The start of construction on a new Dalata four-star hotel, located merely 140 metres from Croke Park within the ex-grounds of Clonliffe College, was initiated this week. Slated for a 2026 debut, the hotel, which will have 200 rooms, will be managed by Dalata under its Maldron hotel brand as per an agreement with the GAA. The site of this hotel is at the intersection of Clonliffe Road and Jones’s Road, as part of the Clonliffe Lands Masterplan. It’s strategically placed to suit those attending matches or events and is accessible via the Drumcondra train station and multiple bus services. The undertaking is a collaboration with Northern Irish constructor McAleer and Rushe.
Jarlath Burns, GAA’s president, hailed this project as a favourable move for both GAA and Croke Park and foresees this new addition as something that the members and fans would appreciate when making stadium travel plans. He emphasised that the hotel would bolster local jobs and would be a valuable addition to the area. The hotel would also encourage the growth of conference activities in the recently converted Cusack Stand.
Dermot Crowley, CEO of Dalata, expressed that the project is a significant step for the region. The finished hotel, the Maldron Hotel Croke Park, will deliver a high-quality guest experience, exceptional visitor facilities, and help meet the rising demand for accommodation while supporting the local economy and community.
McAleer and Rushe MD, Martin Magee, described the company’s selection as the construction partner for the project as an “honour” and welcomed the opportunity to expand its relationship with the GAA, having built the Croke Park Hotel on Jones’s Road about two decades ago, currently managed by the Doyle Collection.
Despite facing local opposition, plans submitted in 2020 for the Clonliffe scheme were approved. An Bord Pleanála dismissed an appeal against Dublin City Council’s decision to grant planning permission for the development of a seven-storey hotel on the site, purchased by the GAA from the Archdiocese of Dublin for an estimated €95 million.