DUBLIN, GA.'S SHAMROCK BOWL, BUILT IN 1962, IS THE STATE'S SECOND-OLDEST BOWL STADIUM, ONLY BEHIND ELBERTON'S GRANITE BOWL (1952). THE TWO BOWLS ARE THE LONGEST-SERVING, STILL EXISTING, SINGLE-USER HIGH SCHOOL STADIUMS OF ANY DESIGN IN THE STATE.
BAZEMORE-RYDER FIELD, VALDOSTA, IS THE STATE'S OLDEST EXISTING FIELD THAT IS HOME TO A GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL TEAM, WHICH SHARES THE STADIUM WITH VALDOSTA STATE.
WHEN THE STADIUM WAS BUILT, THERE WAS A SIMPLE DIRT ROAD LEADING NORTH ACROSS MACON ROAD FROM THE VA HOSPITAL. THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WAS UNIMPROVED FROM THE CURRENT CURRY REALTORS OUT TO THE ROCKDALE COMMUNITY. IN THE BEGINNING, THE GEORGIA POWER COMPANY REFUSED TO RUN ELECTRICITY TO THE RURAL AREA. SO OCONEE EMC STEPPED IN AND GLADLY SUPPLIED ELECTRICITY TO THE NEW STADIUM.
THE SHAMROCK BOWL ELECTRIFIED THE FOOTBALL FANS IN DUBLIN. IN THEIR SECOND SEASON AT HOME IN THE BOWL, THE IRISH CAPTURED A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, THEIR THIRD IN FIVE YEARS.
TODAY (2026), ALL THREE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE NEWER OR RENEWED STADIUMS, COMPLETE WITH ASTROTURF AND SUPERIOR LIGHTING TO THAT OF THE EARLY DAYS OF THE 1960S.
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