How to Get to Croke Park with Dublin Express
How to Get to Croke Park with Dublin Express
Heading to a match, concert, or event at Croke Park? Dublin Express is the fastest and most affordable way to get from Dublin Airport or Belfast into Dublin city centre, putting you just a short walk or transfer from the stadium. With tickets from just €9 one-way from Dublin Airport and services running throughout the day, Dublin Express takes care of the biggest part of your journey.
Croke Park is Ireland's national stadium and the home of the GAA, located at Jones's Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 3, D03 P6K7. With a capacity of 82,300, it is the third largest stadium in Europe and hosts All-Ireland finals, international concerts, and major sporting events throughout the year.
How Dublin Express fits into your Croke Park journey: Dublin Express buses travel through Dublin city centre, stopping along the quays and at key city centre locations. From the nearest Dublin Express stops, Croke Park is approximately a 25 to 30 minute walk north through the city, or a short transfer using Dublin Bus or an Irish Rail commuter service to Drumcondra Station (5 minutes walk from the stadium). Full details of all options are below.
Step 1 — Getting to Dublin City Centre with Dublin Express
Whether you are flying into Dublin Airport or travelling from Belfast, Dublin Express gets you quickly and affordably into Dublin city centre, from where Croke Park is easily reachable.
From Dublin Airport — Route 782, 783, or 784
From: Dublin Airport Terminal 1 (Zone 1) or Terminal 2 (Zone 21)
Get off at: Eden Quay (O'Connell Street and Marlborough Street) — Route 782 or 784
Or get off at: Custom House Quay (Gardiner Street and Connolly Station) — Route 782 or 784
Journey time to city centre: From 14 minutes
Price: From €9 one-way
Frequency: Every 15 minutes at peak times
Book Dublin Airport to Dublin City →
From Belfast — Route 785
From: Grand Central Station, Belfast
Get off at: Custom House Quay (Stop 135271), Dublin city centre
Journey time: Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes to Dublin city centre
Price: From £8.50 one-way
Services: Up to 16 daily
Step 2 — Getting from Dublin City Centre to Croke Park
Once you are in Dublin city centre, you have several straightforward options to reach Croke Park:
Option | From | Journey to Croke Park | Info |
Walk via O'Connell Street | Eden Quay or O'Connell Bridge area | Approx. 25 to 30 minutes | Walk north up O'Connell Street, continue up Parnell Square and Parnell Street, then right onto Jones's Road. Well signposted on match days. |
Irish Rail to Drumcondra Station | Connolly Station (5 min walk from Custom House Quay) | Approx. 5 minutes by train, then 5 min walk | Take any northbound commuter train from Connolly to Drumcondra Station — the closest station to Croke Park. Trains run regularly on event days. Check timetables at irishrail.ie. |
Dublin Bus | O'Connell Street / city centre | Approx. 15 minutes | Routes 1, 7, 7A, 7B, 13, 16, 19, and others serve Croke Park from the city centre. Check transportforireland.ie for real-time departures. |
Taxi or rideshare | Anywhere in city centre | Approx. 10 minutes | Convenient, but expect longer journey times and higher fares immediately after events when demand is high. |
Getting to Croke Park by Train from Anywhere in Ireland via Rail2Air
Travelling from outside Dublin for a match or concert at Croke Park? Dublin Express has partnered with Irish Rail through the Rail2Air service, making it easy to combine your train and bus tickets in one booking. For Croke Park, the key connection is via Connolly Station and onward to Drumcondra.
From Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford or Westport — via Heuston Station
Book your Irish Rail ticket to Heuston Station and add a Dublin Express bus leg via irishrail.ie using Rail2Air.
At Heuston Station, board a Dublin Express bus directly outside — departures every 15 minutes at peak times.
Travel along the quays to Eden Quay or Custom House Quay in the city centre.
From Custom House Quay, it is a short walk (5 minutes) to Connolly Station, where you can board an Irish Rail commuter train to Drumcondra (5 minutes, then 5 minutes walk to stadium).
Alternatively, walk directly from Eden Quay to Croke Park via O'Connell Street in approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Find out more about Rail2Air →
From Belfast, Sligo, Wexford or DART services — via Connolly Station
Your train arrives at Connolly Station. From Connolly, take any northbound Irish Rail commuter service to Drumcondra Station (one stop, approximately 5 minutes).
Exit Drumcondra Station onto Lower Drumcondra Road and walk approximately 5 minutes to Croke Park on Jones's Road.
Alternatively, Dublin Express stops at Custom House Quay (5 minutes walk from Connolly) board a Dublin Express bus if you are continuing on to the airport after the match.
Planning Your Journey — Croke Park Event Day Tips
Croke Park strongly recommends using public transport on all event days. The stadium is located in a residential area with very limited parking, and local residents have priority. Clamping is enforced in the surrounding area on event days.
On All-Ireland final days, Irish Rail runs additional services to Drumcondra to handle the volume of supporters. Check the Irish Rail website for special timetables in advance.
Arrive at least 45 to 60 minutes before the scheduled start to allow time for getting to the stadium, going through turnstiles, and finding your seat. For sold-out events, allow more time.
Croke Park has a bag restriction policy bags must not exceed A4 size (21cm x 30cm). Check the Croke Park website for the full and most up-to-date entry conditions before you travel.
After the event, expect the city centre to be very busy. If returning to Dublin Airport by Dublin Express, plan your post-match journey before the event starts.
About Croke Park
Croke Park is Ireland's national stadium and the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), located at Jones's Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 3, D03 P6K7. With a capacity of 82,300, it is the third largest stadium in Europe and one of the great sporting venues in the world.
Home to Gaelic football and hurling including the iconic All-Ireland senior championships. Croke Park has also hosted some of Ireland's biggest ever concerts, with artists including U2, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé performing to sold-out crowds. The stadium also hosts international rugby and soccer fixtures and major boxing events.
The Croke Park precinct includes the GAA Museum, the Croke Park Hotel, and a range of dining and hospitality facilities. For upcoming events, tickets, and stadium information, visit crokepark.ie.
Frequently asked questions
Take a Dublin Express bus from Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport to Dublin city centre. Journey time from 14 minutes, tickets from €9 one-way, services every 15 minutes at peak times. From the city centre you have two main options to reach Croke Park:
Irish Rail from Connolly Station to Drumcondra (5 minutes by train, then 5 minutes walk to the stadium), the fastest option
Walk from Eden Quay up O'Connell Street to the stadium in approximately 25 to 30 minutes
Croke Park is approximately 2.5 kilometres from O'Connell Bridge, making it about a 25 to 30 minute walk from the city centre via O'Connell Street. By bus (Dublin Bus routes 1, 7, 13, 16, 19 and others) or Irish Rail to Drumcondra, the journey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
The nearest train station to Croke Park is Drumcondra Station on the Irish Rail northern commuter line, approximately a 5 minute walk from the stadium. Take any northbound commuter train from Connolly Station (one stop, approximately 5 minutes). Dublin Express stops at Custom House Quay, which is a 5 minute walk from Connolly Station. On All-Ireland final days and major events, Irish Rail runs additional services to Drumcondra.
Take Dublin Express Route 785 from Belfast Grand Central Station to Dublin city centre (Custom House Quay). Journey time approximately 2 hours 20 minutes, tickets from £8.50 one-way. From Custom House Quay, walk 5 minutes to Connolly Station and take the Irish Rail commuter train to Drumcondra (5 minutes), then walk 5 minutes to Croke Park. Book here.
If travelling by Irish Rail from Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, or Westport, your train arrives at Heuston Station. Board a Dublin Express bus directly outside Heuston (every 15 minutes at peak times) to Custom House Quay, then walk to Connolly and take the train to Drumcondra. You can combine your rail and Dublin Express bus tickets in one booking via the Rail2Air service at irishrail.ie. If arriving from Belfast, Sligo, or Wexford, your train arrives at Connolly Station — take the next commuter train to Drumcondra (5 minutes), then walk 5 minutes to the stadium.
Croke Park is located at Jones's Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 3, D03 P6K7, approximately 2.5 kilometres north of Dublin city centre. It is the headquarters of the GAA and Ireland's national stadium..
There is very limited parking at Croke Park and in the surrounding residential area. Clamping is strictly enforced on all event days. Croke Park strongly recommends travelling by public transport. Dublin Express provides fast, frequent services from Dublin Airport to Dublin city centre from €9, with onward connections by Irish Rail to Drumcondra Station (5 minutes walk to the stadium).
A Dublin Express bus from Dublin Airport to Dublin city centre costs from €9 one-way. An Irish Rail commuter ticket from Connolly to Drumcondra costs from approximately €2.15 (standard fare, subject to change, check irishrail.ie for current fares). Total cost from Dublin Airport to Croke Park by public transport from approximately €11, compared to €40 or more for a taxi from the airport.
After your event, take any Dublin Bus or walk back to the city centre, then board a Dublin Express bus from Eden Quay or Custom House Quay area to Dublin Airport. On major event nights the city centre will be very busy, so allow plenty of time. Use the Bus Tracker to check your service.
Yes. Groups of 20 or more travelling from Dublin Airport or Dublin City with Dublin Express qualify for a 20% group discount. Complete the group booking form at least 5 working days before your event. This is ideal for GAA club trips, corporate hospitality groups, and supporters travelling together.
