About Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park, or Dayler as known by most, is one of the oldest and most historic football ground in Ireland. It hosted it's first game (Between Bohemians and Shelbourne) in 1901, and by 1903 was hosting the Irish Cup final between Bohs and Distillery. A year later it hosted its first International, between Ireland (All-Ireland) and Scotland. The ground began regularly hosting Irish internationals in the 1910's and became the leading ground in the country after Scottish architect Archibald Leitch (Who designed some of the UK's most famous stadia) drew up plans for the future of Dalymount Park.
During the 1940's and 50's the ground regularly saw 40,000 people crammed within it's gates, the biggest being 48,000 for an international against England in 1957, while the ground also holds the FAI Cup's record attendance in 1945, when coincidentally 45,000 were present to see Shamrock Rovers beat the Gypsies in that years' final.
By the 1980's though the ground was beginning to show signs of age, and after a near-disaster where people were helped onto the sideline after crushing in an international against Italy plans were drawn up to cut the ground's attendance to 22,000 and move the Irish games to the IRFU's Lansdowne Road. The Jodi Stand was constructed in 1999, and is the newest development in a ground that's seen two of it's four ends closed due to safety reasons, while the old rusting floodlights are a sign of a ground that's beyond it's glory years.
During the 1940's and 50's the ground regularly saw 40,000 people crammed within it's gates, the biggest being 48,000 for an international against England in 1957, while the ground also holds the FAI Cup's record attendance in 1945, when coincidentally 45,000 were present to see Shamrock Rovers beat the Gypsies in that years' final.
By the 1980's though the ground was beginning to show signs of age, and after a near-disaster where people were helped onto the sideline after crushing in an international against Italy plans were drawn up to cut the ground's attendance to 22,000 and move the Irish games to the IRFU's Lansdowne Road. The Jodi Stand was constructed in 1999, and is the newest development in a ground that's seen two of it's four ends closed due to safety reasons, while the old rusting floodlights are a sign of a ground that's beyond it's glory years.
Away Fans
Away fans are usually housed in the St. Peter's End of the ground, which is a throwback to 1930's Dalymount. There's a hole in the roof to accommodate one of the floodlights, and though seats were constructed, one is advised to stand if over 5'5. Depending on the size of the numbers, away crowds can be treated well, but I always find the stewards at Dalyer rather unfriendly. Away fans are advised to take caution as the Gypsies do have a rouge element supporting them, but most fans are amicable and eager to talk football.
Directions
From city centre (O'Connell Street): North along O'Connell Street (GPO on left) and at top go left onto Parnell Street and then immediate right up Parnell Square West, onto Granby Row. Cross junction with Dorset Street Upper onto St Mary's Place, veer right of Black Church and right onto Mountjoy Street, cross junction with Blessington Street onto Berkeley Street, becomes Berkeley Road (Mater Hospital on right) and at end left onto North Circular Road (NCR). Follow NCR through major crossroads with Phibsborough Road, keep right at St Peter's church (immediately in front of you) onto New Cabra Road and immediate right onto St Peter's Road. Dalymount is immediately to your right.
From north (M1): M1 (becomes N1) into Dublin, through Whitehall, onto Drumcondra Road Lower, stay in the right-hand lane under railway bridge (Croke Park is to your left), over the Royal Canal, onto Lower Dorset Street; go through the major intersection with the North Circular Road (NCR), and at the next lights turn right onto Synnott Place, which becomes St Joseph Street, turn right at the top into Leo Street and then left onto the NCR (get into right-hand lane, as the left-hand lane is a bus lane until 7pm). Follow NCR through major crossroads with Phibsborough Road, keep right at St Peter's church (immediately in front of you) onto New Cabra Road and immediate right onto St Peter's Road. Dalymount is immediately to your right.
From north (N2): N2 (becomes Finglas Road) into Dublin through Finglas, past Glasnevin Cemetery (round tower on left) after which traffic merges, stay right onto Prospect Road, over Cross Guns Bridge (over railway and Royal Canal) onto Phibsborough Road, then as per North (M1) above.
From south: Head for Dublin city centre, then follow the city centre instructions above.
From west (N3): N3 (Navan Rd) into Dublin, keep left at Cabra heading for Phibsborough and at end of New Cabra Road (St Peter's church on right) left onto St Peter's Road.
From west (N4): N4 into Dublin, joining N7 at Con Colbert Road. Cross major junction with South Circular Road (SCR) onto St John's Road West (N7). Road veers left at Heuston Station to cross river Liffey, then right onto the city's North quays heading East. Within approx. 1,000 metres Wolfe Tone Quay becomes Ellis Quay becomes Arran Quay (church on left), next left onto Church Street, becomes Constitution Hill, becomes Phibsborough Road, through major crossroads with NCR and (after Phibsboro Shopping Centre on left) left onto Connaught Street.
From south-west (N7): N7 (Naas Road) into Inchicore, then follow instructions from West (Con Colbert Road onwards).
Transport Links: The 4, 9, 38, 38A , 38B, 46A, 83, 120, 122 and 140 buses all stop near Dalymount Park, see dublinbus.ie for more information and timetables
From north (M1): M1 (becomes N1) into Dublin, through Whitehall, onto Drumcondra Road Lower, stay in the right-hand lane under railway bridge (Croke Park is to your left), over the Royal Canal, onto Lower Dorset Street; go through the major intersection with the North Circular Road (NCR), and at the next lights turn right onto Synnott Place, which becomes St Joseph Street, turn right at the top into Leo Street and then left onto the NCR (get into right-hand lane, as the left-hand lane is a bus lane until 7pm). Follow NCR through major crossroads with Phibsborough Road, keep right at St Peter's church (immediately in front of you) onto New Cabra Road and immediate right onto St Peter's Road. Dalymount is immediately to your right.
From north (N2): N2 (becomes Finglas Road) into Dublin through Finglas, past Glasnevin Cemetery (round tower on left) after which traffic merges, stay right onto Prospect Road, over Cross Guns Bridge (over railway and Royal Canal) onto Phibsborough Road, then as per North (M1) above.
From south: Head for Dublin city centre, then follow the city centre instructions above.
From west (N3): N3 (Navan Rd) into Dublin, keep left at Cabra heading for Phibsborough and at end of New Cabra Road (St Peter's church on right) left onto St Peter's Road.
From west (N4): N4 into Dublin, joining N7 at Con Colbert Road. Cross major junction with South Circular Road (SCR) onto St John's Road West (N7). Road veers left at Heuston Station to cross river Liffey, then right onto the city's North quays heading East. Within approx. 1,000 metres Wolfe Tone Quay becomes Ellis Quay becomes Arran Quay (church on left), next left onto Church Street, becomes Constitution Hill, becomes Phibsborough Road, through major crossroads with NCR and (after Phibsboro Shopping Centre on left) left onto Connaught Street.
From south-west (N7): N7 (Naas Road) into Inchicore, then follow instructions from West (Con Colbert Road onwards).
Transport Links: The 4, 9, 38, 38A , 38B, 46A, 83, 120, 122 and 140 buses all stop near Dalymount Park, see dublinbus.ie for more information and timetables
Parking
Parking can be difficult to find around the ground at times, but it is available in the parks around the Cabra Road and North Circular, while if one arrives an hour or so before the came, parking can usually be found behind the St. Peter's End of the ground which allows for a quick escape after the full time whistle.
Food & Drink
Outside the Ground: There are a number of sit-in restaurants right around the corner from the ground. Abrakebabera and Leo Burdock's both do decent food (Though the later is more expensive than most, a fish supper being around €10), while Woodstock Cafe does a nice main course for those who want to splash out, and soup for those who don't.
Pubs: There are two main pubs outside Dalyer. Doyle's pub is good for hosting away fans and serves well for having a pre-match pint or two, while McGeoughs is better suited for the home supporter. In addition, the ground has a number of bars, most notably the Jackie Jameson bar which is a popular spot for a jar after the game!
Inside the Ground: Inside Dayler Leo Burdock's chipper serves Dublin's best known takeaway food, located between the Jodi and St. Peter's end. There's also a shop that sells the usual drinks, crisps and chocolate.
Pubs: There are two main pubs outside Dalyer. Doyle's pub is good for hosting away fans and serves well for having a pre-match pint or two, while McGeoughs is better suited for the home supporter. In addition, the ground has a number of bars, most notably the Jackie Jameson bar which is a popular spot for a jar after the game!
Inside the Ground: Inside Dayler Leo Burdock's chipper serves Dublin's best known takeaway food, located between the Jodi and St. Peter's end. There's also a shop that sells the usual drinks, crisps and chocolate.