Croke Park is the home of the GAA and, with a Croke Park capacity of 82,300, the largest stadium in Ireland and the third-largest in Europe. It hosts the All-Ireland hurling and football finals, summer concerts and the odd rugby or soccer international, and it sits 15 minutes’ walk from Connolly station in Dublin’s north inner city. At the gate, bags can be no bigger than A4, and umbrellas, cans and alcohol are refused. There is nowhere at the stadium or near it to leave a bag. Below: the stands and seating, the bag rules, concerts and the GAA Museum, getting to Croke Park from Connolly and the city centre, parking, and where to leave luggage before a match or gig.
In Dublin for the day with a bag? Store it near Connolly station or four minutes from Croke Park, open until 22:30.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Address | Jones’ Road, Dublin 3, D03 P6K7 |
| Capacity | 82,300 (about 73,500 all-seated for concerts, more with pitch standing) |
| Stands | Hogan Stand (west), Cusack Stand (east), Davin Stand (Canal End, south), Hill 16 / Nally terrace (north) |
| Bag limit | A4 (21 x 29.7 cm); backpacks and large bags refused |
| Bag storage | None at or near the stadium |
| Umbrellas | Not permitted; bring a poncho |
| Nearest stations | Drumcondra (10 min walk), Connolly (15 min), Luas Red Line Connolly / Abbey Street |
| Parking | Very limited; city-centre car parks, clamping on nearby streets |
| GAA Museum & Skyline | Open daily; Skyline rooftop walk is 17 storeys up |
| Official site | crokepark.ie |
Croke Park Capacity and Seating
The Croke Park capacity is 82,300: roughly 69,000 seats across the Hogan, Cusack and Davin stands plus the Hill 16 terrace. For concerts the pitch takes standing or seated fans and the terrace is usually closed, so capacity moves between about 73,500 and 82,000 depending on the layout. Tickets show a colour-coded route (Red Route for the Cusack Stand, and so on) that tells you which side of the stadium to approach from; follow it, because the Jones’ Road and Clonliffe Road sides don’t connect inside the ground. The seating map is on crokepark.ie and inside the GAA app, with the Hogan Stand upper tier the best all-round view and the Hill the loudest for Dublin games.
Croke Park Bag Policy and Prohibited Items
- A4 maximum. Only small bags up to 21 x 29.7 cm, including plastic bags, are admitted, and they’re searched. The stadium’s own advice is to come without one.
- Backpacks and large bags are refused, and there is nowhere at or near the stadium to leave them.
- Umbrellas are banned for the safety and sightlines of the people behind you. It rains in Dublin; bring a poncho.
- No cans or alcohol from outside. Anything that could be used as a weapon or cause disruption is confiscated and not returned.
- Buggies may be allowed but must be left at the back of the stand at your own risk.
- Concert nights run on the promoter’s longer list: selfie sticks, professional cameras, large flags, glass and flares were all banned at recent stadium shows, and backpacks are refused outright.
What’s On at Croke Park: Matches and Concerts
The GAA season peaks between June and late July with the All-Ireland hurling and football finals, which fill the stadium and the city’s hotels. Summer is also concert season: Croke Park hosts a handful of stadium shows each year between May and September, announced from the autumn before. The 2026 schedule and whatever is “on in Croke Park today” are on crokepark.ie and the GAA app; big GAA fixtures throw in at 15:30 or 17:00 on weekends, concerts open doors around 17:00 for a 20:00 start.
GAA Museum, Stadium Tour and Skyline
Under the Cusack Stand, the GAA Museum and stadium tour run daily on non-event days, with the dressing rooms, the players’ tunnel and the pitch side. The Skyline is the rooftop walk 17 storeys above the pitch with views across Dublin to the mountains and the bay, about 90 minutes including the museum. Neither has lockers for luggage, so if you’re doing the tour between the airport and a hotel, store bags first.
How to Get to Croke Park
| From | Route | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Connolly station | Walk north via Amiens Street and Ballybough Road to the Davin Stand, or Luas Red Line one stop and walk | 15 min walk |
| Drumcondra station | Walk down Clonliffe Road to the Hogan / Cusack side | 10 min walk |
| O’Connell Street | Walk via Gardiner Street, or Dublin Bus 1, 11, 13, 16, 44 on Dorset Street / Drumcondra Road | 20–25 min walk |
| Heuston station | Luas Red Line to Connolly, then walk | About 35 min |
| Dublin Airport | Dublin Express or bus 16 to Drumcondra, then walk | About 45 min |
Walk if you can: on event days the roads around the stadium close and Dublin Bus diverts, and the 15-minute walk from Connolly is quicker than any bus. After a match the crowd clears towards Drumcondra and the city centre within about 30 minutes.
Parking on Match and Concert Days
There’s almost none. Clonliffe College, the traditional event car park, is no longer available, and the stadium points drivers to city-centre car parks and O’Connell Schools. The surrounding streets are clamped and fined on event days. Park in town (Marlborough Street, Irish Life or the Jervis car parks) and walk 20 minutes, or come by train.
Luggage Storage Near Croke Park
Plenty of people turn up at Croke Park with a bag, from county fans off the morning train to concert-goers flying in and out the same weekend. With the A4 limit and nothing at the stadium to leave it in, drop it in town before you walk up. Radical Storage has verified partner shops and hotels around Connolly, Drumcondra and O’Connell Street, including one four minutes from the stadium open until 22:30 and a 24-hour option near the city centre. You book online, pay a flat rate per bag (there are no size or weight limits) and pick your luggage up after the match or gig. Bags are covered up to €10,000, cancellation is free, and travellers rate the service 4.8/5.
- Luggage storage next to Croke Park, four minutes from the gates.
- Luggage storage near Connolly station for train, Luas and airport bus arrivals.
- Luggage storage on O’Connell Street if you’re sightseeing first.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Croke Park capacity is 82,300, making it the largest stadium in Ireland and the third-largest in Europe. For concerts the layout changes and capacity ranges from about 73,500 all-seated to 82,000 with pitch standing.
Only a small bag no larger than A4 (21 x 29.7 cm), which will be searched. Backpacks and large bags are refused and there is no bag storage at or near the stadium. The stadium advises coming without a bag to avoid queues.
No. Umbrellas are not permitted for the safety and sightlines of other spectators. Bring a rain poncho instead.
Walk: about 15 minutes north via Amiens Street and Ballybough Road to the Davin Stand (Canal End). Drumcondra station is a 10-minute walk from the Hogan and Cusack side. On event days walking beats the diverted buses.
Very little. Clonliffe College is no longer available, and the stadium directs drivers to city-centre car parks and O’Connell Schools. Streets around the ground are clamped and fined on event days, so park in town and walk 20 minutes.
Croke Park hosts a handful of stadium concerts each summer between May and September, announced from the previous autumn on crokepark.ie. Concert nights use the promoter’s stricter rules: backpacks, selfie sticks, large flags and professional cameras are refused.
Radical Storage has partner locations four minutes from the stadium (open until 22:30), near Connolly and Drumcondra stations and on O’Connell Street. Book online, drop your bags at a verified local business and collect them after the match, with protection of up to €10,000 per bag.
