Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

The Work

The groundsperson / ground staff make sure that sports surfaces are kept in good condition.

They prepare level surfaces, then turf or seed them and maintain them by regular cutting, trimming, irrigation and application of nutrients or pesticides. They also mark out surfaces for different sports such as tennis, horse racing and football. They may deal with issues caused by the weather such as a waterlogged track or pitch.

Where surfaces are artificial, they clean and repair them according to the requirements of the material. Other tasks include general upkeep of hedges, fencing, netting and seating.  

Other tasks are specific to the type of grounds they work on. For example, on a racecourse, ground staff will replace divots after each race, and carry out any emergency repairs of rail or track as required. And on National Hunt race days this will include repairing hurdles and fences damaged by horses during a race.

Hand tools such as spades and forks are used, as well as powered hedge cutters, strimmers and a range of machinery from manual lawnmowers to tractor driven motor mowers. Cleaning, maintaining and making minor repairs to machinery are also part of their daily work.

Protective clothing such as masks, gloves and goggles are worn. Ground staff work outdoors in all weather conditions

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Gather and remove litter.
• Use hand tools, such as shovels, rakes, pruning saws, saws, hedge or brush trimmers, or axes.
• Operate vehicles or powered equipment, such as mowers, tractors, twin-axle vehicles, snow blowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, sod cutters, or pruning saws.
• Water lawns, trees, or plants, using portable sprinkler systems, hoses, or watering cans.
• Prune or trim trees, shrubs, or hedges, using shears, pruners, or chain saws.
• Mix and spray or spread fertilisers, herbicides, or insecticides onto grass, shrubs, or trees, using hand or automatic sprayers or spreaders.
• Care for established lawns by mulching, aerating, weeding, grubbing, removing thatch, or trimming or edging around flower beds, walks, or walls.
• Follow planned landscaping designs to determine where to lay sod, sow grass, or plant flowers or foliage.
• Trim or pick flowers and clean flower beds.
• Attach wires from planted trees to support stakes.

Further Information

• Groundsperson - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Groundsperson - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Qualification vary for entry into this career, experience and/or training in horticulture and agriculture, and a good understanding of the sport in question is an advantage.

With experience, you can progress to a ‘head groundsperson’ position where you have more responsibilities and may be in charge of a team of ground staff.

You may also want to progress into other related areas where you can use similar skills, such as greenkeeper (golf), horticulture or landscaping.

There are plenty of horticulture courses in Colleges of Further Education and ETBs, and some in Institutes of Technology/Technological Universities.

Training & Development Pathways

FET Centre Traineeship: Greenkeeper & Horticulture in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 4-5 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET PLC Courses: Garden design, Horticulture, Landscaping at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search our FET PLC Coursefinder

Apprenticeship: Applied Horticulture [in development] Arboriculture Apprenticeship NFQ level 6 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Horticulture, landscape architecture NFQ Levels 7-8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Postgraduate Study Options Horticulture NFQ level 9

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €45k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale / Glassdoor/ Indeed / Excel

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Although the employment growth over the five-year period was negative for this occupation, employment levels have remained static since 2020. At 37%, the share aged 55 years or older was almost double the national average of 19%.

A relatively high share of persons employed in this occupation were employed part-time. The administrative and support services sector accounted for the largest share of employment for this occupation at almost two-fifths.

• Teagasc - Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority

  • Head Office, Oak Park, Carlow
  • (059) 917 0200
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Sport Ireland

  • Sport Ireland National Sports Campus, Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
  • (01) 8608800
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Horse Racing Ireland (HRI)

  • Ballymany, The Curragh, Co. Kildare, Ireland, R56 XE37
  • (045) 455 455
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here