One of Ireland’s most iconic venues, Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, will be opening the much-anticipated Etihad Skyline tour on the roof of the historic ground to the public this Friday, 1st June. Sponsored by Etihad Airways, the roof top tour of Croke Park offers spectacular panoramic views of Dublin city and its surroundings from 44 metres above the ground.
With an investment of over €1million, the opening of the Etihad Skyline at Croke Park is expected to bring even more visitors to what is already Dublin’s most visited attraction.
Some 100 tonnes of painted galvanised steel have gone into creating a unique 0.6 kilometre walkway that was fabricated in Portlaoise and has been installed within the existing steel roof support structure at Croke Park. Five viewing platforms have been created along the walkway, which offers a unique perspective of Dublin’s most popular and celebrated landmarks.
Among the more notable landmarks that can be viewed from the Etihad Skyline are Glasnevin Cemetery, Guinness Brewery, the Dublin Mountains, Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Poolbeg Lighthouse, Trinity College, The Spire, St Patrick’s and Christchurch Cathedrals, the Phoenix Park and Docklands buildings.
The two-hour tour with an experienced guide will see groups of up to 30 people ascend to the Etihad Skyline walkway following a full briefing in the stadium dressing room. Each of the five viewing platforms features interpretative panels that highlight the famous landmarks in the line of vision. Visitors will also be able to learn more about these sites through multi-lingual audio guides that are available in six languages and include historical information, quirky anecdotes and interviews with key figures working at some of Dublin’s most famous locations visible from the Etihad Skyline.
Visitors from across Ireland, the UK and beyond will no doubt recognise the tones of Irish comedian Dara O’Briain, who gives the official introduction to the narrative that visitors will hear through their audio guides as they take the tour.
The more adventurous visitors will have the chance to make their Etihad Skyline experience even more memorable by walking out from the stadium roof on to a specially designed walkway that is suspended above the Croke Park pitch. Not for the faint hearted, this view of Croke Park shows Ireland’s most famous arena from a completely different and breath-taking perspective.
Peter McKenna, Croke Park Stadium Director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be opening the Etihad Skyline tour at Croke Park. Not only is the Etihad Skyline a great addition to the stadium, but it is also a great addition to Dublin and Irish tourism. We expect the tour to become one of the most popular attractions in the country and we are confident that everyone who takes the tour will be convinced that this has been a more than worthwhile investment.”
The Etihad Skyline tours operate on a first come, first served basis. Advance online bookings are advised, particularly during busy periods such as during the summer months. The tour leaves from the GAA Museum located under the Cusack Stand in Croke Park.
