Co Tyrone construction group McAleer and Rushe has commenced work on a new €40 million hotel project at Croke Park.
The 200-bed Maldron Hotel is being developed in the grounds of the former Clonliffe College, at the junction of Clonliffe Road and Jones’ Road.
Planning approval for the project was granted in April 2021, but the development was delayed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The new hotel, which is located 140 metres from Croke Park, is due to open in 2026.
The four star venue, which will feature a business centre, gym, and bar/restaurant facilities, will be run by the Dalata Hotel Group.
It comes nearly 20 years after McAleer and Rushe completed the Croke Park Hotel on Jones’ Road.
The GAA bought around 30 acres in Drumcondra from the Dublin Archdiocese for a reported €95m in 2019.
It sold 19 acres to the Hines property group for residential development, but the company has been embroiled in a legal quagmire over the planning approval granted for 1,593 apartments on the land.
The Irish Supreme Court rejected its bid to save the planning permission in a ruling in April.
Work has now started on the GAA-owned lands, with the association’s President Jarlath Burns cutting the first sod.
“This is a positive development for the GAA and Croke Park representing an additional offering that will be welcomed by our members and supporters when planning journeys to the stadium,” said the Armagh man.
“McAleer and Rushe are long term GAA supporters, and the GAA enjoys a positive relationship with them.
“Dalata is a great Irish company with proven expertise in managing world class hotels.
“The new hotel will support local employment and will be a positive addition to the locality. “Practically, the hotel will also support the growth of our conference activity in the newly repurposed Cusack Stand.”
Martin Magee, managing director of McAleer and Rushe said: “Having delivered the Croke Park Hotel for the GAA nearly 20 years ago, we are honoured to be once again entrusted by the Association to lead on this new hotel development.
“It is also exciting to mark this important milestone with the Dalata team, with whom we have built a strong and successful partnership across development and construction, delivering over 3,000 hotel bedrooms across Ireland and GB.
“We look forward to working closely with all partners to ensure the vision for this significant project is realised and engaging actively with the local community throughout construction to contribute positively to the area.”
