For the thousands of players who pass through the doors of the Irish Open each year, the experience is defined by packed tournament rooms, a great atmosphere and boisterous nights in the Craic Den. But behind every dealt hand, every impeccably-run tournament or cash game, and every smiling welcome is a huge international team of staff who return year after year to make it all happen.
With 86 tournaments on the schedule, this year’s event will be bigger than ever before – with a team that includes 320 dealers and 150 floor staff. We talked to just a few about what it’s like to work at the festival.
Some – like legendary dealer controller Mary Ellen Herron – have a long association with the Irish Open. Others – such as tournament floor Antonio Pataj – have only been involved with the Irish Open for a decade or so. What’s clear is that – once you’ve worked at the Irish Open – you definitely don’t want to stop!
Ask any team member why they keep coming back, and the answer is always the same – the friendships, the craic and the camaraderie. If you think you’re having fun as a player, well so are the staff.
For many, their Irish Open story begins far from Ireland
Loredana Stan first encountered the Irish Open after moving from Romania to Ireland in her early twenties. Coming from a background where poker tournaments were still pretty rare, the scale of the event was a revelation. She said: “it felt like stepping into a completely different world. One where we work hard but there is also a great sense of fun and camaraderie.”
Starting out as a poker dealer, Loredana went on to work as a chip runner and in player registration. Preparation and providing consistently excellent customer service became second nature even as player numbers continued to soar year on year.
She said: “The Irish Open is absolutely my favourite event. I’ve been working it since 2012, and it always feels special. It’s more than just a job. I love Ireland and I especially love the Irish players — they’re friendly, funny, and respectful, and the atmosphere at the tables is very relaxed compared to many other events.
“But what really stands out to me is the sense of community. Players and colleagues joke together, there’s plenty of craic, and even though the work can be intense, it never feels overly stressful. Being treated with respect means a lot to me, and when players remember my name, it genuinely makes my day.”
Decades of friendships and fun
Some Irish Open careers stretch back even further than Loredana’s.
Mary Ellen Herron’s involvement with the festival goes back more than 20 years to early Irish Open days at the Merrion Club. She has now enjoyed numerous roles – from dealing and the cash desk to cash floor supervision and dealer coordination at the tournament itself.
Over the years, she’s seen generations of players and staff return again and again. “It’s a great place to catch up,” she says. “There’s been plenty of craic, some tough days too — but always, at the end of the tournament, it’s worth it.”
Originally from Scotland, Mary Ellen has now spent more than three decades in Ireland. Her current role is Dealer Coordinator in the cash game area – ensuring tables open smoothly and dealers are properly looked after. It’s a role that requires calm organisation and a genuine care for the people behind the tables.
Antonio Pataj’s Irish Open journey began when he moved from Croatia to Dublin 11 years ago. Having worked in casinos since he was 18, he quickly became part of the local poker community and joined the Irish Open team the following year.
Now working as a Tournament Floor, Antonio’s role touches almost every part of the operation: preparing tournament structures, coordinating with TDs, dealer coordinators and chip controllers, ensuring events start on time, and guiding tournaments all the way to a final table and winner.
As the Irish Open continues to grow, that role becomes more demanding each year. Bigger fields mean more logistics — but also a renewed focus on preserving the player experience and personal touch that keep people coming back. He said: “Working alongside JP McCann, Nick O’Hara, Rudy Zirio, Shawn Lytle and others has taught me a great deal and helped shape my career in tournament poker. The atmosphere at the Irish Open is truly unique. Players genuinely love it, which is why they keep coming back year after year.”
Cash game floor Michal Minar says the biggest challenge in his role is keeping everything as organised as possible. He said: “We have a huge number of cash tables running at any given time. With that many people coming in and out, it can be quite demanding. Peak hours are from 8pm to 2am but even though we have so many people at the festival – enjoying the craic, drinking, dancing, playing poker, we very rarely have any issues. The Irish Open is definitely one of the best events to work at. Every year we have great fun – not just with colleagues but also players that I know only from Dublin and catch up with once a year.”
The people you don’t always see … but always feel
While dealers and floor staff are the most visible faces of the Irish Open, much of the magic happens quietly behind the scenes. Michaela Nejdlova started at the Irish Open as a dealer but, for the last two years, has worked as Staff Administrator, a role that involves constant communication with the entire team. From tracking working hours to organising transport between hotels and the venue, making sure staff rooms are stocked with tea and coffee, and preparing schedules and payments, her job is about keeping the invisible machinery running smoothly.
She said: “The main challenge is making sure everything works behind the scenes so the event itself runs without issues.” Originally from Slovakia, Michaela has worked at poker festivals all over the world but the Irish Open remains her favourite event. She said: “It has a unique atmosphere and incredibly friendly staff. I have so many unforgettable moments that I can’t even remember which year they happened.”
Across different roles, countries and career stages, one theme comes up again and again: the Irish Open feels like a community. Players joke with staff. Colleagues support one another through the busiest moments. The work is demanding but the atmosphere is amazing.
For those who work it, the Irish Open isn’t just another tournament on the calendar. It’s a reunion. A tradition. And for many, the one event that truly feels like home.
See also our story about the bloggers – the team behind all the live updates
The 2026 Irish Open festival is taking place from March 26 to April 6 at the Royal Dublin Society with 86 different tournaments including the €2.5million guaranteed Main Event, €1m guaranteed Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty and €1m guaranteed Mini Irish Open.
