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GAA scores with Croker museum

Thursday, 21 August 2008

DID you know that there is a large Waterford Crystal chandelier in the players’ bar in Croke Park that can change to the colour of any of the 32 counties of Ireland depending on which team has just won a match?
This is just one of the many fascinating facts delivered by tour guide Gearóid Devitt as he conducts a tour of Croke Park stadium.
The stadium tours, along with those of the GAA museum, take place daily.
On August 26, the museum will celebrate its 10th birthday. The GAA will commemorate this milestone with an action packed series of events, including free admission to museum activities and stadium tours.
The museum was originally established to commemorate, recognise and celebrate the GAA’s enormous contribution to Irish sporting, cultural and social life since its foundation in 1884.
Situated under the Cusack Stand in Croke Park, it was first opened in September 1998 by the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.
Inside the museum over 40 audio-visual shows bring to life the players, games, unique moments and countless sporting memories of the past.
And according to tour guide, Gearóid, it’s not always diehard GAA fans that turn up at the museum.
“Some of our busiest weekends are when there is a big soccer or rugby match on in town,” says Gearóid.
“All types of sports fans are interested in finding out more about the GAA.”
The museum houses a vast collection of objects that illustrate the development of Gaelic games from ancient times to the present day.
However, one of the most popular items with young people is a specially designed interactive area on the museum’s first floor where your own skills in hurling and Gaelic football can be tested.
Popular as the museum is, a guided tour of Croke Park stadium gives participants a unique insight into the running of the historic venue that is rarely glimpsed.
Attracting visitors from all over Ireland and around the globe, the tours offer an in depth look at one of the most historic and modern sporting arenas in the world.
People who take the tour will be brought through the dressing rooms, premium and corporate levels, the VIP section, media centre, service areas and, of course, pitch side.
Gearóid Devitt is on hand throughout with a huge amount of interesting facts and anecdotes.
“At this time of year the groundsmen walk anything up to 14 kilometres per day just keeping the grass cut to perfection; they take it very seriously,” he reveals.
A tour of the players’ dressing rooms proves to be fascinating with many teams’ county colours hung out on display.
Adjacent to the dressing rooms are the warm-up areas.
“The players will come here to do their warm-up exercises, take a few puck-outs or play around with the ball,” says Gearóid.
“This is an especially important area for the hurling goalkeepers, they reckon it takes them up to 20 minutes’ practice here just to get their eye in properly before a match.”
As we pass along the myriad of tunnels and passageways that make up Croke Park, Gearóid points to a number of huge structures with powerful lamps attached.
“If there’s not enough natural sunlight during the winter months for the grass to grow healthily, these big lamps are brought out to create light, nothing is left to chance,” he adds.
Tours of Croke Park stadium and the GAA museum take place daily from 9.30am to 5pm, and Sundays and Bank Holidays from 12noon to 5pm.
Admission prices for the combined tours are: Adults: e10.50, child (under 12) e7, child (under three) free, students e8, senior citizens e7.50 and families e28.
For more information phone 8192323, visit www.gaa.ie/museum or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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