If you’re a rugby fan, then don’t miss your chance to cheer on the team in three big home games this year. Ireland take on Italy, Wales and Scotland on the hallowed turf of Croke Park - the last three rugby games to be played here before the opening of the Aviva Stadium. Read on for more…

Rugby has never been so prominent in Ireland. In recent years, it has flourished and is now widely played throughout the country. It’s fair to say that this surge in rugby can be attributed to our national team - current grand slam title holders in the RBS Six Nations and the success of teams like Munster and Leinster in the Heineken Cup. Added to this the fact that Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll has recently been voted ‘World Player of the Decade’ by Rugby World Magazine and Ireland is definitely on the rugby world map!

Ireland’s first game of the year will kick off in Croke Park on the 6th of February when they take on Italy. After Ireland’s run of success in 2009 they are the team to beat and Italy are sure to come out with all guns blazing. This is a match not to be missed and kick off is at 2.30pm.

Ireland will take on Wales on Saturday 13th March. This will be another hotly contested match and will kick off at 2.30pm. If you can’t make this match, don’t worry as the following Saturday (20th March at 5pm) Ireland will take on Scotland again in Croke Park which is sure to provide a nail-biting spectacle!

These three ‘at home’ matches will be your last chance to see Ireland play in the fantastic venue that is Croke Park Stadium. The stadium is located just about a 20 minute walk from O’Connell Street (in Dublin city centre) just off Jones’s Road in an area called Drumcondra.

Accommodation for these games will be in high demand so we strongly recommend you book your accommodation as soon as possible.

If you want to stay close to Croke Park then check out the Croke Park Hotel. It’s literally in the shadow of the Hogan Stand so you won’t get closer than this!

If you’d like somewhere closer to the city then we suggest you try the 4 star Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street, the Academy Hotel just off O’Connell Street or the Maldron Hotel Parnell Square at Parnell Place. For all hotels in Dublin visit our Dublin hotels page.

Here’s hoping the boys in green do us proud again this year! Enjoy the match and the atmosphere around the city!