User:Aisling.foster1/sandbox

Career
Frank Dineen’s sporting career began in athletics in the 1880’s. He had a keen passion for the sport and exceled in sprinting. In the time he competed, Dineen was known as one of the best athletes in Munster and was thought to be the fastest sprinter in the province. In 1882 Dineen ran the 100-yard sprint in 10.2 seconds, which at the time was the Irish record. . After his retirement from the sport, he then became a well-known athletic official and refereed many athletic competitions, before beginning his career in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Dineen also founded the Ballylanders GAA club in 1886. The club plays sports such as Gaelic Football and hurling and is still around to this day. ..

Dineen began his career in the GAA in 1895. He began his role in the GAA when he took over as President from Peter J. He served as President for three years until 1898, and after that he began his role as General Secretary of the Association from 1898-1901. He became the first man to ever serve as both General Secretary of the Association and President of the GAA. and to this day he is still the only person to hold both positions. . After his retirement from the GAA, Dineen went on to become a sportswriter and journalist for the Gaelic section of the ‘Sport’ newspaper. .

After serving his role as President and General Secretary of the Association, Dineen went on to purchase the Jones’ Road Sports Ground for £3,250 on 17th December 1908. He bought the grounds in trust for the GAA as at the time, the GAA was unable to purchase the land itself. Dineen held the ground in trust for five years until the GAA was able to afford the grounds, and they purchased it in 1913. For the years in between 1908 and 1913, Frank Dineen oversaw the developments of the grounds, and paid for the renovations and upkeep of the property. Dineen remained involved in the development of Croke Park until his death in 1916. .