On Sunday at Croke Park the GAA will welcome the one millionth spectator to a 2012 Championship game.  One of those attending the Cork Vs Donegal All-Ireland football semi-final will win tickets and overnight accommodation for the final next month.
The number is only slightly behind last year when the milestone was reached two weeks earlier but this year did not have a Munster Final meeting between Cork and Kerry or a Connaught Final between Galway and Mayo which would normally boost numbers.
Given the massive competition from the Euro 2012 Championships and the London 2012 Olympics this is a strong performance and there were more than 50,000 at last Sunday’s Hurling semi final between Tipperary and Kilkenny, a figure bettered by only three venues on the opening weekend of the English football season.
“The extra work that we have been doing behind the scenes with initiatives such as the installation of large screens around the country and the Family Funzone at Croke Park has enhanced the match day experience and complimented the excellent fare on the field of play served up by our players week in, week out,” said GAA President Liam O’Neill.
Ulster Bank’s inter-active kicking game, SuperValu’s giant Sam Maguire and Opel’s Kits for Clubs competition will be in place again this weekend in the car park behind the Davin Stand, in addition to a DJ and music, balloon modellers and face painting.
In the run up to the GAA World Handball Championship there will be handball demonstrations by international players and current handball greats including Paul Brady and Ducksie Walsh.  There will also be an opportunity to have a go at handball, receive expert coaching and find out more about the upcoming competition, which will take place later this year.
Other notable events around the country this weekend include the quarter finals of the Ladbrokes Irish Greyhound Derby on Saturday night at Shelbourne Park, the first weekend of matches in the Bus Eireann National Women’s Soccer League, the quarter finals of the Ladies Football All Ireland Championship, the Dublin City triathlon, the Sean Kelly Cycling Tour in Waterford and the Tall Ships event in Dublin.
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