Here is everything you need to know about some of the best Dublin football stadiums in the Republic of Ireland, with a guide to groundhopping in the capital for first-time visitors.
We have picked out five grounds with significant history that host some of the most successful teams in the country.
Dublin football stadiums: A full overview
Aviva Stadium – National stadium
Aviva Stadium is the home venue for Ireland’s Rugby Union team and the Republic of Ireland football team. It was opened in 2010 and can hold over 50,000 fans. It has held two UEFA Europa League finals, including last year’s clash between Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen.
It is also one of the host venues for Euro 2028, which will be played in the UK and Ireland. The ground is located a mile south of the Dublin city centre and will be one of the most popular destinations for visiting supporters when the tournament gets underway in four years’ time.
Dalymount Park – Home of Bohemians
Bohemians have played their home matches at Dalymount Park since 1901. It is an old-fashioned ground with its major redevelopment project in the late 1990s. These renovations which cost north of £1 million, saw the old main stand replaced.
It was announced in February 2024 that the Dublin City Council gave the green light for Bohemians’ planning application to build a new stadium that will cost more than €40 million and hold over 8,000 spectators. It is expected that the new facility will be ready for the 2027 season.
Dalymount Park is a venue with significant history as well. Back in 1957, 48,000 fans came to watch Ireland play England – which remains the ground’s record attendance. The significant investment being put into this stadium, along with its long history of holding high-profile international matches, means that it is a ground definitely worth visiting.
Richmond Park – Home of St Patrick’s Athletic
In the early 20th century, the British Army used Richmond Barracks as a “recreational area”, which is the same land where Richmond Park, home of St Patrick’s Athletic, now sits. It is unique ground that is located behind terraced housing in the suburb of Inchicore.
There has been speculation in recent years that St Patrick’s Athletic might leave Richmond Park to build a bigger and more modern facility. However, no new plans have come to fruition, including a proposed groundsharing agreement with Shamrock Rovers in 2005, which was quickly dismissed by the club’s supporters.
Tallaght Stadium – Home of Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers are the most successful club in the Republic of Ireland, winning the league 21 times. The club moved into Tallaght Stadium after years of groundsharing in the 1990s and early 2000s, as the former owners in 1987 had sold Glenmalure Park Stadium to property developers.
In the 2010s, the Hoops had to redevelop the south stand to comply with UEFA rules, especially when qualifying for the Europa League in the 2011/12 campaign. They played Tottenham Hotspur in the group stage that year, with 8,500 fans attending.
European football will also take place in the 2024/25 season, after Stephen Bradley’s side successfully qualified for the Europa Conference League. One of their ‘League Phase’ matches includes a trip to face Premier League Chelsea.
Tolka Park – Home of Shelbourne
Tolka Park has hosted two Republic of Ireland matches in 1981 and 1983. Both of these were against Wales, with the first of these fixtures witnessing a crowd of 15,000.
There were doubts that this ground would be Shelbourne’s home in the future, especially as Dublin City Council took control of the ownership of the stadium in 2016. However, in May 2024, the city council announced that they had granted the League of Ireland club a 250-year lease.
On the pitch, Shelbourne are now managed by former Chelsea winger Damien Duff, who is renowned as a passionate figure on the touchline.