Republic of Ireland v Wales Euro 2008, Group D Qualifying Match

1. Republic of Ireland v Wales Euro 2008, Group D Qualifying Match Saturday, March 24, 2007 Kick off 3.00 pm FSF HELPLINE 07905 861848 Croke Park, Dublin FSF Cymru Helpline +447905 861 848

2. FSF Cymru reps will be available here on Match day The Woolshed is a sports bar on route to Croke Park. It is a very popular venue and not only is it a sports bar that screens all big matches ,it also boasts an excellent grill, with an extensive menu at reasonable prices. It is a place where fun is the name of the game and they hold all sorts of activities there, including the odd “wet T-shirt” competition. FSF Cymru reps will be available at this location between 11am-2 pm on match day FSF Cymru helpline + 447905 861848

3. FSF CYMRU BASE IN DUBLIN FRIDAY 23 MARCH If you are looking for a pub that offers the finest hospitality, some hearty food and drink and guaranteed entertaining atmosphere - then Doyle's Pub is the pub for you. Doyle's Pub9 College Street Dublin 1Tel: (01) 6710616 Doyle's "Late Bar" is open 5 nights a week and provides an off-licence and the provision of private function rooms all with a friendly service, as only the Irish know how. Doyle's is an established licence premises since 1880, we are situated in the heart of Dublin's fair city, just a stone throw away from the famous Irish landmark, Trinity College. Every Friday and Saturday night, you can enjoy a drink to your favourite tunes with a live DJ (No Admission Fee Charged). FSF CYMRU reps will be at the Doyle’s bar from 12 noon until 4 p.m. on Friday 23 March 2007. FSF reps on duty in Dublin if you need assistance call +447905 861848 GARETH GWYN MIKE VINCE MELANIE CORKY The F.S.F. Reps are on call 24 hours and if its a real emergency situation, please contact them. On Match day they will be based at the Jury's Croke Park Hotel. along with Lucy from the FAW. Rep will be available only up until 11.30 on the day, due to restrictions at the hotel on match days. There is a match day cordon around the stadium between 11.30-4 pm If you need any assistance, especially with ticket enquiries please call in...we will also have our FSF booklets and guides to hand out free to all Welsh supporters. FSF CYMRU HELP LINE.........................................+447905 861848

4. Dublin fair city Split into two sides by the river Liffey Southside For 1990s partiers, first stop was always Temple Bar, a cobblestoned, pub-infested tourist trap. Since the bars united in opposition to the concept of global stag nights, though, some of the neighbourhood’s once-elegant personality has been recouped, but there’s work to be done, as tourists vomiting on the pavement are still not a rare scene around there. Nonetheless, it’s worth a quick look, if only for the iron Ha’penny Bridge that arches across the Liffey. From Temple Bar, it’s a short walk to Dame Street, which is lined with restaurants and pubs. This is also where you’ll find the towers of Dublin Castle but once you pass through its inauspicious entrance you realise that it’s a jumble of architecture from many periods – Heading west, Dame Street soon becomes College Green, which leads to the narrow, hallowed doors of Trinity College, alma mater to Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, Jonathan Swift, and enough Irish revolutionaries to, well, revolt. From Trinity College it’s not far to Grafton Street, a tiny pedestrianised lane with high-street shops. It is usually jammed within an inch of its life with tourists, artists and buskers. At its foot lies the peaceful St Stephen’s Green with its calming views and evocative statues. The other end of Dame Street is dominated by the whitewashed walls of Christ Church Cathedral , founded in 600 by Strongbow, the first conqueror of Ireland. Some believe his tomb lies within, but most archaeologists say it isn’t so. St Patrick’s (on the corner of St Patrick’s Close, ) is the most famous cathedral in the country; the sardonic writer Jonathan Swift was dean here, and he is buried inside – a simple brass plaque marks the spot. The dedicated beer pilgrim will at this point wish to press further west to the Guinness Storehouse (St James’s Gate, ). A hefty €14 entry fee buys two hours of black-stuff madness, culminating in a trip to the excellent Gravity Bar, which offers sweeping views of the city. North side From Temple Bar you can cross any bridge to the northern half of Dublin. Between the lanes of traffic on busy O’Connell Street, the enormous stainless steel shard that jabs hundreds of feet into the sky is named the Monument of Light, but colloquially it is known as ‘the Spike’ (and less politely as the ‘Stiletto in the Ghetto’). It stands on the spot where a statue of Admiral Nelson stood until the IRA blew it to smithereens in 1966. The grey, columned building behind the Spike is the General Post Office. It first opened in 1818, and nearly a century later became the centre of the 1916 Rising. On Easter Day 1916 Patrick Pearse stood on its steps to read a proclamation declaring a free Irish Republic, and then barricaded himself and a band of rebels inside. During the ensuing siege the building was completely burned out. It was damaged again six years later in the Civil War, and you can still put your fingertips into the bullet holes that riddle the columns and the façade. Protests are still held here, and the building is iconic in Ireland. A few blocks away at the top of O’Connell Street, Parnell Square holds a couple of worthwhile museums. The Dublin Writers’ Museum is small but full of literary memorabilia, including some priceless letters and other notes and correspondence from writers Brendan Behan, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde and James Joyce. On the riverfront, if you turn right after crossing from the south side, you’ll soon reach the North City Quays, a revitalised area of sleek, modern apartment complexes, shops, pubs and even a Parisian-style boardwalk. Ronan Gillespie’s moving sculpture commemorating the victims of the Great Famine is here, along with the dominant façade of the gleaming International Financial Services Centre

5. Important facts from the Irish consulate to help Welsh fans during their stay in the Republic of Ireland PASSPORTS. You don't need a passport to travel to Ireland. If you are flying in ,most airlines will accept a current passport or a driver licence with photo. The boat will probably just accept any ID. If you fly by Ryan air or Aer Lingus and lose your passport while here, this office cannot produce a passport in these circumstances. The best way home would be via Dublin or Dun Laoire port to Holyhead and on home from there. There is lots we would assist with and mainly practical advise but as Ireland and Wales fall within what is known as the Common travel area ( no immigration control ) a passport is not legally required. We would suggest that people come with their passport if they have one or their drivers licence. If bringing both please keep them separate in case one gets lost. Are there many police stations in Dublin and is there a directory available? For full information look at www.garda.ie but in Dublin alone there are over 20 police stations. Garda Headquarters telephone number is 01 - 6660000 Locations and addresses of tourist’s offices in Dublin?  www.visitdublin.com www.ireland.ie www.discoverireland.ie Tourist AssistanceThe Irish Tourist Assistance Service, ITAS, assists tourists who become victims of crime while visiting Ireland. While only a very small minority fall victim to crime, for those people the event can be extremely traumatic especially if they do not speak the language or if they are travelling on their own. ITAS offers support and practical assistance to tourists in these situations. Practical assistance consists of mediation and liaison with embassies, travel companies and financial institutions. The service can also arrange accommodation, meals and transport in emergency situations. This nationwide service is free and is run by staff and volunteers who speak a variety of languages. ITAS recommends that the tourist report the incident in person to the nearest Garda Station (Police Station), who will contact the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS). Irish Tourist Assistance ServiceBlock 1, Garda HeadquartersHarcourt Street Dublin 2Tel: 01-478 5295 Contact details for accident and emergency hospitals in Dublin Mater University hospital, North Circular road (closest hospital to stadium) 01-8032000 St. Vincent's University Hospital Elm park Dublin 4 Main Hospital Telephone Number: 01 221 4000

6. Facts acquired from the Irish consulate to assist you on your visit to Dublin Are any areas of Dublin that need to be avoided or where tourists need to take particular care? North Inner City at night...Gardiner Street. The game has an afternoon kick off and Welsh fans are advised to head back to near their accommodation after the match. Is pick pocketing prevalent? Yes on crowded trains, buses and trams. Are there any local scams to be aware of? Yes, the usual ATM scam that is common on mainland Britain Are there likely to be any Embassy officials present at the game? Yes , hopefully there will be a representative at the game.  What are the transports links like from the airport to the City and generally around the City itself? No rail link. Only taxi and Bus. Taxi should be in the region of €30 to town centre. Dublin has an extensive bus service that operates frequent services throughout the city. There are also night buses available to many destinations...these usually end at 2 am Monday to Thursday but keep going until 4.30 am on Friday and Saturday...no night services on a Sunday. For full details of all routes and times please look at http://www.dublinbus.ie/home Where are the main nightlife areas of Dublin?   Temple Bar, Grafton St  Are any bars open 24/7?  No  Are there any particular local laws we should be aware of?  No. Treat it like the UK    Is it ok to consume alcohol in the streets? No, It is an offence. Is there segregation inside the stadium?      Yes. I think you will be housed on Hill 16 Is there a segregation policy outside the stadium...re separate entrances?   Still to be decided but probably yes  Are match programmes produced and available...what is the cost?   Yes but don't no how much  Is there a list of articles fans are forbidden to take into the stadium.? Usual stuff. Bottles, knives, offensive weapons, What is the policy re admission drunk fans?  Usual. Wont be allowed in  Will Welsh fans be searched before entry?    Probably. Still to be decided   Will fans be kept in the stadium after the game has ended?  Still to be decided. Next security meeting will discuss. It will depend on the mood etc. It is likely that they will be escorted out.  Are there any particular dangers around the stadium?  Be careful when purchasing a hot dog that you don't burn your fingers....no not really, just be wary of volume of traffic following game. Are there bars in the vicinity of the stadium, will they be open on match day?    Plenty and all will be opened.  Is alcohol sold in the stadium?   Normally. But not for your game. Do you need to change you money before you come over. or on arrival, Can you use British pounds in pubs/shops etc in Dublin city centre or surrounding areas?  Use Euro or you will be ripped off. Some might take it but we would not advise you to use sterling.  And finally, due to the fact we are expecting over 3,000 Welsh fans in Dublin for that weekend could you please give us the best transport links between Dublin city centre and the stadium, i.e.. Bus routes/taxis etc? Obviously it depends on where you are coming from. The stadium is a 20 min walk from the city centre. Taxi’s are expensive.  It is just off a large main street that will have buses coming from all directions  If travelling from the City Centre, the following bus routes will take you to Drumcondra Road: 11, 11A, 16, 16A and 41.  The bus stop is located on O’Connell Street outside the old Carlton Cinema near the General Post Office.

7. British Consulate service Our Consulate advisor for our Irish trip is Mr Harry Carberry, He has already helped greatly by providing information for this guide. He will be available to help us during our trip to Ireland. Welcome to the Consular Section Our Consular Section stands ready to protect the interests of British Citizens abroad. Below tells you what help you can expect from us. Please note: This Consular Service is for British Nationals who require assistance. Our e-mail address is consular.dubli@fco.gov.uk Please do not use this e-mail address if you require visa information What a Consul can do: Contact relatives and friends and ask them to help you with money or tickets Advise on how to transfer funds Refer you to local Social Services Help you to get in touch with local lawyers or provide information on legal aid. Arrange for next of kin to be informed of accident or a death and advise on procedures Contact and visit British Nationals under arrest or in prison and, in certain circumstances, arrange for messages to be sent to relatives or friends Give guidance on organisations experienced in tracing missing persons Make representations on your behalf to the local authorities in certain circumstances Give information and process applications for British Nationals wishing to get married abroad But a Consul cannot: Intervene in court proceedings Get you out of prison Give legal advice or instigate Court proceedings on your behalf Get better treatment for you in hospital or prison than is provided for Irish nationals Investigate a crime Pay your hotel, legal, medical or any other bills Pay for travel tickets for you Undertake work more properly done by travel representatives, airlines, banks or motoring organisations Obtain accommodation, work or work permit for you Does the embassy offer 24 hour cover? If so, contact details for duty officer.   Duty officer is on call after 5.00pm. Phone main no 003531 2053700 and mobile number will be given FSF CYMRU 24 HOUR HELPLINE +44 7905 861848

8. British Embassy 29, Merrion Road Dublin 4 British Embassy Wales supporters news from Neil Dymock Wales Supporters will be aiming for their third away win in a row in Dublin after wins in Prague and Belfast. The game will take place on the Friday afternoon. Gôl will be visiting the VEC Sports Promotion Unit in Bray on Friday 23rd,  who organise sports programmes for young underprivileged people between 10-21 years. A cheque for £500 will be presented at 4.30pm at Ballywaltrim Community Centre in Bray, just outside Dublin. Good luck to Hedd Adams-Lewis of Cardigan who will be cycling from the Millennium Stadium to Croke Park to raise funds for Gôl and Ty Hafan. Future fundraising events for Gôl include 'Walk Wales for Gôl' from Prestatyn along Offa's Dyke to the Millennium Stadium from August Bank Holiday Monday to arrive in time for the Germany game. While run the Marrakesh Half Marathon in Morocco in January 2008. For further details on anything to do with Gôl or the Wales Supporters Football Team please call Neil Dymock on 07966784054. 

9. Croke Park Croke Park is situated in the north Dublin neighbourhood of Drumcondra and is bordered by Jones's Road to the west, Clonliffe Road to the north, St. James Avenue to the east and the Royal Canal to the south.  The stadium is well served by public transport.  Croke Park have recently launched a new initiative to encourage greater use of public transport by visitors to the stadium. Croke Park have joined with Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, LUAS and DART in an effort to encourage fans to leave their car at home.  A specially commissioned map has been launched to demonstrate how close Croke Park is to a host of public transport solutions.  Croke Park is situated in a residential area with only limited parking available on match days and local residents expect to use this parking.  Onsite parking at the stadium is only available for non-match and non-concert events. FSF CYMRU 24 HOUR HELPLINE 0044 7905 861848

10. 130 MPs have now signed up to Mike Hancock's Early Day Motion asking to review the possibility of safe standing areas. If you've contacted your MP, thank you. FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS’ FEDERATION SAFE STANDING – HOUSE OF COMMONS EARLY DAY MOTION 101 TALKING POINTS 1 Standing areas are permitted in Football Leagues One and Two and further down the English football pyramid system, at both rugby union and rugby league, at speedway, at horse-racing and rock/pop concerts within football stadiums. 2 The Hillsborough tragedy was in large part caused by supporters not being able to escape onto the playing field to avoid the crush, by poor policing and stewarding and by the poor design on the standing enclosure at the Leppings Lane end, not by supporters standing at the match. Those killed at the Bradford City fire were seated in a grandstand. 3 The continued ban on standing at top football grounds is contrary to the Government’s policy that regulation of any activity should be proportionate and related to the potential risk. Many supporters prefer to stand. They should be given that choice. This would reduce friction at stadia between those who prefer (or in some cases are obliged by physical disability) to sit and those who would rather stand. 4 The Football Licensing Authority has so far failed to produce any empirical evidence that standing is more dangerous than sitting at football matches. 5 What is proposed by supporters is NOT a return to the badly-designed standing terraces of the pre-Hillsborough era but specifically designed and properly stewarded safe standing areas such as can be found in Germany for domestic league matches. 6 Safe standing is permitted at domestic Bundesliga matches in Germany. Standing areas are permitted at some of Europe’s most modern stadia there such as the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen (home of Schalke 04, current league leaders, standing ticket costs €9 (£6.25) or at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund (home of Borussia Dortmund, where standing tickets cost €11.50 (£8.00). 7 As more spectators can be safely accommodated in safe standing areas, the opportunity arises to lower ticket prices whilst maintaining income for clubs. 8 The prohibition on safe standing areas is a barrier to ambitious clubs, requiring disproportionate investment upon promotion to the Football League Championship. 9 The Government promotes consumer choice in most areas of our social and cultural life, why not at major football grounds? 10 The current Early Day Motion calls not for the introduction of safe standing areas per se, but for an informed debate involving supporter representatives on its introduction, taking into account all the relevant issues, including supporter comfort and safety. 11 It has already been signed by MPs from the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru, Democratic Unionist and Social Democratic & Labour Parties. This is not a party political issue. 12 Football supporters are electors too. We all have a vote. 13 Safe standing areas are supported by some survivors of the Hillsborough disaster. The Early Day Motion can be found at: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=31670&SESSION=885 This site includes a list of MPs who have signed it. You can find out who your MP is and how to contact her/him by typing in your postcode at: http://www.writetothem.com MPs who are Government Ministers cannot sign EDMs. This should NOT stop you writing to them to let them know how you feel however. Please let the FSF have copies of any letters you send and replies you get. Send these to: phill.gatenby@fsf.org.uk or Phill GatenbyFSFFans’ Stadium – Kings meadowJack Good child Way422a Kingston RoadKingstonSurrey                          KT1 3PB If you want to help the FSF is this campaign, join us at: http://www.fsf.org.uk You can sign-up on-line if you have a debit/credit card. Please consider joining by direct debit. This saves us and you money, meaning we can spend more on campaigns such as this one. If you’re involved in a supporters’ organisation, fanzine or website please consider getting them to join as an affiliate member too. More details on the FSF website.

11. FSF CYMRU - by Wales fans, for Wales fans - an independent organisation, committed to helping Wales supporters. MISSION STATEMENT To help and support Wales fans who travel away. Our role is to provide accurate and objective information, including a Risk Assessment: we convey what other agencies, such as police forces, government departments, and football authorities are recommending: we publish a comprehensive guide which is distributed free of charge to all travelling supporters: we operate and publicise a 24 hour Hotline for fans in difficulties: we arrange a Football embassy operation, at venues abroad, where we can offer advice, guidance and support as necessary. To work with the Football Association of Wales in all aspects affecting the fans, to ensure that the supporters voice is heard. A continuous, running dialogue is held with Mr Mark Evans, Head, International Affairs, “To take every possible action to eradicate any inter club rivalry when fans are following the Welsh national team”

12. Ffederasiwn Cefnogwyr Pel-Droed (Cymru) Wear Red for Wales Club Colours away? It’s in red Wales play, SO get it stuck in your head For WALES we wear RED CYMRU MEWN COCH FSF Cymru Helpline +447905 861 848