1886 The GAA holds its finals at the venue known as the City Suburban Racecourse or Jones Road Sportsground. They are not without controversy as Willie Ryan's 'illegal' point helps Tipp's footballers beat Meath by a point.

1908 Frank Dineen, of Ballylanders, Limerick was the only person to hold both posts of president and secretary of GAA. Prominent in the Land League and Fenians, as well as a sports columnist, he personally purchases the ground for £3,250.

1913 The GAA purchase the ground from Dineen for £3,641. It is the first time the association has exclusive ownership of the venue which is soon renamed Croke Park, after Archbishop Thomas Croke of Cashel and Emly, an early patron.

1920 Bloody Sunday.

Thirteen people are shot dead by Black and Tans who enter during a Tipperary-Dublin clash.

Among those killed is Tipperary captain Michael Hogan and teammate Jim Egan.

Four years later a stand is named after Hogan.

1927 Having set out to increase capacity across the decade a new stand is built and named after the GAA's founder, Clare native Michael Cusack, the man identi"ed as the model for the bigoted nationalist character 'The Citizen' in Ulysses.

1936 The Cusack Stand becomes the "rst twodeck construction in the ground, housing 5,000 supporters.

During the same renovation, Hill 16, a grass mound built on the rubble from 1916 on Sackville St, is covered in concrete.

1959 In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the GAA, the New Hogan Stand is opened.

Replacing the original Hogan Stand, it is a cantilevered structure and for many years was the centrepiece of the stadium.

1961 The All Ireland football "nal draws its largest attendance ever.

A crowd of 90,566 watch Down beat Offaly. Any chance of that figure being surpassed goes with the introduction of seating to the Cusack Stand "ve years later.

1972 Muhammad Ali beats Al 'Blue' Lewis in front of a packed Croker. The Greatest comes through against his American rival.

Those in attendance included Jose Torres, Billy Conn, Jack Lynch and Bishop Eamonn Casey.

1991 Plans are completed for a new 80,000-capacity stadium. The design includes three-tier stands, a premiumlevel including hospitality facilities, restaurants and bars. It is to be the jewel in the GAA's crown.

1996 Notre Dame defeat Navy 54-27 in the Shamrock Classic.

The Fighting Irish arrive with 85 players, 125 marching-band members and 13 trunks of equipment in a game the Smurfit company put up $4 million to stage.

2003 The Special Olympics begins. The event is the biggest in sport in 2003, is attended by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bono, Roy Keane and is officially opened by Nelson Mandela. The closing ceremony is also held at the venue.

2005 Phase four, the Hill 16 end, is finished and brings capacity to 82,500, the fifth largest in Europe behind the San Siro, Nou Camp, Luzniki and Kiev Olympic Stadium. Also the biggest owned by an amateur body outside of USA.

2006 Soccer and rugby announce details of their first games at Croke Park. The fixtures come on the back of Rule 42 being removed at Congress the previous year when it was voted down by 227 votes to 97. First up will be France in rugby.

2007 The floodlights have been installed and are switched on for the National League opener between Tyrone and Dublin. The Ulster side emerge victorious by a point in front of a capacity crowd, the largest ever for a National League game.