Colin Sheridan: NFL is spectacle, invasion, conquest — and has no place in Croke Park

As the NFL arrives in Dublin, Croke Park faces a deeper question: is Ireland selling identity for spectacle and profit?

The Irish and American flags in Croke Park ahead of Sunday’s game. A venue built on Irish volunteerism and history will be draped in imported nationalism. The irony would be funny if it weren’t so tragic. Photo: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Croke Park has always been more than a stadium — it is a stage where Ireland decides what kind of culture it will honour. 

When the GAA opened its gates for Eid celebrations, it was an act of solidarity, a gesture of belonging that said: this ground is for all our people.