Instillation of floodlights at Croke Park will begin on Monday after planning permission for the project was today approved by An Bórd Pleanála.
It is almost a full year since the initial application was approved by Dublin City Council but delays inevitably followed after planning objections were lodged by concerned local residents.
But stadium officials are now confident floodlights will be in place in four months time, ahead of Ireland's first home game of the Six Nations against France on February 11th.
The GAA has welcomed the announcement as any delays owing to objections could have forced an embarrassing adjustment in kick-off times to those rugby matches.
Floodlighting are "considered the norm" in stadiums throughout Europe, according to GAA president Nickey Brennan who said local residents' fears of intrusiveness would prove unfounded.
Residents had complained about visual intrusion and noise pollution while two groups in particular had cited the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in their objection.
Today is "a very good day" for Croke Park and the city of
Dublin, Brennan said. Floodlights, he added, would further
enhance Croke Park as a world class stadium.
It had been envisaged that floodlights would be installed in
time for this weekend's second International Rules Test between
Ireland and Australia.
But in light of the planning objections, this plan was shelved. The GAA now hopes to stage "one of its own games" - possibly a opening round league match - under lights at Croke Park ahead of the rugby.
While the stadium is already wired for lights, installation can now commence while a temporary lighting pylon will also be erected at Hill 16.
Ireland's Six Nations match against France holds a 3pm kick-off. The next home game after that is a 5.30pm kick-off against England on February 24th.
The Republic of Ireland play host to Wales in a European qualifier at Croke Park on March 24th before entertaining Slovakia there four days later. Both games require floodlights.