GAA General Secretary's Place in Crokes Hurling History

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 Click here to access the GAA websiteWhile Michael Curran has often been referred to as the father of Crokes hurling, there are strong grounds for believing he had the benefit of the active support of Luke O’Toole. O’Toole’s (1873-1929) profile in the official GAA website (www.gaa.ie) reads “a native of Wicklow, was prominent from mid 1890s in Dublin GAA affairs and a member of the Hibernian club. One of group responsible for revival of GAA in 1901 with his own election as secretary. Mainly responsible for switching of Congress to Dublin. Present at foundation of Irish Volunteers, 1913, played major role in purchase of Croke Park site, 1913, present at Croke Park on Bloody Sunday, 1920. Prominently involved in the Tailteann Games of 1924 and 1928.”

Click here to read the Irish Times article of 16 December 2009 The Irish Times of 16th December 2009 carries an interesting article from the GAA Museum on O’Toole which is well worth reading, by clicking on the images on the left. Apart from Luke, the depth of the O’Toole family involvement with Croke Park United becomes clear when we reflect on mention of various O’Toole’s as Croke Park United and Dublin minor players (1928 [Kevin O’Toole (Croke P.U.)], 1929 [Gerry O’Toole Captain (Croke P.U.)], 1930 [Sean G O’Toole Captain (Croke Park United)] and 1931 [S O’Toole (Croke Park United]). We believe the names Sean O’Toole, Sean G O’Toole and Gerry O’Toole refer to one and the same person, generally known as Gerry O’Toole(?). Gerry was the first Junior Schools captain in 1925 when elder brother Kevin was the first Intermediate Schools captain. Kevin also seems to have been active as an administrator. A Kevin O’Toole (Croke Park United) was elected to the new Dublin Schools League committee on 18th January 1926 and a K O’Toole was appointed club secretary at the 1927 AGM. Other sons included Fergus and Seamus and there were a number of sisters.

We do not know when the O’Tooles ceased to be involved with Croke Park United/Crokes. We can only guess this was likely some time after Luke O’Toole’s sudden death in 1929 and may have been related to the family having to move from Croke House on Clonliffe Road, the residence provided for the GAA’s General Secretary.

Hurling.