Quick facts for kids
Croke Park
Páirc an Chrócaigh
Croker
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 |
Location |
Jones Road, Dublin 3, D03 P6K7, Ireland |
Public transit |
Drumcondra railway station |
Owner |
GAA |
Capacity |
82,300 |
Field size |
144.5m x 88m |
Surface |
soil pitch |
Construction |
Broke ground |
1880 |
Opened |
1884; 141 years ago (1884) |
Renovated |
2004 |
Architect |
Gilroy McMahon |
Project manager |
Seamus Monahan & Partners |
Structural engineer |
Horgan Lynch & Partners |
Tenants |
Gaelic Athletic Association |
Croke Park (Irish: Páirc an Chrócaigh) is a stadium. It is the biggest stadium in Ireland. It is in the middle of Dublin. It is the third largest stadium in Europe. It can hold 82,300 people. The stadium is owned by the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association), Ireland´s biggest sport organisation. Since 1884 it is used by the GAA. The annual finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and Senior Hurling Championship are held here Music concerts by major international acts have also been held. From 2007–2009 it was also used for rugby and soccer. The stadium is named after Thomas Croke, an archbishop, who was an early mentor of the GAA.
History
The area was used since 1870 as sports ground. It was called Jones's Road Sportsground. Since the foundation of the Gaelic Athletic Association it was used for major events in Gaelic sports. In 1913 the ground was bought by them. At this time the ground had one stand and earth walls around the field. In the 1920s the capacity raised by building new stands. In the 1980s the GAA decided to build a high capacity stadium. The final constructions were in 2003.
Images for kids
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A fireworks and light display was held in Croke Park in front of 79,161 fans on Saturday 31 January 2009 to mark the GAA's 125th anniversary
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Bloody Sunday remembrance plaque
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Croke Park floodlights in use during Six Nations Championship match
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U2's Vertigo Tour at Croke Park in 2005
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U2's 360° Tour at Croke Park in 2009
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Statue of Michael Cusack outside the Croke Park GAA Museum
See also
In Spanish: Croke Park para niños