Cork GAA confirms date Rebels’ Fanzone tickets will go on offer

With unprecedented demand for tickets for the match in Croke Park, Cork GAA and Cork City Council confirmed on Monday that the Ballintemple stadium will host its first Rebels’ Fanzone this Sunday afternoon.

The family-friendly event will see the Cork vs Clare final shown live on big screens, with entertainment from Cork’s RedFM before and after the game.

Every effort will be made to ensure the best atmosphere possible at the home of hurling in Cork, organisers said.

The chairperson of Cork GAA, Pat Horgan, said they know that with demand for final tickets at an unprecedented level, unfortunately not everyone will be able to attend Croke Park on Sunday.

“We are grateful to the support of Cork City Council to facilitate the Rebels’ Fanzone, which will allow supporters of all ages an opportunity to come together, and support an incredible team on an incredible journey,” he said.

The deputy chief executive of Cork City Council, Brian Geaney, said they were delighted to be involved in the event.

There’s huge excitement building across Cork and we’re planning for an electric atmosphere at this free, family friendly event at the home of Cork GAA

The Rebels’ Fanzone will be fully ticketed, it will be alcohol-free and under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

However, there were no details on Monday night on how many tickets will be made available, if there will be any restrictions on how many each person can book, or what time they will be made available.

Tickets will be free of charge, and will be available online on Tuesday on Cork GAA’s website www.gaacork.ie and on Cork City Council’s website www.corkcity.ie.

Meanwhile, the demand for tickets for Croker has been illustrated by the massive response to a fundraising raffle for a pair of match tickets organised by Simply Suits on behalf of the charity, Breakthrough Cancer Research.

The company, an official partner to Cork GAA, is dressing all 38 players on the current Cork squad, the management, and backroom team, as well as members of the Cork panel that won the 1999 All-Ireland hurling final who will be the silver jubilee team honoured in Croke Park before throw-in on Sunday.

Members of that squad, including Donal Óg Cusack, Seanie McGrath, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, and team captain Mark Landers, have been in to Simply Suits’ outlet at the Kinsale Rd, Cork, for measuring and fitting in recent days.

Simply Suits’ Conor Mullane said the response to their raffle for two All-Ireland final tickets, a Cork jersey signed by the team, and an overnight stay in the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge, has been overwhelming.

“We set a fundraising target of €5,000 but, as of Monday afternoon, we had over 1,100 people enter the draw and we have raised over €16,000,” he said.

The lucky winner will be selected on Thursday.