Michael Hogan (Gaelic footballer)


Michael Hogan was a Gaelic footballer and one-time Captain of the Tipperary GAA team. He was a member of the Irish Volunteers and was born in the Grangemockler area of Co. Tipperary.

Bloody Sunday

Hogan took part in a challenge match between Tipperary and Dublin at Croke Park on Bloody Sunday, November 21, 1920. The day before, he travelled on the train with the other members of the team. A number of the players, including Hogan, became involved in a fight with soldiers from the Lincolnshire Regiment before throwing them from the train. On arrival at Heuston Station, they quickly went their separate ways anticipating arrest. Michael and Thomas Ryan, the two IRA members on the team, decided to stay at Philip Shanahan's pub in Monto that night, rather than Barry's Hotel as planned. There they learned that 'there was a 'big job coming off' the following day, but were unaware of the details. The following morning, Phil Shanahan informed them of the shooting of British agents. Ryan claims that Dan Breen advised them it would be better not to attend the match, but to return instead to Tipperary. During the match, Black and Tans entered Croke Park and opened fire on the crowd. Hogan was one of the 14 people killed. Tom Ryan, a young spectator from Wexford, entered the pitch to pray beside the dying Hogan and was also fatally shot. Another player, Jim Egan, was wounded, but survived.
The Hogan Stand at Croke Park, built in 1924, is named after Michael Hogan.

Personal life

Hogan was the brother of Major General Daniel Hogan, who was Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces in the 1920s. He was also the cousin of Cardinal Michael Browne, Monsignor Pádraig de Brún, and Monsignor Maurice Browne.