Calling all GAA fans! Why not take the opportunity to visit the GAA Museum at Croke Park and complete your knowledge on all you ever wanted to know about our national sports and their origins and not forgetting the heroes who made the games so memorable.
GAA Museum, Croke Park, St. Joseph’s Avenue, Dublin 3.
The GAA Museum is a must see for all die-hard GAA fans. Situated in Croke Park (or “Croker”, as it is known fondly by the locals) - the museum really has so much to offer.
The GAA Museum was set up to remember, acknowledge and honour the GAA’s huge contribution to our national sports and culture. It’s located under the Cusack Stand and was opened in 1998 by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern. The museum looks at the simple beginnings of the GAA and traces its growth and development, both at home and abroad down through the years.
Exhibitions at the museum include the medal collections of Jimmy Doyle, the Leahy Brothers, Jack Lynch and Christy Ring, to name but a few. Other exhibitions on view are the Camogie exhibition, the Davin exhibition and the Bloody Sunday exhibition.
The museum has a number of audio-visual shows, for example, National Awakening, 1947 Polo Grounds Final - New York (the only All-Ireland Final ever to be played outside the state), Handball and Women’s Gaelic Football. This is just a sample to whet your appetite, the museum has in fact over 40 audio-visual shows!
It goes without saying that piéce de résistance for our GAA enthusiasts has to be “The Sam” and the “Liam Mc Carthy Cup”!
The GAA Museum Archive houses an extensive collection of GAA memorabilia which includes programmes, publications, letters, hurleys, and trophies. However, this museum is not open to the general public. Researchers are allowed access, but they must make an appointment in the first instance.
The tour…
Stadium tours are available. A guide will take you through dressing rooms, premium and corporate levels, VIP section, media centre, service area and not forgetting pitch side. Tours are normally daily, except on match days.
During the summer the GAA museum is holding a series of special events, please access the GAA Museum website for further details. No doubt, there are a few ideas there to keep the young GAA stars of tomorrow amused!
An entrance fee applies to the GAA Museum and stadium tours. For current pricing and opening times, again please check the GAA Museum website.
The GAA Museum shop is no more, but in its place there is a new GAA superstore on Jones Road (Hogan Stand side of Croker). This store is open 7 days a week.
How to get here…
By bus: 11, 11A, 16, 16A, 41 (from O’Connell Street - outside the Carlton Cinema, near the GPO), 51A (from lower Abbey Street to Clonliffe Road).
By foot/train: 15 minute walk from Connolly Station, 5 minutes from Drumcondra Rail Station.
If you’re walking from O’Connell Street it’ll take you about 25 minutes or so. Head towards the Parnell Monument at the top of O’Connell Street. Take a right onto Parnell Street and continue onto Summerhill Road. Take a left onto the North Circular Road, followed by a right onto Russell Street. This takes you onto Jones Road where Croke Park is located.
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