State-of-the-art Croke Park replica set for Abbotstown

It has played host to some of Irish sport’s most celebrated moments, but future generations will know what it is like to kick and puck a ball on Croke Park’s famous sward without ever having to walk down Jones’ Road.

Confused? Don’t be.

It was revealed yesterday the association intends to build an exact replica of the stadium’s famous pitch at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown where it will also install a 3G pitch and other state-of-the-art surfaces.

“One of the problems we have had in the past is teams looking to train in Croke Park before matches and this will help deal with that in future,” said GAA Director General Páraic Duffy, inset.

The GAA is not alone in this. Both the IRFU and FAI intend constructing exact replicas of the Aviva Stadium in Abbotstown now that three bodies have agreed to a presence in the West Dublin campus.

The Irish Hockey Association is also on board and it is envisaged that all four sports will use Abbotstown for the training of some of their elite representative teams.