Stamp Commemorates First Patron of GAA

27 September 2002

Born in Ballyclough near Mallow in 1824 he was ordained a priest at the Irish College in Rome in 1847 and returned to a country which had been shattered by the ravages of The Great Famine.

His subsequent experiences shaped his nationalism and prompted his support for tenant rights. He backed Davitt, the Land League and in 1884 the GAA with which he was strongly identified.

Dr Croke who was Archbishop of Auckland in New Zealand and then of Cashel for 27 years (1875 to 1902) was considered one of the finest and most influential Irishmen of his generation.

Dr Croke’s telling contributions to the GAA was marked in 1913 by its decision to name its major venue Croke Park – now one of the world’s finest stadium – in his honour.

The new stamp, priced at 44 cent, was designed by Creative Inputs and is based on a photograph, by Pádraig O Flannabhra, of a portrait of the Archbishop by James Brennan RHA. A special first day cover has been issued and the new stamp, together with the first day cover may be ordered from the Philatelic Bureau, GPO, Dublin – Tel: (01) 705 7400 or on-line at www.irishstamps.ie

September 27, 2002

Media queries to John Foley (01) 705 7417 or 087 239 1300