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The Matchday Train Peculiarity

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There is a train line, which run behind Croke Park on the hill 16 side.
In theory,
It starts in Connolly station (or could start in the docklands),
Runs along north of the stadium,
Has a stop in Drumcondra
Goes under the Phoenix Park
Passes by Hueston Station before connecting with various trainlines from Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Offaly, Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny, Waterford, Carlow, Southern Roscommon and southern Westmeath.

Those counties of course cannot actually take a train to Drumcondra on the day of a match. They must get out at Hueston and find their own way across the city, while the trainlines beneath the Phoenix Park remains closed to them. It opens to commuter trains on a Monday morning but must not be used for the 12 days of the year that championship matches are on in Croker Park. Or even the two hours before the first match (12-2pm) and the two hours after the second match (18-20:00pm).

For the above 15 counties (noting the plight of the likes of Donegal), the infrastructure is in place, but the signal operator just can't be persuaded to work a few hours extra on a summer weekend.

I'm not one for conspiracies but maybe those counties listed, spend a lot of money at Hueston station, or along O Connell street.

But even if it was a financial decision (no way, I hear you say), surely such a spending spree would be better off maximised in Drumcondra itself, allowing it to naturally regenerate, rather than ensuring that the already well fed city centre gets even fatter on the days the culties arrive in with piles of cash.

God forbid, Croke Park itself got cute, and built a train station either end of it. Thus allowing all matchday trains pull directly into the stadium and spend their cash in the stadium itself, thus keeping the money within the GAA coffers entirely.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1375 - 27/06/2023 05:50:49    2489834

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What's a train?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9750 - 27/06/2023 08:34:34    2489841

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "There is a train line, which run behind Croke Park on the hill 16 side.
In theory,
It starts in Connolly station (or could start in the docklands),
Runs along north of the stadium,
Has a stop in Drumcondra
Goes under the Phoenix Park
Passes by Hueston Station before connecting with various trainlines from Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Offaly, Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny, Waterford, Carlow, Southern Roscommon and southern Westmeath.

Those counties of course cannot actually take a train to Drumcondra on the day of a match. They must get out at Hueston and find their own way across the city, while the trainlines beneath the Phoenix Park remains closed to them. It opens to commuter trains on a Monday morning but must not be used for the 12 days of the year that championship matches are on in Croker Park. Or even the two hours before the first match (12-2pm) and the two hours after the second match (18-20:00pm).

For the above 15 counties (noting the plight of the likes of Donegal), the infrastructure is in place, but the signal operator just can't be persuaded to work a few hours extra on a summer weekend.

I'm not one for conspiracies but maybe those counties listed, spend a lot of money at Hueston station, or along O Connell street.

But even if it was a financial decision (no way, I hear you say), surely such a spending spree would be better off maximised in Drumcondra itself, allowing it to naturally regenerate, rather than ensuring that the already well fed city centre gets even fatter on the days the culties arrive in with piles of cash.

God forbid, Croke Park itself got cute, and built a train station either end of it. Thus allowing all matchday trains pull directly into the stadium and spend their cash in the stadium itself, thus keeping the money within the GAA coffers entirely."
Someone might correct me here but I think going back to the 90's when they ran the special trains from Mayo to Dublin for matches, the trains used to go through the tunnel and bring you into Connolly (not sure why they didn't stop in Drumcondra) but Conolly is still closer to CP than Heuston.

It certainly would make a lot of sense to have the special trains stop in Drumcondra. I would like to think there is more to it than a conductor not working at weekends though.

Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 351 - 27/06/2023 08:53:22    2489843

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "What's a train?"
Imagine a load of carts in a row, with no donkeys attached to them.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2750 - 27/06/2023 09:41:05    2489871

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "There is a train line, which run behind Croke Park on the hill 16 side.
In theory,
It starts in Connolly station (or could start in the docklands),
Runs along north of the stadium,
Has a stop in Drumcondra
Goes under the Phoenix Park
Passes by Hueston Station before connecting with various trainlines from Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Tipperary, Offaly, Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny, Waterford, Carlow, Southern Roscommon and southern Westmeath.

Those counties of course cannot actually take a train to Drumcondra on the day of a match. They must get out at Hueston and find their own way across the city, while the trainlines beneath the Phoenix Park remains closed to them. It opens to commuter trains on a Monday morning but must not be used for the 12 days of the year that championship matches are on in Croker Park. Or even the two hours before the first match (12-2pm) and the two hours after the second match (18-20:00pm).

For the above 15 counties (noting the plight of the likes of Donegal), the infrastructure is in place, but the signal operator just can't be persuaded to work a few hours extra on a summer weekend.

I'm not one for conspiracies but maybe those counties listed, spend a lot of money at Hueston station, or along O Connell street.

But even if it was a financial decision (no way, I hear you say), surely such a spending spree would be better off maximised in Drumcondra itself, allowing it to naturally regenerate, rather than ensuring that the already well fed city centre gets even fatter on the days the culties arrive in with piles of cash.

God forbid, Croke Park itself got cute, and built a train station either end of it. Thus allowing all matchday trains pull directly into the stadium and spend their cash in the stadium itself, thus keeping the money within the GAA coffers entirely."
A lot of North Mayo people get the Sligo train to Drumcondra for matches. A lot of supporters from various counties park in Maynooth or Leixlip and train it in from the three stations there. Remainder arrive in in Dublin in cars or buses. Dunno why that Heuston to Connolly train doesn't run for matches anymore, very fair point. But I think two factors are, unfortunately, there's not many big crowds there unless there's a singing man or woman playing. Plus there's plenty of trains back and forth to Maynooth on big match days, could be hard to schedule them in.

On Croke Park though, nothing would surprise me. Happy to supply alcohol and take business from surrounding pubs but turn a blind eye from poor behaviour from drunk supporters, a tiny minority. But they offer an appalling overpriced food service, if you could even call it food.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7957 - 27/06/2023 10:00:36    2489883

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Replying To Cbar:  "Someone might correct me here but I think going back to the 90's when they ran the special trains from Mayo to Dublin for matches, the trains used to go through the tunnel and bring you into Connolly (not sure why they didn't stop in Drumcondra) but Conolly is still closer to CP than Heuston.

It certainly would make a lot of sense to have the special trains stop in Drumcondra. I would like to think there is more to it than a conductor not working at weekends though."
Yes. It would make a lot of sense. In some other countries possession of a match day ticket for a big event would makes public transport free as well.

brianb (Kildare) - Posts: 435 - 27/06/2023 10:12:03    2489896

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Replying To brianb:  "Yes. It would make a lot of sense. In some other countries possession of a match day ticket for a big event would makes public transport free as well."
You are talking sense there. Stop it. You forget this is a banana republic and there is nothing free bar the air ya breath.

gaelsboy (Leitrim) - Posts: 629 - 27/06/2023 17:27:53    2490184

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "What's a train?"
A really green form of transport.
Down here the greens are up in arms because CIE are proposing to reopen a line that was closed after the demise of the sugarbeet industry. Another great green decision as our sugar now comes from halfway around the world on a diesel powered ship. They wanted to spend a fortune ripping out the tracks, thereby keeping many diesel powered trucks on the expensive to maintain tarred roads, and tarring (!) it so yuppies could drink expensive iced frappes at the numerous diesel powered coffee stops along the route, while cycling nowhere necessary on a brand new expensive, both financially and in terms of carbon footprint of its manufacture, bicycle.
Sorry about the rant Lockjaw but the hypocrisy of those clowns really ####es me off!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15628 - 27/06/2023 17:54:22    2490200

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "What's a train?"
A really green form of transport.
Down here the greens are up in arms because CIE are proposing to reopen a line that was closed after the demise of the sugarbeet industry. Another great green decision as our sugar now comes from halfway around the world on a diesel powered ship. They wanted to spend a fortune ripping out the tracks, thereby keeping many diesel powered trucks on the expensive to maintain tarred roads, and tarring (!) it so yuppies could drink expensive iced frappes at the numerous diesel powered coffee stops along the route, while cycling nowhere necessary on a brand new expensive, both financially and in terms of carbon footprint of its manufacture, bicycle.
Sorry about the rant Lockjaw but the hypocrisy of those clowns really ####es me off!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15628 - 27/06/2023 17:55:04    2490201

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "What's a train?"
Usually one over in Fintown. Hasn't run for awhile though!

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 532 - 27/06/2023 19:09:03    2490229

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Replying To gaelsboy:  "You are talking sense there. Stop it. You forget this is a banana republic and there is nothing free bar the air ya breath."
Free travel for seniors!

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 532 - 27/06/2023 19:11:51    2490231

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "What's a train?"
It is true that Donegal is the forgotten county. Transport to Letterkenny or Donegal Town isn't too bad by bus, but after that you're on Shank's Mare!

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 532 - 27/06/2023 19:14:26    2490233

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Replying To gaelsboy:  "You are talking sense there. Stop it. You forget this is a banana republic and there is nothing free bar the air ya breath."
Reminds me of the song "Only our rivers run free":)

KnockaineyAbú (Limerick) - Posts: 96 - 27/06/2023 19:26:29    2490237

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Replying To Ryanteam:  "It is true that Donegal is the forgotten county. Transport to Letterkenny or Donegal Town isn't too bad by bus, but after that you're on Shank's Mare!"
We do have an airport in Carrickfinn I suppose. But it's not really a viable option for people from Inishowen for example.
As for the train situation, sure we don't even have a connection to the motorway network so I won't hold my breath. Google Ireland's motorway network and look at the discrepancy between the north-west and the rest of the country. What a joke.

Don't even get me started on the MICA situation. It is an absolute scandal what is going on up here (and in Mayo and other counties also). Then they're going around debating what to do with the exchequer surplus while families are at breaking point up here. While not directly impacted myself, I tell you I am looking forward the day any FF/FG canvassers come to my house. They are going to get some hard turths rammed home.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9750 - 28/06/2023 08:45:33    2490314

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Replying To Viking66:  "A really green form of transport.
Down here the greens are up in arms because CIE are proposing to reopen a line that was closed after the demise of the sugarbeet industry. Another great green decision as our sugar now comes from halfway around the world on a diesel powered ship. They wanted to spend a fortune ripping out the tracks, thereby keeping many diesel powered trucks on the expensive to maintain tarred roads, and tarring (!) it so yuppies could drink expensive iced frappes at the numerous diesel powered coffee stops along the route, while cycling nowhere necessary on a brand new expensive, both financially and in terms of carbon footprint of its manufacture, bicycle.
Sorry about the rant Lockjaw but the hypocrisy of those clowns really ####es me off!"
Is the Greenway going well there Viking? A lovely job. I was down there around the time it opened.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7957 - 28/06/2023 09:57:55    2490328

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Is the Greenway going well there Viking? A lovely job. I was down there around the time it opened."
There are a few on long closed lines ok. That's not so bad.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15628 - 28/06/2023 10:20:35    2490337

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Is the Greenway going well there Viking? A lovely job. I was down there around the time it opened."
There are a few on long closed lines ok. That's not so bad. But to rip up a usable line surely is as ungreen as it gets in terms of saving the environment.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15628 - 28/06/2023 10:21:12    2490338

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There's no train where I come form

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12319 - 28/06/2023 11:30:39    2490369

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Replying To Breffni40:  "There's no train where I come form"
Is Longford the nearest train station to you?

Ollie2 (Louth) - Posts: 1033 - 28/06/2023 12:30:42    2490395

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Replying To Ollie2:  "Is Longford the nearest train station to you?"
Depends where in Cavan you are but Longford or Edgeworthstown for most I'd say. Dundalk would be closest for many too

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12319 - 28/06/2023 14:27:58    2490432

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