End Game: GAA football quarter-finals to clash with Taylor Swift’s Dublin gigs

GAA fans heading to Dublin next weekend might need to rethink their travel plans as the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals at Croke Park will clash with Taylor Swift’s sold out gigs at the Aviva Stadium

Swift brings her record-breaking Eras Tour to Dublin for three consecutive nights next weekend with tens of thousands of Swift fans, dubbed “Swifties” descending on Dublin for the gigs on Friday, June 28, Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30.

Many hotels in Dublin are already booked out and those that are available are charging upwards of £300 per room per night.

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Bus and train tickets are also running low, despite added services from Translink and Irish Rail and the problem will be exacerbated by the thousands of GAA supporters flocking to Dublin over the weekend.

The quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship will be played as two double headers at Croke Park on Saturday and Sunday.

Armagh, who are famously well-supported, booked their place in the last eight with a draw over Galway last weekend while Ulster Champions Donegal defeated Clare to top Group Three.

Last season’s All-Ireland finalists Dublin and Kerry will also be in action next weekend and they’ll be joined by the winners of this weekend’s preliminary quarter-finals.

Derry travel to Castlebar to face Mayo in the pick of the games with Tyrone hosting Roscommon on Saturday afternoon.

Monaghan are away to Galway while Louth take on Cork on Sunday. With the three Ulster sides avoiding each other this weekend, there’s a chance all five Ulster teams could qualify for the last eight.

That would present a logistical challenge for many fans as getting to and from Dublin can be troublesome when Ulster sides feature on double-bills.

With public transport options already limited, GAA fans will be hoping that special train and bus services are added in the coming days.

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