transformation - Sisk 150

traNSFormatioN 179
“The former stadium made few concessions to architectural consideration or
aesthetics and never had the footprint of artistic expertise and experience. This
is why we insisted that the proposed Croke Park project would be the focus of
the best architectural expertise and would be a fusion of design, aesthetics and
functionality,” wrote Liam Mulvihill, then director general of the GAA, in Architecture
Ireland magazine.
initially the international firms of HOk architects, and Lobb, sports specialist, were
employed to draw up a masterplan for the project. Then local architectural firm
Gilroy McMahon was appointed to see the job through.
Opposite:
1. Croke Park before redevelopment
2. The 82,300 capacity stadium upon completion
3. The elaborate roof support steelwork
Above: The traditional pre-match parade of
players before the senior all-ireland hurling final
2009 between Tipperary and kilkenny, with the
Hogan Stand in the background
The day after the 1993 All-ireland football final between Derry and Cork the Cusack
stand was demolished. By May 1995 the new stand was ready. The next phase, the
Canal End (now the Davin Stand after Maurice Davin, first president of the GAA), was
completed in 2000, followed by the Hogan Stand in 2002 and finally Hill 16 in 2005.
Throughout the 13 years redevelopment the stadium hosted all major hurling and
football matches.
The stadium accommodates 82,300 people and has hosted extraordinary events
such as the opening of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, a truly
memorable rugby match between ireland and England in 2007, two memorable
U2 tours along with the annual spectacles of hurling and gaelic football matches.