In 1947 members of AOH F.C., the association football club of the Ancient Order of Hibernians which later became Cork Hibernians, formed a committee to acquire a ground for the club. The AOH subsequently purchased 11.5 acres at Flower Lodge, a local big house, for £5,800. To further raise funds to develop the ground, the committee also organised lotteries and football pools and held fundraising dances at Cork City Hall featuring, among others, Joe Loss and Victor Silvester. An English grounds expert was employed, a Cork firm undertook the work of laying the pitch and an elaborate drainage system was also installed. The first competitive game at the ground was played in February 1957 when Sligo Rovers defeated AOH F.C. 1–0 in a 1956–57 FAI Cup first-round game.[3][4]
On 28 December 1975 Cork Celtic also staged one significant 1975–76 League of Ireland home game against Drogheda United at Flower Lodge. The occasion marked the League of Ireland debut of George Best. In expectation of a big crowd, Cork Celtic moved the game from their regular home ground, Turners Cross, to the much larger Flower Lodge. An estimated 12,500 fans turned out, with Celtic receiving over £6,000 in gate receipts.[3][9][2][10][11][12] Three other Cork clubs who played in the League of Ireland also played home games at Flower Lodge. When Albert Rovers replaced Cork Hibernians in the League of Ireland, they also replaced them as tenants at Flower Lodge. They continued playing there from 1976 until 1980, playing under the names Cork Albert and Cork Alberts.[13][14] In their 1982–83 FAI Cup semi-final four match marathon encounter with Sligo Rovers, Cobh Ramblers played their two home ties at Flower Lodge.[4][15] When Cork City joined the League of Ireland they spent their first two seasons, 1984–85[16] and 1985–86, playing at Flower Lodge. The last game Cork City played at Flower Lodge was a 1985–86 FAI Cup semi-final tie against Shamrock Rovers.[17]
In 1989, Flower Lodge was purchased by Cork GAA from the Ancient Order of Hibernians for a figure estimated to be between £240,000 and £260,000. The GAA used the money from the two 1989 Michael Jackson concerts at Páirc Uí Chaoimh to complete the purchase. Cork GAA faced a rival bid from Cork City F.C. and during the complex bidding process, they remained anonymous, using three sets of solicitors and making two bids.[27][29][30] Cork GAA subsequently renamed the ground Páirc Uí Rinn in honour of Christy Ring, a former Cork and Glen Rovers hurler. It took four years for the Cork GAA to redevelop Páirc Uí Rinn, costing close to £1 million. On 23 May 1993 it was officially re-opened by GAA president, Peter Quinn. The occasion was marked by two challenge games – a hurling match between Cork and Kilkenny and a Gaelic football match between Cork and Meath. Floodlights were added a decade later and the first time they were used was on 1 February 2003 when Cork played Kerry in a 2003 National Football League game.[1]
During the 1971–72 League of Ireland season it has been estimated that a crowd of up to 26,000 attended a match between Cork Hibernians and Waterford.[3][37] The current capacity is approximately 16,440. The main covered stand has a capacity of 5,200. The uncovered stand can hold 2,800. The two terraces hold 6,200 and 2,200 and the wheelchair area can accommodate forty people.[1]