By Denis Coffey
My own association with Croke Park goes back to my first visit, July 19th 1972 “The Big Fight” Muhammad Ali Vs. Al Blue Lewis, it took Ali 11 rounds to defeat Lewis, later at a press conference Ali commented that if someone had told me Taoiseach Jack Lynch was at ringside I would have finished the contest in the third round. Ali reputed to have been paid 80,000 pounds, his trainer Angelo Dundee said he was spellbound by the 18,000 Irish fans. The Brereton Brothers Joe and Sean, Edenderry boxing club made their ring available and in doing so made history. Ali “I’m so fast I can hit the light switch and be in bed before its dark” On one point there can be no doubt the legendary status of Ali, his power and splendour brought a whole new dimension to the world of boxing, record 61 contests, 56 wins and 5 defeats. During my lifetime I have been very lucky and privileged to have met so many interesting people and none more remarkable than the legendary Christy Ring. My father idolized Ringey around the fire he would talk about the glory years, the 40’s, 50’s Cork’s win over Dublin, 1952 their win over Galway 1953 and Wexford IN 1954, 4-in-a-row captains, 1941 Sonny Buckley, 1942 Jack Lynch, 1943 Mick Kenefick, 1944 Sean Condon, the list goes on. “Ringey a goalkeeper’s nightmare”
The year 1954 the resourceful and legendary Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring was attempting to win a record eight all Ireland Medal. Cork won 1-9 to Wexford 1-6 Cork had now achieved their nineteenth all Ireland hurling title. Wexford captain Paddy Kehoe paid glowing tributes to Ring. The attendance record was 84,856; the 1954 attendance record will never be broken due to the capacity been reduced to 82,400. For the record in 1961 90,556 football fans were in Croke Park to see Down win by 3-6 to Offaly 2-8, “Christy Ring Roll of Honour”, 8 All Ireland medals, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1952, 1953, 1954, he captained Cork in 3 all Ireland wins, 1946, 1953, 1954, and became the first player to receive the McCarthy Cup three times, hurler of the year 1959, Texaco Hall of Fame Award 1971, Munster senior Hurling medals 9, All Ireland minor 2 – Munster minor 1, National league 4, Railway Cup 18, Munster Club Senior 1, Cork County Senior 13 with Glen Rovers, Cork Junior Cloyne 1, Cork County minor 1 with St Enda’s Midleton , Cork County senior football 1 with St Nicholas, Glen Rovers club 1941-1967, Cork senior hurling team from 1939-1963 with a grand total of 59 medals plus. Friday afternoon 2nd of March 1979 outside College of Commerce Christy Ring suffered a major heart attack and died, over 50,000 people turned out to pay tributes to a man who thrilled a nation, at the grave side in Cloyne Cemetery, his close friend Jack Lynch said as long as young men will match their hurling skills against each other in Irelands green fields, as long as young boys swing their Camans for the sheer thrill of the tingle in their fingers at the impact of ash with leather, as long as hurling is played, the story of Christy Ring will be told and that will be forever. Christy Rings motto never take your eye of the ball even when it’s in the referee’s pocket that was the sheer brilliance that makes a legend. A woman was heard saying after Rings removal it’s a sin to bury that man, it was so loyal and true.
Another good friend of Christy Ring my father Paddy paid his humble tribute for his extraordinary goodness and generosity putting his skin, blood and heart into every game; Christy now deserved a hard earned heavenly peace. In 1993 a monument was unveiled by Jack Lynch in Cloyne, plus another magnificent statue was jointly unveiled at Cork Airport by Christy’s wife Mrs. Rita Ring and Bernard Allen TD in 1995. Also we have the Christy Ring Bridge, opened on the 13-2-1987 there is also a huge display of photos and more in his beloved Glen Rovers club. The location that inspired a nation, December 1913 the G.A.A bought the ground at Jones road Dublin, from Frank Dineen, a journalist and a supporter of the G.A.A, the move by the G.A.A to buy the grounds was tremendously popular and made a significant contribution to the organization moving forward, 1913 was also the year the teams were reduced to 15 players. The first All Ireland hurling final at Jones Road in 1895, Tipperary 6-8, Killkenny 1-0. The first All Ireland football final in 1895; Tipperary 0-4, Meath 0-3. Cork’s first All Ireland football final at Jones road was in 1887, Dublin 2-6, Cork 0-2, Cork first All Ireland hurling final in 1901, Cork 2-8, Wexford 0-6. March 2005 the new re-development of Croke Park was completed, the total cost 260 million euro’s. People like Sean Kelly, Liam Mulvihill, and Peter Quinn with others worked magnificently as a team the refurbishment also made provisions for new facilities and amenities. The new museum and café are extraordinary; if you have never been I recommend you do.
One of the Architects of the new spectacular and unique stadium at Croke Park Sean Kelly his vision and remarkable ability to foresee a change in peoples attitude regarding rule 42, which would be epochmaking if passed. The “Sacred Ground Croke Park” I have met Sean Kelly on a few occasions and the last chat we had was last year on the pitch in Thurless, after the game between Cork and Tipperary. Sean was born in Kilcummin Co. Kerry he is married to Juliette, and they have four lovely children; Laurence, Julie, Muiread and Padraig. Sean a teacher at St Brendan’s College Killarney for over 30 years, he was also a student at the college in the 60’s. I have asked myself the question what did motivate Sean as President of the G.A.A was very active and instrumental in organizing a debate on Article 42, my intrigue and curiosity led me to embark on a journey looking for answers.
It was a humbling moment in time. My grandparents like many other families during the war of independence would remember and have a vivid sad memory of Bloody Sunday November 21st 1920 the unthinkable and unspeakable for many when the British army forced entry into Croke Park, the match between Tipperary and Dublin football teams which started at 2:45pm callous with brutality, the army opened fire and killed 14 people including Tipperary star player Mick Hogan in his Honour, we have the Hogan Stand, I know from the chats I had with my own grandparents it would not be acceptable to them and especially in Croke Park for anyone to sing God Save the Queen, but time moves on and time itself is a great healer for most people and I would add myself to that list. On Saturday April 16th 2005 a motion was passed Ta 227, Nil 97. Rule 42 paved the way for rugby and soccer to be played at Croke Park, on February 11th 2007 Ireland hosted France and on 24 March 2007 Ireland hosted Wales in soccer, the G.A.A have come a long way. The extraordinary and unique group of Volunteers in the G.A.A their contributions cannot be overstated, they are the pride of our nation triumphantly modest remarkably humble in their self-belief that our country is a better place because a few great men in 1884 said yes we can, and so they did.
Slan Donncha Beanncht De Agat.