27-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
NI building firm hits milestone in £33.5m Croke Park hotel project
McAleer & Rushe, which is based in Cookstown, has carried out construction of the €40m (£33.5m) Maldron Hotel on behalf of frequent collaborator, Dalata Hotel Group.
A topping-out ceremony has now marked its structural completion, with guests including GAA president Jarlath Burns as well as senior representatives of Dalata and McAleer & Rushe.
The 200-bedroom, four-star hotel is due to open next year and will include a business centre with five meeting rooms, a gym and a full-service bar and restaurant.
It's located next to Croke Park Stadium, which McAleer & Rushe said offered 'immediate access' to the GAA stadium, along with connectivity to Dublin Airport, major roads and public transport.
Dalata Hotel Group, Ireland's largest hotel operator, will manage the hotel under its Maldron brand. To date, McAleer & Rushe has delivered more than 3,000 hotel bedrooms for Dalata across Ireland and Great Britain.
The hotel will have environmentally-friendly features such as green roofs, air source heat pumps and EV charging points, and will feature a traditional red brick façade.
Mr Burns said: 'Congratulations to all parties concerned in reaching this significant milestone in the project.
"The views of Croke Park are spectacular and I have no doubt that the addition of this superb facility will be welcomed by visitors to the stadium and the area in general.
"Partnering with Dalata, sponsors of the GAA Football U20 Football Championship, has been a positive experience and we look forward to the completion of the project.'
Seamus McAleer, chairman of McAleer & Rushe, and its chief executive Eamonn Laverty, said: 'It was a pleasure to bring together key stakeholders to celebrate this important milestone and reflect on the collective effort that has brought this flagship development to life.
"Nearly two decades after delivering the Croke Park Hotel for the GAA, we are proud to once again contribute our expertise to a project of such significance, while strengthening our successful partnership with both the GAA and our long-standing client, Dalata.'
Behind-the-scenes look at filming for How to Train Your Dragon in Northern Ireland ahead of release
Dermot Crowley, CEO of Dalata Hotel Group, added: 'Today's event represents a major milestone in delivering this landmark hotel, and I am delighted to be here to celebrate this moment alongside our partners and stakeholders, McAleer & Rushe and the GAA.
"This achievement highlights the strength of our partnership with the GAA, a relationship founded on our shared values of commitment, excellence, and community spirit.
"As title sponsors of the U20 All-Ireland Football Championship, we understand the importance of investing in the future, both in sport and in the communities we serve.
"This hotel will further strengthen our presence in Dublin creating local jobs, supporting the economy, and welcoming more visitors to the city.'
