41 Facts About Frank Dineen

Frank Brazil Dineen was a Gaelic games administrator and the fourth president of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

An athlete in the 1880s, Dineen was the fastest Irish sprinter of his day.

Frank Dineen is noted as the man who purchased a site on Jones Road in 1908 before donating it to the GAA for free in 1913, the site now of Croke Park.

Frank Dineen held the ground in trust for the GAA, which at the time was not able to purchase the land itself.

Frank Dineen is known for purchasing a site on Jones Road in 1908 and giving it to the GAA free of charge in 1913.

Frank Dineen developed all 14 acres of the grounds of this property for five years and funded it himself.

Frank Dineen was the only man who saw the possibilities for this land and without Dineen's vision and belief, Croke Park would not be the main headquarters for this organization and one of the finest stadiums worldwide.

Frank Dineen is an emblematic figure in the early part of the GAA.

Frank Dineen became President of the GAA in 1895 and filled the position until 1898 when he progressed to become the General Secretary of the association, a position he occupied until 1901.

Frank Dineen was a leading member of both the Fenian movement and the Land League.

Frank Dineen is known as one of the forgotten significant figures in the GAA and his memory and contribution was dismissed as the years went on.

Frank Dineen grew up in Ballylanders with his father, Nicholas Frank Dineen.

Frank Dineen came from a large family of 28 as his father remarried twice, having children with all three wives.

Frank Dineen attended National school in Ballylanders and after went to Rockwell College, in County Tipperary, after which he returned to Ballylanders.

Frank Dineen was a very successful and influential person at a young age and accomplished a lot throughout his life.

Frank Brazil Dineen was born into a family home in Ballylanders, County Limerick with a family of 28.

Frank Dineen was involved in the Irish National Land League and the Fenian movement.

Frank Dineen's relatives played a significant role in Irish Politics.

Frank Dineen refers to Frank B Dineen as an all-Ireland champion athlete, and his parents active involvement in the IRA, and Cumann na mBan activities.

Frank Dineen's relatives were caught and punished by the Irish state for their political opinions, and actions.

Frank Dineen's sporting career began in athletics in the 1880s.

Frank Dineen had a keen passion for the sport and excelled in sprinting.

In 1882 Frank Dineen ran the 100-yard sprint in 10.2 seconds, which at the time was the Irish record.

Frank Dineen became the first man to ever serve as both General Secretary of the Association and President of the GAA.

Frank Dineen bought the grounds in trust for the GAA as at the time, the GAA was unable to purchase the land itself.

Frank Dineen held the ground in trust for five years until the GAA was able to afford the grounds, and they purchased it in 1913.

Frank Dineen remained involved in the development of Croke Park until his death in 1916.

Frank Dineen refereed many important matches in Irish athletics and at that time many individuals considered him to be the most capable official in the country.

Frank Dineen had a keen interest in all aspects of the GAA he had a particular interest in juvenile athletics.

Frank Dineen is believed to have given all his well-deserved awards away at the local sports.

Frank Dineen moved to Dublin in the late 1890s, where he became a sports journalist.

Frank Dineen was particularly famous for his role in newspapers such as the Freeman's Journal, Telegraph, and Sport.

In 1906, Frank Dineen released the first ever Irish Athletic Record in the country, containing Irish, British and American records.

Frank Dineen had wished to produce another publication containing information on all great athletes of his time but unfortunately didn't live to see the day.

In 1908, Frank Dineen bought a fourteen acre racecourse worth 3,250 pounds, with the idea of the GAA in mind.

Frank Dineen sold the playing field to the GAA in 1913 for 3,500 pounds.

Frank Dineen died on 18 April 1916, aged 54, exactly one week before The 1916 Easter Rising.

Frank Dineen died due to a cerebral haemorrhage and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, County Dublin.

Frank Dineen's headstone is written through the Irish language and states the years he served as President and Secretary of the GAA.

In 2009, the Shamrocks Ballylanders GAA Club honoured Frank Dineen, its founding member, with a two days long event, named "The Birth of Croke Park in the Ballyhoura Mountains", held in South East Limerick.

In December 2013, in honour of the 100th anniversary of his donation and the establishment of Croke Park as the GAA headquarters, Frank Dineen was celebrated, when framed copies of the original deeds for Croke Park were presented to Frank Dineen's relatives and to representatives from the Shamrocks Ballylanders GAA Club.