What is Eid at Croke Park?
Eid at Croke Park is a unique celebration of the Muslim festival of Eid in Ireland’s iconic national stadium, Croke Park – combining the Eid prayer service with a cross-community event celebrating unity and diversity, attended by interfaith, civic and political leaders, with speeches and performances by a variety of artists.
The event has its roots in the COVID-19 Pandemic, when public health restrictions meant that Ireland’s Muslim community couldn’t gather for Eid prayers in an indoor setting. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) kindly accepted our request to hold the celebrations in the stadium, leading to a firm partnership between the two organisations, and the event is now an annual one.
Why is the date only confirmed now?
We have now confirmed that the event will take place on Saturday 9th July at 08:30 sharp – with gates opening at 07:45. We were only able to confirm this now as Islamic religious festivals are celebrated according to the Hijri calendar, which is a lunar calendar based on the sighting of the new crescent moon – where months can be either 29 or 30 days long. As the festival of Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the Hijri month Dhu-l-Hijja, the date is only confirmed when the crescent of Dhu-l-Hijja is sighted by international Islamic moonsighting organisations.
What is Eid al-Adha?
The Irish Muslim Council collaborated with RTÉ to provide an explainer for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha last year. You can read it here.
What is the difference between Prayer and Guest Tickets?
The lifting of public health restrictions means we can host a greater number of people at this year’s event. In line with the Irish Muslim Council’s core focus of ‘bridge-building’, and continuing in the theme of our highly-popular Community Iftars, we are releasing a number of tickets for attendees who would like to join us on this joyous occasion but who do not wish to join in the actual Eid prayers.
Prayer Tickets are for attendees who wish to pray the Eid prayers and will be seated in the prayer rows on the pitch. Those wishing to pray must bring their own prayer mats to avoid damage to the pitch.
Guest Tickets are for attendees who do not wish to pray the Eid prayers, but to join the crowd to observe the Eid prayers and hear the speeches and performances afterwards. Guests will be seated in the lower tier of the Hogan Stand.
The entry gate (on St Joseph’s Avenue) and timings are the same for all ticket types. Once inside the stadium, guests will be directed on the route to their seats by our volunteers and Croke Park staff.
Do I need to print out my ticket?
You do not need to print out your ticket: please have it ready on your phone to show to the our volunteers and Croke Park staff at the gates as you enter Croke Park.
How do I get into Croke Park?
Please enter Croke Park through the Cusack Stand entrance off St Joseph’s Avenue. Gates will be open from 07:45 and the Eid prayer will begin at 08:30. Please arrive to take your place before 08:15. Late arrivals will be denied entry to the stadium.
Can I park my car at Croke Park?
As this year’s event is taking place on a GAA match day, there is extremely limited parking available at Croke Park on this occasion, and this is only being made available for key event staff and those with accessibility requirements. Any guests or worshippers needing to request this should contact us after booking their tickets.
Whilst there is limited on-street parking available around the stadium, we request guests to arrive by public transport where possible.
How can I get there by public transport?
Bus — take the No 3, 11, 11a 16, 16a or 41 from the City Centre to Drumcondra Road. For more information visit dublinbus.ie.
Train — Maynooth trains between the city centre (Connolly Station) and Maynooth stop at Drumcondra Station, a short walk from Croke Park. Worshippers coming from near the Islamic Centre of Ireland in West Dublin could park their vehicles at Navan Road Parkway and catch a city-bound service to avoid problems with traffic, parking and pollution. For more information visit irishrail.ie.
What should I wear?
Guests and worshippers are welcome to showcase the unique diversity of our communities by wearing traditional or cultural clothes, but if you or your children have a GAA jersey, it would be a great way of saying thank you to the GAA if at least some of our community were to wear their club or county colours. Please keep yourself updated with the latest weather forecasts and make sure you wear clothing appropriate to the weather.
Can I bring a bag into Croke Park?
We would advise guests to avoid bringing bags of any kind to Eid at Croke Park. Where it is absolutely necessary – for example parents who need to bring baby-feeding supplies – please ensure it is no larger than a handbag or small rucksack. All attendees may be subjected to bag or body searches by event volunteers or Croke Park security staff, and items and/or persons may be denied entry at our absolute discretion.
Can I bring something to eat and drink?
Guests are welcome to bring water to remain hydrated, but no other food or drink is permitted to be consumed on the pitch. Parents who need to feed young children are kindly requested to take a seat in the stands surrounding the pitch whilst doing so. You must take all of your litter home with you.
Can children attend the event?
Children are most welcome at the event once registered. Please supervise your children at all times and do not allow them to run around the pitch.
Will the event be shown on TV?
The entire event will be broadcast live on RTÉ News: please encourage your friends and family around the world to watch the event at rte.ie/player or via the RTÉ Player app for Android and iOS. Please also remain mindful of the live broadcast throughout the event. If you have an Irish flag and would like to bring it, please do so. We kindly request that nothing else is displayed which might constitute a political or national statement, and items and/or individuals may be denied entry at our absolute discretion.
Can I take photos?
Please feel free to take pictures and videos from your place during the event. Once the formal event is over, feel free to move around the public areas of the stadium to capture this historical moment with group and family pictures.
If you have any questions that are not answered here, please contact us.