GAA

• Sport in the 19th Century

  The second half of the 19th century saw the birth of modern sport. As populations grew, sport needed written rules and national organisations to cater for the people living in the expanding cities in Britain, the US and the Continent. The growth of nationalism, the development of the railway system and the spread of education also influenced sport development.

  • These trends influenced the development of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Ireland.
• The Gaelic Athletic Association for the Preservation and Cultivation of National Pastimes was founded at a meeting in Hayes Hotel, in Thurles


  1 November 1884
• Inspiration for founding of GAA

  Michael Cusack
• Clare-born Cusack ran a school or academy in Dublin for students sitting for the Civil Service examinations
• Cusack took a keen interest in sport, but he was opposed to the existing organisation of athletics
• Cusack disliked the fact that athletics were largely confined to 'gentlemen', and thereby excluded labourers, policemen and others
• Cusack wanted to include nationalists in the governing body of athletics
• Cusack wanted a standard set of rules for hurling, with a national organisation for national sports
• Cusack got the help of Maurice Davin, a noted athlete. Davin was elected President of the GAA at the first meeting in Thurles, and Cusack acted as one of the secretaries
• Patrons of the GAA

  • Archbishop Croke of Cashel
  • C. S. Parnell, leader of the Home Rule Party
  • Michael Davitt, one of the leaders of the land campaign
• The GAA was part of the cultural revival at the end of the 19th century in Ireland
• The cultural revival promoted all things Irish or Gaelic, and wanted to reduce English influence in all aspects of Irish life
• This was also emphasised by the Gaelic League (founded 1893) as both wanted to de-anglicise (reduce English influence) on Irish society
• Many people were members of both the GAA and the Gaelic League in the early years of the 20th century
• The GAA had an immediate impact on Irish life, as clubs were established in many counties
• Clubs were founded in Munster, Leinster and Connacht, and more slowly in Ulster
• American Invasion


  Disastrous tour to America in 1888 aimed at promoting Gaelic sports there but which lost money for the new Association
• Fenians


  Members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB)
• Four of the seven who attended the founding meeting in Thurles were Fenians
• The IRB looked on the GAA as a cover for training young men for any future rising
• Home Rulers did not want the GAA to be used in this way since they supported peaceful means
• The involvement of the IRB led to a split in the Association
• These divisions between IRB and Home Rule supporters, backed by the Catholic Church, led to a decline in the GAA that lasted for about a decade
• All-Irelands were held every year except one, starting from 1887
• By the early 20th century, a revival of the GAA was taking place, with the number of clubs growing again after the decline of the 1890s
• The 1888 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was unfinished owing to the American Invasion Tour
• Hill 16 was originally called Hill 60, after a hill that was fought over in Gallipoli during World War I. It was officially changed by the GAA in the 1930s to Hill 16 when members objected to the term Hill 60
• There was no truth in the myth that the terrace was built from the rubble of the buildings destroyed in the 1916 Rising, as the terrace had been built prior to 1916
• GAA bought playing fields in Jones' Road, Dublin which became Croke Park


  1913
• Developments of Croke Park in the 20th century

  1. 1915: Sloped terrace developed behind the goals

  2. 1920s: Hogan Stand added

  3. 1930s: Cusack Stand added

  4. 1950s: New Hogan Stand built

  5. 1990s-early 21st century: Modern development
• Croke Park capacity increased from 64,000 to 82,300 people
• Events held at Croke Park

  • Muhammad Ali - Al 'Blue' Lewis fight in 1972
  • International Rules matches between Ireland and Australia
  • Major rugby and soccer matches while the Aviva Stadium was being built
  • Special Olympics in 2003
  • Sell-out pop concerts
  • American football matches
• These events were an important contribution to Dublin's economy
• Some playing rules of Gaelic football adopted in December 1884


  • At least 15 and no more than 21 players a side
  • Ground at least 120 yards long by 80 yards wide
  • Time of actual play shall be one hour
  • Match decided by greater number of goals, a goal scored when ball kicked through goalposts under crossbar
• Some playing rules of hurling adopted in December 1884


  • At least 14 and no more than 21 players a side
  • Time of play shall be one hour and 20 minutes
• The GAA was part of the separatist tradition, which was linked with the cultural revival
• Some believed the revival of Gaelic culture could not be achieved without a fully independent country
• The GAA was seen as a cover for training young men for a future rising
• Handball is one of the four national sports promoted by the GAA
• Handball has an international dimension as Irish players compete against players from other countries