Croke Park
This historical stadium is only a short walk from The Castle Hotel or Hotel St George.
Since 1884 the site has been used primarily by the GAA to host Gaelic, most notably the annual finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and Senior Hurling Championship.
In 1913 Croke Park had two stands on what is now known as the Hogan stand side and grassy banks all round. In 1917, the rubble from the Easter Rising in 1916 was used to construct a grassy hill on the railway end of Croke Park to afford patrons a better view of the pitch, which hosted all major football and hurling matches. This terrace is known as Hill 16.
In the 1920s the GAA set out to create a high capacity stadium at Croke Park. Following the Hogan Stand, the Cusack Stand, named after Michael Cusack from Clare (who founded the GAA and served as its first secretary), was built in 1927. 1936 saw the first double-deck Cusack Stand open with 5,000 seats, and concrete terracing being constructed on Hill 16. In 1952 the Nally Stand was built in memorial of Paddy Nally, another of the GAA founders. Seven years later, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the GAA, the first cantilevered "New Hogan Stand" was opened.
Music concerts by major international acts have also been held in "Croker", as it is often called by Dubliners, and it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2003 Special Olympics. During the refurbishment of Lansdowne Road the stadium is also hosting the Irish national rugby union and soccer teams.
Following a redevelopment programme started in the 1990s, Croke Park has a capacity of 82,300, making it the fourth largest stadium in Europe and the current largest stadium in the Six Nations Championship. It has also held the world record for largest attendance at a club rugby union match since 2 May 2009.
A visit to this 80,000 seated stadium is a must where you can be taken through the dressing rooms, corporate levels, VIP section & of course the pitch itself.
So whether you are supporting your own county or just want to have a peak at one of the most historic & modern stadiums in the world, Croke Park is well worth a visit
Croke Park, Stadium, Dublin 3.
