DREAMS of running out of the Croke Park tunnel onto the famous pitch can become a reality for five lucky lots of schoolchildren.
Better still, the fortunate winners of an 'Irish News School Trip to Croke Park' will hear from a man who has been there and done that on a few occasions, Monaghan star Conor McManus.
The visit to GAA headquarters is a perfect end to the school year. As well as a stadium tour and activity session in the GAA museum, winners will hear from
Conor McManus in the changing rooms as he takes you through what it is like to play in a big game at Croke Park.
Lunch will follow in the Croke Park Hotel and you and your classmates will get a brilliant pitch-side photo to capture the memorable day forever.
Five primary schools can win this VIP tour of the stadium with exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what makes Croke Park such an important landmark in Irish sport.
To be one of the schools heading to Dublin, all you have to do is collect tokens that will be appearing in The Irish News over the coming weeks.
The winners will be able to bring a class of up to 30 people on the trip, with the visits taking place on Tuesday, June 20 and Wednesday, June 21. Coach transfers are included in the prize.
Thomas Hawkins, Irish News sports editor, believes it will be a trip that will live long in the memory for those who are lucky enough to win: "Over the last number of years, The Irish News has been helping primary schools experience something that they will never forget.
"Croke Park is a symbol that is known throughout Ireland and afar, and to get an inside look of what goes on inside the stadium is very special indeed.
"Not only will it be a chance to look around the 82,300 capacity stadium, but the museum tour is another brilliant part of the day.
"It's a chance to learn about the legends of the past and the stars of today, while the interactive game zone is always a popular stop-off point on the trip."
John Brolly, The Irish News marketing manager, said: "Visiting Croke Park on a non-game day really allows you to experience something really special as the tour takes in different aspects of the stadium – the presentation area of the cup to the winning teams, pitch side as well as the heights of the media centre.
"The highlight is experiencing the changing rooms and warm-up area that the teams prepare in before they take to the pitch for their all important games at GAA HQ."
Schools need collector cards, which can be downloaded on the Irish News website at www.irishnews.com/crokeparktrip
You need 25 tokens to complete each collector card, but there is no limit on the number of entries you can make: the more often you enter, the better your chances of winning a trip to Croke Park.
Entries must be received by Monday June 12, with the winners to be announced on Friday June 16.
