Sports
Up for the Match - Q&A
By Noel Gibbons
21, Sep 2013 - 10:43

Fans are reminded

· Leave on time -factor in a rest

· Drive to the conditions

· Plan your route- www.aarouteplaner.ie

· They are not alone on country roads

· To look out for the myriad of hazards on the roads and be aware of the unpredictability of driving in the countryside
· They don't have to be speeding to be going too fast
· Not to become another stark statistic

Source: Homepage of An Garda Síochána

All Ireland Football Championship Finals at Croke Park
On Sunday, the 22nd September 2013

Stiles Opening at 12.00 hrs.
13.15 hrs - Tyrone V Mayo
15.30 hrs - Dublin V Mayo
Expected Attendance - 82,415

Patrons Travelling to Croke Park:
All patrons travelling to Croke Park Stadium for the event are advised to utilise public transport and the park and ride facilities. Croke Park stadium is serviced by bus, train and Luas transport facilities. Patrons who travel by road are advised to travel early to avail of the supervised parking facilities.
There are two supervised Car parks available in the vicinity of Croke Park.
# Clonliffe College, Clonliffe Road, Entry via Lower Drumcondra Road. - 3,000 spaces -
Including 100 Special Needs Spaces

# O'Connell's School, North Richmond Street. Entry via North Circular Road. - 400 Spaces
Including 10 Special Needs Spaces

No Traffic will be permitted to leave the car park for a period after the games, in order to allow foot patrons leave the area safely.

Patrons should be aware that illegally parked vehicles will be impounded or clamped and will be liable to a substantial fine.

Drivers should be aware that illegally or improperly parked vehicles have the potential to cause traffic disruption, obstruction and difficulty to emergency vehicles that may need to access the narrow residential streets that surround Croke Park Stadium.

Patrons are advised to travel to Croke Park via the M50 motorway to Navan Road, Finglas Road, Drumcondra Road. These routes lead directly to Croke Park. Supporters arriving via the M50 /M1 motorways are advised to allow time for traffic delays. Dublin Port Tunnel will be open to all vehicles.
After the game patrons will have the option of travelling the Belfast Road (M1) or on the M50 to the (N2) Ashbourne Road, (N3) Navan Road, (N4) Lucan Road, (N7) Naas Road and (N11) Wexford Road.

Residents:
Patrons are requested to be aware that Croke Park is located in a residential area. Patrons attending Croke Park are requested to respect residents by behaving in an appropriate manner when going to and departing the stadium. Issues such as illegal parking, anti social behaviour, drinking and urinating in public cause difficulties and will not be tolerated by Gardai. Patrons are asked to desist from such behaviour.

Special Needs Parking:
There are no special needs parking facilities on the public streets within the Croke Park cordon area or within the stadium. Special needs parking is provided at the supervised car parks as outlined above.

Where persons have special needs requirements they should contact the GAA directly at www.crokepark.ie for advice and assistance.

Bus/Coach Parking:
There is a limited bus/coach parking facility at Mountjoy Square South and East. There will not be any facility for coach parking on Mountjoy Square North or West. Parking will be on a first come first served basis. Ensure that parking regulations are complied with. Double parking of buses will not be permitted. Drivers are also requested to only turn engines when in a position to depart Mountjoy Square.
There is a secondary parking facility at Western Way (off Phibsboro Road). Drivers utilising this facility are also asked to comply with the above requirements.

Public Transport / Parking Facilities / Stadium Maps:
Please refer to www.crokepark.ie for details of Public Transport / Parking Facilities / Stadium Maps.

Ticket Sales:
There are no ticket sales for this event as it is a "Sold Out "event . Please refer to www.crokepark.ie for details of ticket collections for this event.

Pre Event Traffic Restrictions:
As with all events at Croke Park, a Garda Cordon will be in effect on the streets that lead to Croke Park. Only accredited vehicles will be permitted to pass by this cordon. All vehicles will be checked for accreditation.

Local residents, their immediate families, local business community are in possession of passes and will be facilitated at the barriers. Passes however do not guarantee entry through the cordon where pedestrian volumes exist.
As a guideline the full Garda cordon will be in place one hour prior to stiles opening time and one hour post event to enable match patrons to arrive and depart safely.

Sections of Stadium open for Event
All lower / upper sections of the stadium, premium level, Nally and Section A/B Hill 16 will be open for this event. Please refer to www.crokepark.ie for further update details.

Patron Search:
All patrons entering the Garda cordon will be the subject of a ticket check by Stewards and search by Gardaí. Any offensive articles, e.g. glass bottles, air horns, large flagpoles will be seized. Patrons are advised not to bring any unnecessary baggage with them and are advised to travel early to the stadium to avoid any unnecessary delays.

Public Order:
Patrons are advised that the Gardaí will not permit the consumption of alcohol outside public houses, while walking along the street or in any other public place.
Patrons are asked to have consideration for local residents and refrain from anti-social behaviour such as on street drinking and urinating etc.

Crime:
Patrons are advised to be aware of their own personal safety and security while attending the event. They should ensure the security of personal belongings while on route to and from the stadium i.e. purses/wallets/tickets/ Mobile Phones.

Patrons who arrive by vehicle should also ensure that property is not left exposed in parked vehicles. They should ensure that car windows, sunroofs are correctly closed.

Croke Park Hotel Car Park:
All residents of the Croke Park Hotel will be permitted entry subject to pedestrian presence at the time and are requested to access the hotel via North Circular Road / Russell Street junction where there will be a register of all guest vehicles.

Updated Crowd Management and Crowd Dispersal Plan
Pre Game Crowd Management Plan:
Due to a crowd management plan on Jones Road in the vicinity of the Croke Park Hotel, patrons are advised:

1. Not to congregate in vicinity of Croke Park Hotel as this causes a serious obstruction to crowd movement in that area.
2. Not to enter the Jones Road / Russell Street unless they hold a Hogan Stand or Dineen Stand ticket.
3. Use routes outlined on back of tickets to access their relevant parts of the stadium.

Post Game Crowd Movement Plan:
Gardai will be implementing a post game crowd management plan as required in the vicinity of Jones Road and patrons are advised as follows:

1. Patrons exiting the Hogan Stand and Dineen Stands are requested not to congregate in vicinity of Croke Park Hotel as this causes a serious obstruction to crowd movement in that area.
2. Patrons exiting Hill 16 and Cusack Stand to Clonliffe Road are requested not to enter onto Jones Road and/or not to congregate in vicinity of Croke Park Hotel as this causes a serious obstruction to crowd movement in that area.

The above measures are being implemented to prevent crowd congestion on the street outside the Croke Park Hotel which has become a meeting point for patrons attending Croke Park events.

Patron compliance will greatly assist Gardaí with crowd management and movement in the Jones Road area and will result in a safer egress from the stadium for all patrons.
Patrons should also comply with the directions issued by Gardaí and stewards as they depart the stadium. Again the directions are issued with a view to making the stadium environs a safer place during patron exit from Croke Park.
Extra Information

The Gardai at Mountjoy are appealing to persons intending to attend Croke Park Stadium on the 22nd September to be aware of the following information.

Restricted Access - Ticket Holder, Local Residents & Business Persons issued with Passes

Garda Cordon Points

A restricted Cordon will be in place from 8am
A more Rigid Cordon will be in place from 10am
Main Cordon Points
Lower Drumcondra Road / Clonliffe Road Junction, Fitzroy Avenue & Whitworth Place
North Circular Road / Gills Corner, Jones Road
Clonliffe Road / Jones Road
Clonliffe Road / Ballybough (Sackville, Clonliffe Avenue, O'Sullivan Avenue)

Crowd Management, pre and post event
When each Event finishes there will be a significant Traffic Plan & Crowd Management Plan designed in the interests of crowd safety exiting Stadium, this plan will be in place for approximately ½ hr.

There will be no entry into Jones Road Post Match and to that extent rigid cordons will be in place at Jones Road / Clonliffe Road Junction & Russel Street / North Circular Road Junction. The Gardai at Mountjoy appeal to patrons to adhere to this plan.

"No meeting point outside Stadium" on Jones Road Post Match

Bicycles
The parking of Bicycles will be prohibited at Jones Road, offending Bicycles will be removed. There is a dedicated Bicycle Parking Stand at the Davin Car Park, entry is by St. Margaret's Avenue off North Circular Road.

Tickets
Only purchase tickets from accredited sources beware of touts selling Juvenile Tickets as Adult Tickets and forgeries. There are stringent ticket checks in place at the Stadium for this purpose and tickets have security features.

Pitch Invasion
The Gardai appeal to Patrons not to invade the Pitch post event. Respect the dignity of both teams and the Stadium Staff that are tasked with their safety.

Pitch Invasions pose a threat to safety of patrons and staff at the Stadium.

This Sundays All Ireland final between Dublin and Mayo is a sell out and as such full capacity arrangements will be in place. These differ from the usual arrangements and there are a number of important changes that patrons should be aware of and here are some answers to questions you may have;

Meeting Points.

Please do not select Jones Road as a meeting point before or after the match.

Patrons are requested not to congregate on Jones Road due to the large volume of people expected.

Pre match

Q. Can I enter onto Jones Road prior the match?
A. Yes. If you have a valid ticket for the Hogan stand, Dineen Stand or a residents pass.

Pre Game Crowd Management Plan :

Due to a crowd management plan on Jones Road in the vicinity of the Croke Park Hotel, patrons are advised:

1. Not to congregate in vicinity of Croke Park Hotel as this causes a serious obstruction to crowd movement in that area.

2. Not to enter the Jones Road / Russell Street unless they hold a Hogan Stand or Dineen Stand ticket.
3. Use routes outlined on back of tickets to access their relevant parts of the stadium.

Post Match

Q. Can I enter onto Jones Road after the match?
A. No For safety reasons there will be no entry onto Jones Road post match. Strict cordons will be in place at Jones Road / Clonliffe Road junction and Russell Street / North Circular Road Junction. (This will apply for 30 minutes approx post match)

Q. Can I arrange to meet a friend on Jones Road after the match?
A. No Again for safety reasons, there will be no congregating or meeting places allowed outside the stadium on Jones Road after the match. On exiting the stadium patrons will be directed by Gardaí and stewards and are asked to comply with those directions.

Q. Can I approach the stadium without a ticket?
A. No Local vicinity access will be restricted to ticket holders, local residents and business persons issued with passes only.

Q. Is there a facility to park my bicycle.
A. Yes, there is ONE dedicated Bicycle Parking Stand at the Davin Car Park, entry is by St. Margaret's Avenue off North Circular Road. However, the parking of bicycles will be prohibited at Jones Road, offending bicycles will be removed.

Q. What time do stiles open.
A. Stiles Opening: 12.30hrs
Start Time: 13:30hrs Mayo V Tyrone
15:30hrs Dublin V Mayo

Q. Can I purchase tickets on the day of the match at the stadium.
A. No The match is a sell out and there will be no tickets for sale officially on the day of the match. Patrons should beware if they haven't bought tickets from accredited sources. If tickets are purchased from touts they may not be genuine and if this is the case or an adult has purchased a juvenile ticket entry will be refused at the turnstile.

Gardaí appeal to patrons to adhere to these safety arrangements. These are safety measures and put in place to ensure everybody enjoys a safe day out and we ask those attending to obey instructions from the Gardaí on the day.

Q. Can I enter Jones Road after the match?
A. No Please plan you exit route from Croke Park- Note you will NOT be allowed into Jones road for at least half an hour, plan your exit route accordingly