Dublin is the venue for a number of huge sporting events throughout the year. These events attract fans from all over Ireland as well as Dublin people. Sporting events are of great financial benefit to Hotels and Bed and Breakfast providers in Dublin.
The All-Ireland Football and Hurling Finals are held in Croke Park each year in September. Croke Park has a capacity of over 80,000 and is always full for these occasions. Even the semifinals sometimes fill the stadium and the smaller games throughout the year also attract large attendances.
Of course not all fans stay overnight in Dublin but quite a good number stay from one night to a week and the hotel sector is delighted to get these customers.
The Croke Park stadium was rebuilt recently and brought up to international standards and it was home to Rugby and Soccer Internationals over the past few years while their own ground, Lansdowne Road, was being redeveloped. An agreement with the GAA who own Croke Park allowed for International matches to be played there but that agreement has now come to an end because the Lansdowne Road development has been completed with the unveiling of a fantastic new facility called the Aviva Stadium. This will be the venue for International Rugby and Soccer matches from now on and it is also envisaged that big concerts will also be held there.
One of the best-known international events in Dublin is the Dublin Horse Show which is held at the Royal Dublin Society's (RDS) grounds in Ballsbridge each year. This event happens over five days in August and is rated as one of the top show jumping events in the world. Many of the top riders from all over the world compete here for some of the most coveted trophies in horse riding circles. There are more than 20 events every day the most famous of which is The Nations Cup, ann international event for which the Aga Khan Trophy is the prize. The Dublin Horse Show is also host is also host to other sideshows, stalls and entertainment of all kinds.
There are many other popular sports in Dublin including:
1) Sailing clubs in Dublin and Dun Laoire. 2) Greyhound Racing at Harold's Cross and Shelbourne Park tracks. 3) Boxing at Ireland's National Stadium. 4) Golf (Royal Dublin and Portmarnock are in Dublin and the K-Club and Druids Glen are only 30 minutes away). 5) Horse Racing at Leopardstown, Naas, The Curragh, Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
Visitors attending sports events in Dublin can find Hotel accommodation at Dublin Hotels, or cheaper Bed and Breakfast accommodation at Dublin Bed and Breakfast.
