancient landmark that continues to dominate the Phibsboro skyline: Dalymount Park is the home of Bohemian FC and the former Home of Irish Football. “Dalyer”, as the locals often refer to it, is everything that the modern “Soulless Bowl” style stadium is not: It is old school. It has personality. It feels like a proper football stadium. 

We’re quite sure that there are people out there who wouldn’t talk about the stadium so endearingly. We’re not writing for those kinds of people though, are we? We’re writing for the discerning football fan.

The 60 year old floodlights which adorn the home of Bohs are without a doubt, the most striking feature of Dalymount Park. The floodlights are so iconic that they have resulted in t-shirts and fan displays, depicting the ancient lights. The Dalymount floodlights have captured the imagination of local supporters, so much to the extent that there is a legend, or perhaps a myth, regarding their origin.

“Guided By These Ancient Lights” | Photo Credit

It is hard to fathom today, but floodlit football wasn’t a phenomenon in Ireland until the 1950s / 1960s. The inaugural floodlit game at Dalymount Park was a friendly game between Bohemian FC and English giants Arsenal FC. The Gypsies were defeated 8-3 on the night but that is largely forgotten as another legend has emerged from this event.

Matchday programme from the inaugural switch-on | Photo Credit

Many claim that the choice of opponents for the debut of Dalymount’s most prized possession was not random. It is widely (falsely) believed that the floodlights which beamed down upon the field for the first time that night, once stood at Highbury Stadium, the then- home of Arsenal FC. Many claim that Arsenal were chosen as opponents that night after the floodlights were transported from London to Dublin in 1962. 

The below photo however will quickly dispel this myth. Taken in 1951, this black and white shot of Highbury shows that the floodlights used at the time bare no resemblance to the lights which dominate the North Dublin skyline nowadays.

Arsenal vs Rangers, Highbury, 1951 | Photo Credit

As is often the case however, it is more fun to believe in the legend in this case. It sure tells a good story. Dalymount Park is due to be redeveloped over the next couple of years, a move which would see them enter a ground share with their local rivals Shelbourne FC. Whilst this move is necessary, it will no doubt be an emotional day for Bohs supporters to bid farewell to the awe-inspiring floodlights which have guided them on their way to the famous home of the Gypsies for so many years.