[11-2-2009] Ireland v Georgia at Croke Park

[on the move]

Like to add my own experience or lack of one, travelling to the Ireland game last week.

On matchnight, Dublin is a car park at rush hour, so the only worthwhile way of travelling to Croke Park is via Luas and IE. I came into Tara Street at 7pm bang on time for the Drumcondra-Maynooth train, or so I thought. On one of the busiest nights on the line of the year, it was announced that due to a signal failure at Coolmine, there would be an indefinite delay for the next Maynooth train. About 10 minutes later, it was announced that the train would be delayed until 7.30pm. As I waited patiently for the 7.30 delayed service, it was announced that it would be delayed for a further 20 minutes, leaving me and anyone else going to the game with little choice but to make our own way to the game, and on matchnight, that basically means on foot, given the level of traffic congestion. Instead of arriving in a half hour before ko, I made it in 10 minutes late.

I simply can't understand that having being made aware of the signal failure, why IE couldn't have sent a train or two from Inchicore through the Phoenix Park tunnel over to the Connolly line in order to cope with the demand. On matchnights in Lansdowne Road, special trains going from the city centre to Lansdowne were a regular and welcome occurrence. And I don't know why there are not similiar services on the Maynooth line given the extra capacity at Croke Park, and hence more demand.

On a vaguely related point, it is my belief that on these matchdays in all sports played at Croke Park, why trains from Galway, Cork, and Limerick, etc, don't depart and arrive at Connolly, given it's proximity to the stadium. The services that depart from Heuston merely add to the stress for passengers. The Phoenix Park tunnel should be used to cope with the extra services and heavier demand required. All it takes is a bit of common sense to be used for everyone's benefit.