Getting a Squad to the Ground on Time
Team travel has one fixed point, the throw-in or kick-off. Warm-up, dressing-room access, parking and the road home are all worked back from it, so send that time first.
The headcount sets the licence
Count players, subs, management, medical staff and anyone minding kit. Licence category D1 stops at 16 passengers and a length of 8 m; anything bigger calls for a category D driver. Give the full travelling number, not the matchday panel, so both the bus and the driver's licence fit.
Hurleys, kit bags and a physio bench take room. The rear compartment on a Sprinter Travel 75 minibus is about 2 m3, while a coach has underfloor bays. List the bags on the request.
Croke Park on a big day
When Croke Park is full, the main roads around it are closed to coach set-down and collection. At the 2026 All-Ireland finals the Garda plan had no coach drop point or parking close to the ground at all; coaches were sent to the NTA Coach Park in the Docklands. Expect a walk from the drop point and fix a meeting point for the return before the day. Read the Garda traffic plan for your fixture in the week of the game and share it with the operator.
Regulations that apply
- Minibuses up to 16 passengers and 8 m long: licence category D1; larger buses: category D
Tolls and the trip home
The M50 charges buses and coaches for the stretch from Junction 6 to Junction 7. There is no barrier and no cash booth, and a vehicle with no account or tag has until 20:00 the following day to pay. Ask whether the toll is included, so the treasurer is not chasing it later.
For county fixtures at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick or UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, the drive is short but leaving a full ground takes time. Put the post-match meal and the driver's break into the return plan.
Questions
Can a D1 driver take our 18-seat bus?
No. D1 covers up to 16 passengers and 8 m in length. Eighteen passengers need a category D driver.
Where will the bus set us down at Croke Park?
Some distance out. Big-match plans keep coaches off the surrounding main roads, so confirm the drop point against the Garda plan for that fixture.
Who pays the M50 toll?
Agree it on the quote. The charge applies to buses and coaches between Junctions 6 and 7.
Cities
Vehicles
- Full-size coach — 49-81 seats
- Midi coach — 29-35 seats
- Minibus — 16-19 seats
- Executive van (Mercedes V-Class and similar) — 6-7 seats
- Executive car (E-Class saloon class) — 1-3 seats
- Wheelchair-accessible minibus — 10-16 plus wheelchair spaces
Book the team bus
Send the fixture, throw-in, travelling party and kit list. The quote states vehicle, licence category and departure time.
Request a quote or call +353 1 265 9159