Super urgent!! Ireland World Cup qualifier success puts Dublin hotel rooms under pressure next March
Ireland’s sensational performance in the World Cup qualifiers means they are through to the play-offs next March. Fabulous news for Ireland – and of course we’re thrilled!! – but it DOES mean that Irish Poker Open players need to get their skates on when it comes to booking accommodation for the 2026 festival.
If you want to bag a room at the most sought-after hotels, you really don’t have a minute to spare. The Irish Open is running March 26 to April 6 but, if Ireland beat the Czech Republic in Prague on March 26, then they’ll be back to Dublin for the play-off final (against either Denmark or North Macedonia) on March 31 – that’s right bang in the middle of our 2026 festival. The Aviva Stadium, where the home match would take place is only minutes from the Royal Dublin Society in Ballsbridge so poker players will be competing for hotels rooms against a legion of passionate Ireland supporters.
We currently have some really great discounted rates for poker players at some superb properties near the RDS but the Herbert Park Hotel and the Clayton Ballsbridge ALWAYS sell out quickly – even without a gazillion football fans trying to secure a room. We recommend booking almost immediately if you want to stay at either of these hotels!
In the World Cup group stage, 23-year-old Dubliner Troy Parrott achieved an incredible five-goal run in the last two matches putting Ireland within shouting distance of a place at next summer’s World Cup finals. If they make it, it will be Ireland’s first World Cup appearance since 2002. Parrott supplied both goals in Ireland’s 2-0 victory over Portugal and then scored a hat-trick – including a 96th minute winner – in the 3-2 match against Hungary.
Hotel lowdown
Please note that all the discount codes are only available for stays of four or more nights. This is for over the bank holiday weekend.
Herbert Park Hotel
The luxurious 4* Herbert Park is just a stone’s throw from the RDS but it’s also – stand warned! – a very popular choice for football fans heading to the Aviva Stadium as well. You can use our special promo code IPOKER2026 to get a double room at the Herbert Park for as little as €230 a night; top-notch breakfast included. Please note that if the Herbert Park is showing as sold out when you try to book, please contact the hotel to be placed on a reserve list.
The Herbert Park boasts a ton of amenities that seem tailor-made for poker players. The rooms are roomy and spacious and enjoy high speed wi-fi, TV and superb blackout curtains. There’s also a Nespresso coffee-maker in every room if you need a bit of oomph to get you back into the tournament room! The hotel boasts a well-equipped gym open 24/7 and the hotel also overlooks the gorgeous 48-acre Herbert Park – perfect for a stroll or run before the day’s poker action commences. Food-wise, there are also several good options at the Herbert Park. The Pavilion Restaurant is open daily from 5:30pm to 9:15pm but, if you miss that, the lounge in the hotel’s lobby serves light bites and snacks until 9:45 pm; room service runs round the clock. The bar is also open pretty much all night for guests.
Clayton Ballsbridge
Another player favourite at the Irish Open is the Clayton Ballsbridge, a traditional 4* hotel just ten minutes’ walk from the RDS and set in a striking, beautifully-restored 19th century former school. Using the code IRIS 260326, you can book now and take advantage of our special discounted rate of €218/night for double room, breakfast included. There are 335 rooms at the Clayton Ballsbridge – spacious and well-equipped, with TVs, tea and coffeemaking facilities plus fluffy duvets and hypo-allergenic pillows. Breakfast is a traditional fry-up served 6.30am to 10am midweek and 7am-11am at the weekends. The Grandstand restaurant is open all day until 9.15pm. The bar is open until around midnight for late-night revellers and late night room service is also available from 10pm to 4am but only for pizzas !
Sandymount Hotel
The family-run, 4* Sandymount Hotel is one of Dublin’s hidden gems – a beautiful building dating back to 1866 and only 16 minutes’ walk from the RDS. It’s also just a stroll away from the famous strand of Sandymount or Dublin city centre via the DART rail link. Using the code Poker26, you can book now and take advantage of our special discounted rate of €195/night for a double room, breakfast included. Each room features a flat-screen TV, tea/coffee making facilities and an iron. Full Irish and continental breakfast is served daily. For lunch and dinner guests can enjoy the delicious food at the Line Out Bar overlooking the private gardens.
Intercontinental Hotel
We don’t have a discount code for the Intercontinental Hotel but it is VERY near! Ie bang next door. This is a 5* property located in two acres of landscaped gardens and there is also 14-metre swimming pool. All rooms include a satellite TV/DVD player and cosy bathrobes. The restaurant serves international cuisine made from the finest Irish ingredients, while the Lobby Lounge overlooks the inner courtyard garden and offers morning coffee, pastries, and afternoon tea.
The €2,500,000 guaranteed Main Event, coupled with legendary Dublin hospitality, makes next year’s Irish Open a truly unmissable event. Since it was first held back in 1980, the event has grown to become one of the most prestigious and lively poker festivals in the world and is the longest-running No Limit Texas Hold’em poker tournament outside of Las Vegas. The festival has become a can’t-miss destination for players from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the USA – and provides craic on a level seen nowhere else in the world.
A full list of properties within easy distance of the RDS festival venue is on our hotels page.
Our Official Travel Partner is MainEventTravel.com. MET’s rates are generally less than most major online travel providers. Nearer the event, you’ll be able to book your hotel accommodation, flights and Main Event buy-ins all in one go on MainEventTravel.
