Croke Park Community Meeting Minutes March 2025

Croke Park Residents Meeting – Formal Minutes
Date: 13 March 2025
Time: 19:45
Venue: Suite 686, Croke Park

Attendees

Noeline Blackwell – Chairperson
Superintendent Cormac Brennan – An Garda Síochána (AGS)
Peter McKenna – Stadium Director, Croke Park
Billy O’Keeffe – Community Liaison, Croke Park
Tony McGuinness – Croke Park
Brian Conlon – Croke Park
Trevor Maher – Waste Management, Dublin City Council (DCC)

1. Opening and Welcome
Chairperson Noeline Blackwell opened the meeting by outlining her role as an independent, voluntary chair facilitating communication between residents and Croke Park stakeholders. She acknowledged the challenging tone of the previous meeting and aimed for constructive engagement. Attendees agreed to the proposed format (10 minutes per agenda item) and raised no objections. The meeting proceeded accordingly.

2. Agenda Item 1: Fixtures List
Residents were informed of the location of the updated 2025 fixtures list to take home

3. Agenda Item 2: Community Initiatives
Billy O’Keeffe provided updates on ongoing and upcoming community activities:

Christmas dinner and recycling initiatives
Resumption of the Cul Camp – first since the COVID-19 pandemic
Community Night scheduled for 9th May, with attendance by recipients of the Community Fund
Local employment opportunities available for community and hospitality roles (contact details provided)
Videos of the Christmas Lunch and International Women’s Day shown

Community Fund Update:

16 applications received, totalling €65,000; currently under assessment
Notification to applicants expected in the coming weeks
NFL Ticket Draw eligibility discussed
Due to GDPR, only the streets of applicants (not individual names) were shared

4. Waste Management (DCC) – Q&A
Trevor Maher and John McPartland addressed residents’ concerns:

St. Joseph’s Avenue: Reports of drug activity and burnt-out vehicle in laneway.
- Response: Laneway closure requires a council resolution and full resident agreement; residents should apply directly to DCC.
Belvedere Road: Post-event street cleaning insufficient.
- Response: DCC will review current practices and follow up.
Community Centre Junction: Request for traffic lights.
- Response: To be referred to the Traffic Advisory Group.
Griffith Ave / Russell / Fitzroy / Clonliffe: Leaf debris not cleared.
- Response: DCC will monitor and address, noting parking as a potential obstruction.

5. Policing & Public Safety – Superintendent Cormac Brennan (AGS)
Drug Activity in Local Areas

Residents raised concerns about ongoing drug dealing in laneways.
Response: CB was previously unaware of specific incidents and advised continued reporting. Residents should request Garda reference numbers when reporting.

Traffic & Parking Enforcement:

Coach Parking at Mountjoy Square: Ongoing misuse for pick-up/drop-off.
- Response: NTA has issued guidance; enforcement remains challenging but CB will reiterate instructions to staff.
Public Urination in Parks
- Response: CB acknowledged and committed to monitoring.
St. Alphonsus Road:
1. Unauthorized parking and unofficial parking guides
  - Response: Monitored during events; residents should report to the event room for immediate response.
2. Noise and congestion at night
  - Response: One-way system for side roads not currently feasible but will be reviewed.
Jones Road / Fitzroy Ave: Discrepancy in access enforcement.
- Response: Guard escorts are based on real-time judgment for safety; applies to residents and officials alike.
Parking Fine (Robbie Williams Concert): Request for Garda discretion.
- Response: Discretion is applied when possible; appeals process available. The matter will be reviewed again internally.
Resident Pass Validity: Annual renewal process burdensome.
- Response: One-year passes help prevent misuse; CB acknowledged the concern.
Minibus/Coach Parking on Belgrove Ave: Clarification requested.
- Response: Must comply with standard road regulations. Enforcement will follow if breaches occur.
O’Sullivan Ave Barriers: Concern about unmanned barriers and emergency access.
- Response: Some barriers are dropped even if not manned. Event plan assigns responsibility; matter will be reviewed.
Susanville Road: Residents forced to pay for alternative parking.
- Response: Blanket approval not possible; case-by-case approach encouraged.
O’Connell School: Query on using grounds for coach parking.
- Response: Already used for car parking and is typically at full capacity.
Emmet Street at Gills Pub: Concerns about vehicles exiting restricted pedestrian areas.
- Response: No official discretion should exist; matter to be reviewed.
Use of Residential Streets by Coaches: Residents requested use of link buses.
- Response: Not solely a Garda issue – requires a multi-agency review. Chairperson Blackwell supported a complete review of traffic management.

6. Event Day Reporting
Billy O’Keeffe confirmed that the community team is on-site during events and issues are reported to event control, which includes representatives from AGS, DCC, and stadium management. Contact details were provided. Freephone 1800 303 593

7. Additional Resident Questions

Hotel Site: Concerns about lack of green space for children.
- Response: Area behind hotel is for storage, no immediate plans for apartment development.
Concert Season Engagement: Query on whether future meetings will be scheduled for concerts.
- Response: Yes, further meetings will be arranged in advance of the summer concert season.