Alan Gallagher has been appointed as the new Stadium Director for Dublin’s Aviva Stadium by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
Irish Rugby said Gallagher, who will replace David French in the role, joins from the Convention Centre in Dublin where he holds the role of Director of Operations. Prior to this he was Head of Stadium Operations for Croke Park.
French took up the role in November 2023, succeeding Martin Murphy. He left his role at the end of December, with Vincent Murphy now serving in an interim capacity until Gallagher assumes the position in early March.
In the past 15 years, Aviva Stadium has hosted more than 350 major events attended by over 11.5 million people.
The stadium is home to the Irish men’s football and rugby teams and will host games at the UEFA Euro 2028 football championship.
Aviva has held the naming rights for the 51,000-capacity Lansdowne Road Stadium, known for sponsorship reasons as Aviva Stadium, since its reopening in May 2010 following a €410 million refurbishment. It recently announced a five-year extension to the deal.
IRFU CEO Kevin Potts said, “We warmly welcome the appointment of Alan Gallagher as the new Stadium Director.
“Alan brings extensive experience from his roles at the Convention Centre Dublin and as Head of Stadium Operations in Croke Park, and he has a strong track record in delivering world-class events and outstanding visitor experiences.”
FAI CEO David Courell added, “We are delighted to appoint Alan to lead the Aviva Stadium into the future.
“He brings a wealth of experience and is joining at a hugely exciting time as we look to reinforce the Aviva Stadium’s position as one of the nation’s most iconic venues for rugby, football, and entertainment – in particular with the stadium hosting seven key fixtures of UEFA EURO 2028 on the horizon.”
Gallagher added, “It is a great privilege to be appointed as Stadium Director for Aviva Stadium. This venue has earned an international reputation for excellence, and I am committed to building on that success as we look to the future.
“With the support of the IRFU, the FAI, our dedicated team, and partners, I aim to enhance the experience for all stadium users and further strengthen Aviva Stadium’s position as a premier destination for sport and entertainment.”
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