Croke Park offers venue for ultimate match: the wedding

GAELIC GAMES followers will be well familiar with the concept of the GAA widow, whose husband spends every spare hour in pursuit of glory for club or county. Now here comes the GAA bride.

Croke Park has taken advantage of the new laws allowing civil marriage ceremonies in places other than registry offices to offer itself as a venue for the ultimate match of most people’s lives.

Croke Park was the wedding reception venue last year for a couple who were Dublin fans, and has a number of receptions already booked for this year, but it has yet to host a wedding ceremony.

That is likely to change this year following the granting of a licence to Croke Park to host civil ceremonies.

However, couples will not be allowed to get married on the hallowed turf, which is out of bounds to everyone except groundsmen in between matches.

In any case, the legislation does not allow for outdoor marriages.

Instead, couples will be able to get married in two of the eight suites overlooking the pitch. They can tie the knot in the players’ lounge which can take between 100 and 120 guests and is usually out of bounds for supporters. They can also hire the Hogan Mezzanine suite for bigger wedding parties.

Croke Park has produced a brochure touting itself as the “ideal venue for your special day”.

All packages offer the option of including guest accommodation in the four-star Croke Park hotel.

Couples will be able to have their picture taken pitchside with the rest of the wedding party.

Judging by the level of interest shown to date, the stadium’s management expects to host a marriage ceremony this year.

Given the sporting ecumenical nature of the venue since the GAA’s Rule 42 was changed five years ago, the large number of inquiries has come not only from GAA fans, but also from soccer and rugby fans.

“We have had a huge amount of interest from sporting fans,” said Linda McCoy, the commercial manager of Croke Park Stadium.

“We have hosted some iconic rugby and soccer matches here over the last two years, so the stadium holds a special place in a lot of people’s heart.

“But we also know that couples these days are also looking for a unique setting for their wedding, and one which they can be reassured offers unparalleled service and attention on the day,” Ms McCoy said.