Sport
Both hurling (the Irish national game, similar to hockey and one of the fastest field games in the world) and Gaelic football (a cross between soccer, rugby and a street brawl) are played at Croke Park (tel: (01) 836 3222). The Gaelic Athletic Association (website: www.gaa.ie) can provide information on both sports.
Rugby is played at Lansdowne Road (tel: (01) 676 6864; website: www.irfu.ie/top/lansdowne.asp); soccer at Tolka Park (tel: (01) 837 5536) or Lansdowne Road, and race meetings are held at Fairyhouse (tel: (01) 825 6167; website: www.fairyhouseracecourse.ie) and Leopardstown (tel: (01) 289 3607; website: www.leopardstown.com). Phoenix Park contains a racecourse, a motor-racing circuit and is also a popular venue for Gaelic football, cricket, soccer and water polo. Greyhound racing at Shelbourne Park (website: www.shelbournepark.com) is a local passion.
The main events in the sporting calendar are the Dublin Horse Show (August) and the national hurling and Gaelic football finals (September), during which the whole city goes a little crazy. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster (tel: (1890) 925 100 or (01) 456 9569 (24-hour credit card booking line); website: www.ticketmaster.ie).
Fitness centre: Crunch Fitness at UCD, Belfield (tel: (01) 260 3155), is open to the public Monday to Friday 0700–2200 and Saturday and Sunday 1000–1730 and charges €12 per visit.
Golf: Within 30 miles of Dublin there are over 100 golf courses. Most are private but some are pay-and-play courses. Sillogue Park Public Golf Course (tel: (01) 842 9956) is one of the best value at €6 for nine holes and €10 (€18 at weekends) for 18 holes. Pre-booking is advisable. The 18-hole course at Luttrellstown Castle Golf Club (tel: (01) 808 9988; fax: (01) 808 9989; e-mail: enquiries@luttrellstown.ie; website: www.luttrellstown.ie/golfclub) is also open to the public. Green fees are €85 Sunday to Thursday and €95 Friday and Saturday.
Squash: Most squash clubs are members only. Spheres Squash Club, 14–18 Drimnagh Road (tel: (01) 455 1021), charges €12 per hour (€13 for 45 minutes after 1700) for non-members. Irish Squash (tel: (01) 450 1564) can provide more information.
Swimming: Most pools are in Dublin’s suburbs. St Paul’s College Swimming Pool, Rahen (tel: (01) 831 6283), is north of the centre and costs €5. A full list is supplied in the Golden Pages telephone directory (website: www.goldenpages.ie).
Tennis: Apart from parks with courts, Spawell, Wellington Road, Templeogue (tel: (01) 490 4401), is one of the few venues with courts open to the public, and costs €8 an hour. Tennis Ireland (tel: (01) 668 1841) can provide further information.
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