Yesterday, it was officially announced that Dublin City Council had purchased the home of the Irish football. It is expected that Shelbourne, who played home games in the ground in the 70s, will share the ground with Bohs in future years.
Ireland haven't played regularly in the ground since the mid 1970s but it remains, for many, the true spiritual home of the Irish game.
Here are some of the finest moments Dalymount has witnessed down the years...
Ireland 1-0 Spain - 1965
Ireland beat the 1964 European champions 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier, thanks to an astonishing howler from the Spanish keeper who proceeded to throw himself to the ground like an overacting tragic heroine on the London stage.
Ireland lost 4-1 out in Spain but that wasn't the end of the matter. UEFA weren't pedantic enough to bother themselves with fripperies like goal difference and a playoff would have to be played. The winner would be heading to England '66.
The game was to be held in London, but the FAI were induced to agree to a switch to Paris, sacrificing virtual home advantage.
Ireland performed manfully in the Parc des Princes but lost 1-0 thanks to a late goal.
Ireland 2-1 France - 1972
Ireland endured some monumentally bleak years in the late 1960s. We went a whole five years without winning a match, competitive or otherwise. These were the days when the Irish team was selected by a 17 FAI officials.
This grinding run ended in the inauspicious surrounds of Recife with a 2-1 win over Iran (it was in the Brazilian Independence Cup)
And later that year, Ray Treacy's glancing header gave Ireland a superb victory over the French and revive interest in the 1974 qualifying campaign.
Sadly the loss in the Soviet Union was to prove costly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jc-KrS3wkA
Ireland 3-2 Sweden
A friendly, but a friendly against the previous year's World Cup finalists. A momentous day too as John Giles made his international debut.
His screamer dragged Ireland back into the game.
It was a classic 'Hurrincanes' sort of game as Ireland trailed 2-0 before claiming a famous 3-2 win.
League of Ireland XI 2-1 Football League XI - 1963
Astonishing scenes as a team containing Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Roger Hunt and Ray Wilson (all future World Cup winners) and managed by Alf Ramsey were defeated by a League of Ireland selection. Goals from Shamrock Rovers' Eddie Bailham and St. Pat's Ronnie Whelan gave the Irish a 2-1 win.
Read about the extraordinary events of that night here.
Ireland 3-0 USSR - 1974
A remarkable demolition of the mighty Soviet Union. Liam Brady made his debut and Don Givens enjoyed his finest hour. A glorious start to the John Giles era, a time when Irish football ascended to the level of respectability, after the bleak late 60s.
