The GAA has unveiled plans for €28 million hotel in front of the Hogan stand end of Croke Park.
Stadium Director, Mr Peter Mc Kenna revealed the plans this afternoon, for three acres of ground in front of the stand, acquired by the organisation at a combined cost of €7 million. The ground currently contains warehouses used by a number of companies.
The four-star hotel is to be five stories high and will have 225 bedrooms, a restaurant, bar and lounge area with car-parking in the basement for 225 cars, subject to planning permission being granted.
Mr McKenna said that the site had good potential for growth. He said Croke Park was "not a concrete mausoleum " and was intended to help to "add life" to the surrounding area all year around.
He said the hotel would be aimed at the business and leisure market and that a planning permission submission was due before the end of May. He said the GAA would provide the site and the investors for the venture, and lease out the running of the hotel.
Mr McKenna said that subject to permission being granted, they hoped to announce an operator for the enterprise within four or five weeks. The hotel will be finished by the end of next year.
Reacting to concerns raised by residents in the area he said there would definitely be no nightclubs, discos or functions of any sort in the hotel.
The President of the GAA, Mr Sean Kelly said the organisation was "confident" of getting permission to build. He said that the initial cost would "exacerbate" the financial problems of the GAA in the short-term but had the "potential for long-term significant gain".
The hotel is the Association's largest investment since the redevelopment of Croke Park.