Croke Park and Pics

After seeing the Guinness Storehouse, we took a bus to Croke Park which is the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association or GAA. This park is one of the largest stadiums in Europe and has a capacity of 82,300 people. The actual field (here they call it a 'pitch') and the seating is all beautifully maintained and we learned that the middle of the field is actually a foot higher than the outside to create the illusion of a flat surface from the nosebleed seats. Our guide was a fantastic Dubliner who truly had passion for his job and GAA sports. He told us many interesting stories about every room we saw including anecdotes regarding his favorite players and his childhood watching famous matches. GAA sports include hurling, Gaelic football, handball, rounders, and camogie (hurling for females). These are all traditional Irish sports and the players, though very talented and dedicated to their sports, are all amateurs. 

I think that is the most amazing part of the whole thing. These individuals are not paid millions to play games and get endorsement deals and fame. They are all ordinary individuals who have full-time jobs but choose to dedicate hundreds of hours every month to training and traveling out of passion and love. And these players are not able to pick and choose which club they support. They are born into their club by which county they are from and would never think of playing for another. They are not playing for themselves but for their family, friends, and neighbors back home who want to see the small town athlete succeed on the big stage. Even the counties that are not traditionally very good always have a chance to make it to the All-Ireland final and that hope brings these people and this nation together.

At first, I thought that Croke Park was just another stadium. Another place where fans gather and get drunk to hopefully see an interesting game and walk out with a win. But Croke Park is so much more than that. It symbolizes unity and passion for inherently Irish sports. It symbolizes support for one's neighbors and pride in one's birthplace. It symbolizes sportsmanship and a job well done. In many ways, Croke Park is the embodiment of the kindness and passion of the Irish people, and I am so glad that I got to visit.

Now for the pictures:

This is the Waterford Crystal chandelier that is in the bar/eating room for the players. If you look closely, you can see that the spheres are actually made up of Gaelic footballs and sliotars, the balls used for hurling.

Some of the jerseys in the locker room. The stadium has two main locker rooms which are used for all matches. These lock rooms are exactly the same as in Croke Park there is never a 'home team' or special treatment for one team or another.

Our very enthusiastic guide who definitely deserves a raise.

Giant hurleys that are used for parades and such.

Outside in the actual bowl.

Cheering for Grandma Mel's county, Co. Westmeath!

Our guide again. This room is used for a variety of things, one of them being a game day mass that occurs before the All-Ireland finals.

The entrance with logos from every GAA team in the world. Interestingly there are many teams in Asia and in the United States.

Another shot of the entrance with a statue of Michael Cusack.

 Thanks for reading!

The Opinionated Lassie