From Muhammad Ali to Nelson Mandela – Croke Park has seen many big sporting days away from the GAA

From Muhammad Ali taking to the ring at GAA HQ more than 50 years ago, to Rule 42 being relaxed in 2005, to Brazil and Italy gracing the Jones’s Road venue against the Boys in Green, we look back on the other sports Croker has hosted over the years.

Muhammad Ali v Al ‘Blue’ Lewis, July 19, 1972

Offaly lifted Sam Maguire in ’72 while Kilkenny clinched the Liam McCarthy but the biggest show of the year came months before as Muhammad Ali, considered the greatest fighter of all time, took on Al ‘Blue’ Lewis at Croke Park.

The bout was the brainchild of Kerryman Butty Sugrue. Ali had Irish connections, as his great grandfather Abe Grady emigrated to the US from Clare in the 1860s and before the fight, he met Taoiseach Jack Lynch, Irish civil rights leader Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, and even received a hurling lesson from Kilkenny legend Eddie Keher.

As for the fight itself, Ali won by TKO in the 11th round and while he didn’t make it out to Clare on that occasion, he did visit in 2009, when he was made the first Honorary Freeman of Ennis.

Special Olympics, June 2003

Croker played host to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2003 Special Olympic World Games, the first to be held outside of the US at the time. Hosted by now Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty, acts like U2, The Corrs and Riverdance performed at the opening ceremony with 75,000 athletes and spectators in attendance. Nelson Mandela officially opened the games and other stars like Muhammad Ali, Roy Keane and Colin Farrell walked out with the athletes, with the games lasting for eight days.

Ireland 1-0 Wales, Euro 2008 qualifier, March 24, 2007

History was made in March 2007 as Croke Park played host to a soccer match for the first time, as Lansdowne Road was being redeveloped.

Wales were the opponents as Stephen Ireland’s first-half goal proved the difference for Steve Staunton’s Ireland in front of a 72,539-strong crowd.

The Boys in Green followed that with another 1-0 home win against Slovakia days later but would miss out on qualification for Euro 2008 after finishing third in their group.

Ireland 0-1 Brazil, friendly, February 6, 2008

Five-time World Cup champions Brazil arrived in Dublin 3 to take on Don Givens’ Ireland in front of 70,000 spectators. After two wins and two draws at Croker, it was Ireland’s first defeat at the venue as Real Madrid striker Robinho netted the winner in the second half.

The margin could have been greater had Shay Given not pulled off a number of fine saves. Robbie Keane almost bagged a late equaliser but a strong stop from Julio Cesar denied the centurion from close range. Five days later, news emerged that Giovanni Trapattoni had agreed to take the Irish job.

Ireland 2-2 Italy, 2010 World Cup qualifier, October 10, 2009

It was late heartbreak as Alberto Gilardino’s 89th-minute equaliser denied Ireland a famous win over the reigning world champions, who secured their spot at South Africa 2010 that night.

Glenn Whelan scored with a stunning long-range strike to put the hosts ahead early on before Mauro Camoranesi levelled matters with a header from Andrea Pirlo’s coroner. Sean St Ledger thought he had clinched the three points when he headed in his first international goal in front of the Davin stand on 87 minutes but Gilardino scored moments later as Ireland were consigned to second place.

Ireland 0-1 France, 2010 World Cup play-off, November 14, 2009

Targeting their fourth World Cup qualification, Ireland hosted 1998 World Cup winners France at GAA HQ for the first leg but fell to a 1-0 defeat courtesy of Nicolas Anelka’s 68th-minute goal. In the second leg, Keane’s first-half strike took the play-off to extra-time in Paris – but best not to mention the war.

Penn State 26-24 University of Central Florida, Croke Park Classic, August 30, 2014

Penn State took on UCF in the 2014 season-opener, the first time the sides had played outside the US. There were 53,304 fans watching as a Sam Ficken field goal clinched victory for Penn State. US college football has since become a regular fixture in Dublin with the Aviva hosting games in 2016, 2022 and 2023.