Spirit Of 16 Dublin Supporters Club

The Cusack Stand

 The Cusack Stand was first opened in 1938, and was actually the first ever double-decker stand of its time in Ireland or the UK. It was named after Michael Cusack, who founded the GAA in 1884.  The old Cusack Stand held about 15,000 people.  It was knocked down in 1993, and was finished in 1995.  The New Cusack Stand now holds around 25,000 people and cost approximately €45 million to build.

The Davin Stand

          The Davin Stand was once known as the Canal End, it was called that because the Royal Canal runs behind it.  On 5^th April 2006 the stand was renamed after Maurice Davin, the first President of the GAA.  It was started in 1998 and finished in 2001.  It was a terraced stand and had a capacity of 12,000. (The original Canal Stand was completed in 1949) Today, the new stand has a capacity for 21,000.  It is very similar to the Cusack Stand although slightly smaller.  It is equivalent in height to an eleven storey building.  The Davin premium level has a capacity to hold 2,700 and there are 24 corporate boxes in the Davin Stand.  It also houses two television studios, one for R.T.E. and one for B.B.C. Northern Ireland. The Davin Stand also houses the offices of the G.A.A. such as coaching and development, public relations, marketing, fixtures and referees.

The Hogan Stand

            The Hogan Stand dates back to 1924 and was named after Michael Hogan, who was shot dead in Croke Park on the 21^st of November, 1920; a day known as “Bloody Sunday”. That morning, Michael Collins, the leader of the IRA, had ordered that 12 British spies should be assassinated, for spying on him and the IRA. So, to get revenge, the British Army came to Croke Park during the afternoon, when a football challenge match was going on between Tipperary and Dublin. The Crowd of 10,000 saw a military plane flying overhead that shot a red flare, and on that signal, the British Army poured over both ends of Croke Park, and started to shoot the crowds. Everyone tried to rush out of the stadium, and as a result, over 100 people were injured and 13 people were killed.

            When the Hogan Stand was first opened in 1924, it was a single stand, but in 1959, it was changed into a double-decker stand, and held around 15,000 people. In 1998, it was re-built again, and finished in July of 2002. The new Hogan Stand now holds 25,000 people and is the most expensive so far at €65 million.

The Nally Terrace

            The Nally Stand was first built in 1952, and was named after Patrick W. Nally, who was a famous athlete from Mayo. However, the Nally Stand was knocked down in February 2003 and was bought by a club in Co. Tyrone.  The Nally Stand was knocked down as part of the redevelopment of Croke Park but also to incorporate a stage for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Special Olympics which took place in June 2003. Put in its place was a small terrace, which holds its historic name in honour of Patrick Nally.

Dineen Hill 16          Hill 16 was first built in 1917. It was called Hill 16, because it was built from all the ruins of the buildings in O’Connell Street (then Sackville Street), after the 1916 Rising. Hill 16 was subsequently redeveloped in 1985 and the current redevelopment was started in November 2003. After Hill 16 is demolished a brand new terrace was installed that now fills up the entire north end of the stadium. The old Hill 16 held 8,000 people, whereas the new Hill 16 holds 12,000, and cost approximately €35 million. The new Hill 16 also houses a score board and a permanent video screen.  In April 2006 the Hill 16 was renamed the Dineen Hill 16 after Frank Dineen who sold the grounds to the GAA in 1913.