The GAA Museum at Christmas

When is the GAA Museum open over Christmas 2026?

Open until 16:00 on 23 December, closed 24 to 27 December, open 28 and 29 December, closed 30 December to 1 January, normal hours from 2 January.

The holiday hours are on the Stadium Tour and Skyline pages. On the open days in December the Stadium Tour runs at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00. On 23 December the museum shuts an hour early, so take the 11:00 or 13:00 tour to leave time for the exhibits.

The two open days between Christmas and New Year are popular with families home for the holidays. Book ahead for 28 and 29 December. Croke Park had not listed December Skyline times as of 22 October, so check the booking calendar before you promise anyone the roof.

What is the Santa Experience at Croke Park?

A 50-minute Christmas visit for families: elf dressing rooms, a skills zone, Santa and Mrs Claus in a cabin, photos, a gift for each child and time in the museum.

The Santa Experience starts with a group visit to the North Pole GAA Elf Dressing Rooms and Skills Zone. Then you meet Santa and Mrs Claus in Santa's Croke Park cabin, with a group photo and one individual photo per booking. Every child picks up a small gift at the Gifting Station.

The ticket also opens both floors of the GAA Museum, with a Cú Chulainn Christmas quest booklet and an elf-hunt prize, plus the play area, the games area and a sensory space. On the last two time slots of each day, Croke Park asks you to visit the museum before the Santa Experience. It is wheelchair and buggy accessible, and the team can arrange a sensory visit by email.

How much does the Santa Experience cost, and when does it run?

€25 per child aged 2 and up, €19 for 13 to 23 months, €17 per adult, before booking fees. It runs on selected dates from 28 November to 23 December 2026.

Babies under 1 go free with a gift, but they still need a ticket. Every child gets the gift, which is why the child price is higher than the adult one. Under-16s must be with an adult. Tickets are sold online in advance through Croke Park's booking partner, and none are sold on the day.

The page does not list the individual dates or session times. Open the booking link on crokepark.ie/santa to see them. Weekend slots in December go first, so book as soon as your date is fixed.

Can you still do a Stadium Tour or the Skyline in December?

Yes. The Stadium Tour runs at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 on every open day in December. Skyline times for December had not been published as of 22 October.

December is a good month for the stadium. The pitch is quiet, groups are small, and the guide has time for questions. The Stadium Tour covers the dressing rooms and pitchside, with the museum included. For the roof, watch the Skyline calendar and the dusk tour dates on crokepark.ie/dusk, which in past winters fell between Christmas and February.

Dress for the walk from the city. Getting to Croke Park covers the 15-minute walk and the buses, and the entrance is under the Cusack Stand, not on Jones Road.

Pitchside, the dressing rooms and the GAA Museum with a guide. A good morning between Christmas and New Year.

★ 4.8 · 1.5 hours · from $20

Explore the Croke Park Stadium Tour → Tour details

Is the GAA Museum shop good for Christmas presents?

Yes, for anyone who follows the games. The gift shop is open to the public, so you can shop without a tour ticket.

Pop in on one of the open days before Christmas, or combine it with a tour. The museum cafe is open daily too, for a hot lunch after the tour.

Our tickets and hours guide lists the 2026 prices for every ticket, and is Croke Park worth visiting gives an honest answer for non-fans.

Frequently asked questions