Croke Park launches sensory room and audio descriptive commentary

CROKE  Park Stadium is delighted to announce the official launch of the new Sensory Room and a new Audio Descriptive Commentary service.

The stadium is committed to improving stadium facilities and making attending games in the stadium as inclusive as possible for those with accessibility needs.#

Located in the GAA Museum, Croke Park’s Sensory Room (Cú Chulainn’s Corner) is intended to create a safe and secure environment for spectators with sensory processing needs or who may need time away from the hustle and bustle of match days.

Speaking on the sensory room, the GAA president Jarlath Burns added:
“Croke Park is the most iconic sporting venue in Ireland and a place where dreams come true. It is also at the pinnacle of our manifesto dedicated to a GAA Where We All Belong. That is why the addition of a special sensory room is in keeping with our commitment that Gaelic games is forever a part of who we are and that means making our national stadium accessible to as many as
possible- whatever their needs.”

Speaking on the sensory room, deputy CEO of ChildVision, Sinead Fitzpatrick, said:
“At ChildVision, we are delighted to see Croke Park take this important further step toward inclusion with the launch of its new sensory room. This space will make a real difference for children who are visually impaired and those with additional needs and their families. The new sensory room will offer a calm GAA  and supportive environment when they need a break. It means families can
enjoy match days together, knowing there’s a safe, accessible space available — a powerful move toward greater inclusivity in sport.”

These developments form part of Croke Park’s wider efforts to improve accessibility and ensure that as many supporters as possible can enjoy the match day experience at the stadium

Croke Park and Vision Sports, the National Governing Body for promoting sport and physical activity for people who are blind and vision impaired, have announced a partnership to launch the Audio Descriptive Commentary service in Croke Park.

This collaboration will make the stadium more accessible for blind and vision impaired supporters and those with additional needs. Vision Sports Ireland is the official training provider for this new commentary
offering.

Sara McFadden, Partnerships and Operations Coordinator at Vision Sports Ireland, said:
“Vision Sports Ireland is delighted to partner with Croke Park as the official training provider for their new audio descriptive commentary service. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in making live sport more accessible to our blind and vision impaired members, to ensure the full
experience of a match day at Croke Park is available to all.”

Speaking on the audio descriptive commentary service, Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said:
“History was made at Croke Park in August 1926 when the Kilkenny-Galway All-Ireland hurling semi-final was the first full match radio broadcast of a sporting event anywhere in Europe. Since then, our games, and indeed Croke Park, have been synonymous with rich and colourful commentaries from some of the finest exponents of that art. So, we are delighted to partner with Vision Sport Ireland to offer Audio Descriptive Commentary to ensure that the passion and excitement and drama of hurling and football games goes to as wide an audience as possible and can be enjoyed by as many people as
possible, and they can feel the racing pulse of our native games.”