Páirc an Chrócaigh - 21 Samhain 1920. Domhnach na Fola i mBaile Átha Cliath

Gearrliosta Gradam de Bhaldraithe

Ar an 21 Samhain 1920, bhí cluiche mór dúshláin idir Tiobraid Árann agus Baile Átha Cliath le himirt i bPáirc an Chrócaigh, ceanncheathrú na peile Gaelaí. Ar maidin an lae sin rinneadh sléacht ar ‘Bhuíon Cairo’ — grúpa oifigigh rúnda de chuid na Breataine a raibh sé d’aidhm acu gluaiseacht na saoirse in Éirinn a chloí. Ba iad ‘an Dáréag Aspal’ a mharaigh iad, brainse d’Óglaigh na hÉireann a bhí á stiúradh ag Micheál Ó Coileáin. Bhí na Dúchrónaigh cinnte de go mbeadh na hAspail i measc an tslua i bPáirc an Chrócaigh. Rinne baill den fhórsa póilíneachta mhíchlúiteach sin a mbealach go dtí an pháirc agus chrom láithreach ar dhaoine den lucht féachana agus den dá fhoireann a scaoileadh. ‘Domhach na Fola’ a thugtar ar an lá uafásach sin.

In 2007, b’éigean na cluichí baile a bhí le himirt ag Éirinn i gcomórtas rugbaí na Sé Náisiún a athlonnú. Den chéad uair riamh, mar sin, bhí rugbaí le himirt i bPáirc an Chrócaigh, cluiche i gcoinne Shasana san áireamh. Ach bhí alltacht ar an-chuid daoine agus iad ag smaoineamh ar God Save the Queen a bheith á gcanadh i bPáirc an Chrócaigh. Músclaíodh cuimhní pianmhara ar Dhomhnach na Fola 1920.

Is anseo, i bPáirc an Chrócaigh, a chaithfear créachtaí na staire a leigheas agus athmhuintearas a dhéanamh idir an dá náisiún trí mheán an spóirt.

On 21 November 1920, Dublin’s Croke Park, home of Gaelic football, hosted the Great Challenge Match between Tipperary and Dublin. That morning, the Cairo Gang — a team of British undercover officers whose aim was to eliminate the Irish independence movement — was wiped out by The Twelve Apostles, a branch of the IRA headed by Michael Collins. Convinced that the killers were concealed amongst the crowd at Croke Park, the notorious police division known as the Black & Tans headed to the ground and indiscriminately shot at spectators and players alike, a massacre which became known as Bloody Sunday.

In 2007, the Irish home Six Nations rugby matches had to be relocated and were held for the first time ever at Croke Park, where it was England’s turn to play their match away against Ireland. But the thought of hearing God Save the Queen ringing through Croke Park sparked consternation, resurfacing painful memories of the 1920 Bloody Sunday massacre.

The tensions of a dark historical turning point, and the eventual reconciliation through sport of neighbouring nations, are resolved through the events recounted here — at Croke Park.