Situated at Cathedral Lane in the heart of Dublin city, the artificial ground known affectionately as the ‘Cabbage Patch’ is a place where people from various ethnic backgrounds and nationalities can come together to express themselves and have fun through their passion for soccer.
Every day the five-a-side pitch sees more than 50 players of all abilities test their soccer skills and showcase their talent. On any given day you might meet people from South America, Europe and Asian and Africa countries, along with native Irish locals.
“The Cabbage Patch has been a great platform for integration and multiculturalism,” says Ken McCue, head of Sport Against Racism Ireland (Sari), a non-profit organisation set up to tackle racism in Ireland by encouraging integration via soccer and other sports.
Sari regularly showcases sports and cultural events with the aim of bringing people – especially younger people – together across different cultural backgrounds, and many of the future soccer stars it supports frequent the proving ground of the Cabbage Patch.
Yusuf Pwol, a regular at the pitch, says he enjoys the ‘tiki-taka’ style of short-pass soccer the Brazilians play.
“I get to have fun in a calm competitive manner, while also getting to meet and play with people from different countries and backgrounds,” he adds.
Brian Mooney, who lives near the park, echoes Pwol’s sentiments, saying that he enjoys interacting with people from all around the world while also keeping fit and learning new skills.
Though the wet and windy conditions as of late has seen numbers drop somewhat at the all-weather pitch, the Cabbage Patch is never left to grow fallow. Indeed, it’s an evergreen garden where people from all around the world can dig in their boots and make connections through their love of sport.
And perhaps the best thing about the inclusive ground is that it’s open to the public.
