Association President Criostóir Ó Cuana has called on members everywhere to engage with their local clubs next Sunday.

Clubs have been encouraged to celebrate the GAA’s century and a quarter anniversary by organising events within their communities which underline their importance to their respective areas.

A variety of different initiatives have been organised by units with a special emphasis on games, culture and community on a day when no club fixtures have been scheduled.

The GAA President, who is a Youghal clubman, joined forces with Ard Stiúrthoir Páraic Duffy and Iar-Uachtarán Nioclás Ó Braonáin to shine a light on their own club allegiances and he urged members everywhere to make a special effort to ensure that Sunday is a memorable day that places our clubs – some of whom are also celebrating their 125th anniversaries – at the heart of the Association’s 125 calendar.

He said: “Our home club is where it begins for us all and for that reason it occupies a special place in us all. It’s where we are first introduced to the games and it very quickly assumes a badge of identity that in many cases comes second only to our family allegiances.

“Sunday is all about highlighting the incredible work that our clubs do in every community in Ireland and re-affirming the place of the club at the very heart of the organisation.

“Some of our older club units are also celebrating their 125th anniversaries, which is testament to the massive and long standing contributions that they make to the fabric of the communities they interact with and serve so well.

“I acknowledge the superb work overseen by our volunteers in clubs everywhere and hope that the GAA will be as well served by its members in the years ahead as it has been since its inception back in 1884.”

The GAA are certainly going all out to celebrate their one and a quarter centuries of existence. Some weeks ago we had the incredible fireworks display at the start of the league campaign at Croke Park. No harm in that, but one must ask the question about the cost of all this and the possibility of funds being literally burned that could be used to promote the under-age game.  As a tool to promote the game, the 125th Anniversary certainly helps put the spotlight on the Association in a year when other sports vie for the attention of the youth of Ireland. Rugby, in particular, is regarded as a big threat to the ability of the GAA to capture the best of the young talent. The incredible sucess of the Irish and Munster/Leinster teams in 2009 makes the task, especially in urban areas, all the more difficult.

It is fine to celebrate our GAA history as long as it not at the expense of the future of the code.

Nonetheless, continuing the 125th Anniversary celebrations, the GAA Museum and Sports History Ireland will host a one-day history conference in Croke Park on Saturday 25th April.  Leading social and sporting historians from Ireland and overseas will participate and explore the history of the GAA and its place within Irish society.

Saturday 25th April 2009

Speakers will discuss a range of topics including the ancient origins of hurling, the life of Michael Cusack, the GAA in Ulster and amongst the Irish diaspora, the GAA and politics, the GAA in film and photography, the GAA and the Irish language, the socio-economic background of players and the question of the GAA’s relationship to amateurism.

The conference will close with the launch of a collection of fourteen essays, The Gaelic Athletic Association, 1884-2009 (Irish Academic Press, 2009) by the President of the GAA, Christy Cooney.  The essays, published by Irish Academic Press, have been edited by Mike Cronin, William Murphy and Paul Rouse.

The conference has been organised by Sport History Ireland in conjunction with the GAA Museum in Croke Park and the GAA 125 Oral History Project, based in Boston College, Dublin.

Tickets are available to purchase from the GAA Museum in Croke Park - Adult €15, Student/Senior €10. Admission price includes tea/coffee at registration. Lunch not included.  Please note that booking is essential.

For more information and booking please contact -
Selina O’Regan
GAA Museum Education Officer
Tel – 01 819 2361 or Email – soregan@crokepark.ie
www.gaa.ie/museum

GAA 125 History Conference
Saturday 25th April 2009
Croke Park Conference Centre

09.30 – 10.00: Registration in the GAA Museum

10.00 – 11.15: Hurling in Medieval Ireland
A.B. Gleason (Princeton University)

Riotous proceedings and the cricket of savages: football and hurling in early modern Ireland

Eoin Kinsella (Royal Irish Academy)

Michael Cusack: Sportsman and Journalist
Paul Rouse (UCD)

Commentator - Cathal Mac Coille (RTE)

11.15 – 12.30: “The Greatest Amateur Association in the World”? The GAA and Amateurism

Dónal McAnallen (O Fiaich Library Armagh),

The GAA in Ulster
David Hassan (University of Ulster)

Gaelic Games and the Irish Diaspora in the United States
Paul Darby (University of Ulster)

Commentator - TBC

12.30 – 13.30: Lunch

13.30 – 14.30:The Camera and the Gael: the Early Photography of the GAA, 1884-1914 Mark Duncan (Boston College-Ireland)

Gaelic games and ‘the movies’
Seán Crosson (NUI Galway)

Commentator - Stuart Ward (Visiting Professor of Australian Studies, UCD)

14.30 – 15.45 The GAA and the Irish Language
Brian Ó Conchubhair (Notre Dame University)

The GAA during the Irish Revolution, 1913-23
William Murphy (Mater Dei)

The GAA: Social Structure and Associated Clubs
Tom Hunt (Mullingar)

Commentator - TBC

15.45 – 16.00: Break

16.00 – 16.45: Roundtable Discussion - The GAA and Irish History
Mike Cronin (Boston College-Ireland)

Richard Holt (International Centre for Sports History, DMU)
Gearóid Ó Tuaithaigh (NUI Galway)
Mary Corcoran (NUI Maynooth)
William Nolan (UCD)

17.00: Concluding remarks and book launch by President of the GAA, Christy Cooney.

Mike Cronin, William Murphy and Paul Rouse (eds.), The Gaelic Athletic Association, 1884-2009 (Irish Academic Press)

I suppose it is hard to compare any Presidency with the reforming, no bullshit tenure of the previous incumbent, Sean Kelly, who gave the staid image and complex decision-making regime of the GAA a kick in the arse into the 21st century by zealously pushing through reforms that changed forever the face of the GAA in the most positive way.

Kelly was always going to be a hard act to follow in fairness, but what we got was the ultra-conservative Brennan, a complete contrast to Kelly.  His mission for his period in office, he declared at the outset, was to sort out displine on the field of play.  What a lofty ambition for his three-year term?  As the Bob Geldof autobiography stated “Is that it?”. Was there not more pressing problems in the GAA that needed attention along with discipline ones?   Well not so, it seems. Brennan proceeded to engage in a Cover Your Arse presidency from there onwards with the only discipline reforms being the farcical yellow card/subsitute trial during the current League campaign which ended this weekend and look certain to sent to the dustbin where they belong at next weekends Annual Congress.

It is well known that he tirelessly travelled the country and worked the various rooms in promoting the GAA and, more importantly, himself.  He didn’t earn the moniker “Network Nicky” for nothing.  Brennan is viewing has a bigger picture down the road. After a three-year sabattical from Glanbia, he will return there after next week but watch out for his profile rising in political circles in the next few years. Nicky has ambitions beyond that of the IT department of Glanbia and avoiding any controversy as President of the GAA was the priority in his tenure at the top in order to achieve them.

He suceeded in that for sure.  No dishes were broken on his watch, but then no dishes were cleaned either.  He shamefully stayed out of the Cork hurling debacle when it was an issue that went to the very heart of the GAA structure. Nicky dodged the bullets with some aplomb - a trait that is very useful in politics as will have been noted by party scouts.

The Dail is of course a place where the talents of Nicky belong.  CYA is a mandatory asset there and the ability to say a lot of horseshit but actually do nothing suits him perfectly, for that is what happens in the Dail. Like the dull, monotone character he is, he will fit into the anonyomous backbencher wallpaper so well.

No, Nicky, you will not be missed. You will not be remembered for any achievement other than your own profile enhancement. Your picture will hang in the boardrooms and the museum of Croke Park, but anybody scanning the list of past presidents will quickly skip by your one. In years to come, you may be remembered for not being remembered. A trivia question in a pub quiz, perhaps.

A word of advice for the political game. Do something you never done when you were in the top job in the GAA - smile. You never did it while you were President, but when you are kissing babies for photo-shoots you’ll have to do it!

The aim of the strategy is to offer an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone to participate in our games and in our culture.

GAA President Nickey Brennan stressed the significance of the event and the strategy itself at what was one of the last public appearances of his three-year tenure.

He said: “Initiatives such as this are of utmost importance and this topic was one of the 11 we highlighted in our Strategic, Vision and Action Plan which we unveiled last November.

“Sport and the cultural offshoots of our association provide a perfect vehicle for us to welcome those who might not be familiar with our games and past times allowing them to integrate with those who are already immersed in these activities, especially at a young age. Sport has a huge role to play in tackling barriers and divisions.

“While we may sometimes take the association, our games and the influence they have on wider society for granted, we should remember that there may be a demystifying and educational process required to allow those from non-traditional GAA backgrounds to access our games and activities to the full.

“The aim of this strategy has to be to encourage people of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, nationalities and religious backgrounds, living in Ireland, to feel comfortable enough to get involved with the GAA and that’s the goal we will be working towards through this strategy.”

Also in attendance for today’s strategy launch were Helen O’Rourke, Ard Stiúrthóir of Ladies Gaelic Football and Joan O’Flynn, President of the Camogie Association.

Both associations lent their support to an initiative that they hope will lead to a more open and inclusive association – one that can have a positive influence on wider society.

Pat Quill President of Ladies Gaelic Football said, “The ethnic diversity of modern Ireland presents so many opportunities for our country and sporting organisations. The wider GAA family must welcome non-Irish nationals with open arms and we need to examine all measures to ensure this process continues apace so that our sport continues to be representative of the whole country.”

Joan O’Flynn added: “For the Camogie Association, the Inclusion and Integration Strategy is a statement of intent of our commitment to reach out and promote the positive inclusion of groups who may be under-represented amongst our players, membership and supporters and to identify and work to overcome barriers that may inhibit some groups from getting involved in Camogie either as players, members or supporters.”

The strategy was devised by a ten-person committee after consultation with a number of interested and relevant external parties.

Louth’s 1957 All-Ireland SFC winner Ollie Reilly passed away on 5th April 2009.

Hunterstown Rovers clubman Reilly wore the No.2 shirt as the Wee County beat Cork by two points at Croke Park to lift the Sam Maguire Cup 52 years ago.

He was an ever-present for Louth throughout their glorious campaign that year and is the fourth member of the 1957 All-Ireland winning team to pass on to his eternal reward.

It was while playing with the local Ballapousta cchool team at the age of 14 that Ollie’s football ability was first noticed and he gained a place on the Ardee Parish under 16 team. In 1954 he won a minor championship medal with Ardee minors.

It was that year that he won second division championship and Ranafast Cup medals with Hunterstown Rovers. He also starred on the winning Mid-Louth minor team and was selected at left full on the Louth minor team.

Out of minor ranks, he was placed on the last line of defence on the county junior team. He was called upon to play in Croke Park in the national league against Dublin in late 1955. This was his first senior intercounty match playing in the right half position, marking Dublin’s Cathal O’Leary.

Ollie’s next game was against Kildare in the first round of the 1956 Leinster championship, in the right full back berth, a position he was to make his own for several years.

1957 was the highlight of Ollie’s career as he helped Louth to win the Leinster and All-Ireland championships, playing in every game en route to the Sam Maguire Cup.

In 1959, Ollie captained Hunterstown Rovers to the Louth junior football championship- the greatest moment in the club’s history.

He continued to serve his club until his retirement in the mid-sixties. His sons Dennis and Colm also wore the club colours and Dennis lined out for Louth.

The light of Colm Cooper shone as bright as ever in Tralee on Sunday as he knocked over eight points in Kerry’s 0-13 to 0-11 triumph over Mayo.

Cooper was at his absolute best as he put the Mayo defences to tangles, constantly chipping in with points at key times to keep Kerry in front. Mayo missed a number of excellent goal chances but they never managed to contain Cooper for long enough to get into the lead.

There was a briskness to the opening exchanges in what was an outstanding day for football. Alan Dillon missed a superb chance to net for Mayo after a swerving move through the Kerry defence, typical of the kind of vibrant build-up play on evidence for much of the game.

Kerry though, were able to put their chances away and it would prove the ultimate difference. After 18 minutes , Mayo had yet to score and Kerry had three on the board, the first an outstanding effort from Kieran Donaghy, the other two gilded by Gooch. Ronan McGarrity and Conor Mortimer eventually started the Westerners’ scoring but there was no stopping Cooper and another superb brace of his restored the three-point advantage.

Both sides then spurned excellent chances for goals, Austin O’Malley denied by a fine Diarmuid Murphy save and Donaghy smashing wide when he should have buried it. Kerry extended their lead to four points at the half-time interval through a composed score from midfielder Michéal Quirke but it was all about Cooper in the first half as he contributed six of Kerry’s eight points by half-time.

Mayo started the second half well and points from Andy Moran, Dillon and O’Malley got them within one of Kerry. Still there was Gooch and two more points from him, as well as one from Darren O’Sullivan restored a comfy Kerry buffer.

O’Malley got Mayo within three of Kerry again with a decent effort from distance but then O’Sullivan gave more evidence of his burgeoning prospects as a Kerry championship starter with a monumental score from way out.

There was battle to Mayo though and giving up was never a prospect. Aidan Kilcoyne and Moran pointed straight after O’Sullivan’s majesty and the final ten minutes were tight and cagey.

Kerry were dealt a blow when Marc Ó Sé was helped off with what looked like a serious injury and Mayo could have added salt when Mortimer wasted another terrific goal chance, seeing it saved and being cleared. Kerry look sharp considering the clocks still haven’t gone back.

Kerry people can breathe again!  Just when they got Tadgh Kenneally back from the  Australian AFL, it looked like they were going to lose another star to the southern hemisphere.  But now Tommy Walsh, the Young Footballer of the Year, says he is glad that the saga over his on-off move to the AFL side St Kilda has finally “been put to bed”. He is not going anywhwere and his only travel ambitions are a journey to Croke Park in September and an even better trip back to Kerry.

The Kerry attacker spent ten days on trial with the Saints last November and greatly impressed senior players and coaching staff at the Melborne outfit.

However, the 21-year-old Kerins O’Rahilly’s clubman says he only took up the trial offer out of “sheer curiosity” and was never offered a contract by the club.

“I am just concentrating on Kerry for the moment. It’s something I didn’t like to think about,” said Walsh at the launch of the Cadbury’s under-21 Championship in Croke Park on Wednesday.

“There wasn’t an offer or anything. It was something that I did think about but I think it has been put to bed.”

“I said a few weeks ago that because I would be 22 going there that I would find the transition very tough. I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Meanwhile, Walsh welcomed Darragh O Se - who will return to training with the Kingdom on Wednesday or Friday night - back into the Kerry fold for the first time this season.

“Apparently, someone just told me he [Darragh] was coming back,” said Walsh.

“He’s an iconic figure in Kerry. It’s nice to have him beside you in any dressing room.”

A bit like having God sit beside you, Tommy!

One of the greatest attractions on a tour of Dublin landmarks is the GAA Museum at Croke Park.  State of the art modern technology allows the visitor to go back in time and explore the history of this great organization.  For families, the Mid-Term Break is approaching and schools out for the kids. The GAA Museum has organised a week of events for all the family.

Monday 16th to Friday 20th February, 14.30 DAILY

The Telling Tall Tales Tour- Family Tour

Take an extra special tour of Croke Park during the midterm break where the tour guide might be telling lies, tut tut! Come along and see if you can tell when their guides are telling tall tales or when they are actually telling the truth!  Ages 6+ Booking is essential as places are limited. Adults €8, Child €4, Student/Senior €6, Family €25

Friday 20th February – 18.30, 19.00 and 19.30,

Let there be light! Floodlit tours

The GAA Museum will open its doors for a special night of floodlit tours. What better way to celebrate the GAA’s milestone 125th anniversary than by discovering the magic of Croke Park under floodlights. Please note that booking is essential as places are limited. Adults €8, Child €4, Student/Senior €6, Family €25

Friday 20th February

Memory Wall Launch

This year the GAA celebrates its 125th anniversary. In conjunction with this milestone the GAA Museum will launch a Memory Wall before the end of February where visitors can add their memories of the GAA throughout the year.

Saturday 21st February, 14.30 - 16.00

Time Travellers - Art Attack

Step back in time with GAA Museum staff to learn a little more about the founding of the GAA 125 years ago. Afterwards make your own GAA timeline with important dates from history and from your own life! Ages 6+ Booking is essential as places are limited. €4 per child

Memory Wall Launch

This year the GAA celebrates its 125th anniversary. In conjunction with this milestone the GAA Museum will launch a Memory Wall before the end of February where visitors can add their memories of the GAA throughout the year.

For booking or more information please contact-

Selina O’Regan

GAA Museum Education Officer

Tel - 01 8192361

Email – soregan@crokepark.ie

www.gaa.ie/museum

Well, the myth is shattered!  We are lost for words – bewildered by the crashing sound as the figure comes toppling down from the pedestal that stood so high. Ones faith in human nature is sorely tested after what we seen Down Under last week.

Yes, yes, I refer to the Setanta Og Halpin affair where the God-like status that this country holds him in was shattered by an act of thuggery in training with his club when he attacked a team-mate. Having decked him with two savage upper-cuts, Setanta delivered the ultimate coup-de-grace when he kicked him in the arse/balls as he lay senseless on the ground. In Australia, this is really bad manners apparently and is the equivalent of the Iraq journalist throwing his shoe at Bush – the ultimate insult you can heap upon somebody.

In hindsight, I suppose, Bush can be considered fortunate that it wasn’t Setanta that was mad at him that day in Iraq, although the world would love to see Bush end up looking like Setanta’s team mate!

Unfortunately for the bould Setanta, somebody was recording the clash and it ended up on TV and YouTube. The collective halos of all the family offspring were all removed as the dust settled on the issue. Setanta has wreaked devastation on the iconic status of the Og Halpin family. Their powerful brand of clean-cut, handsome, down-home guys was a marketing agency dream that could sell anything from sports drinks to carbon–neutral condoms.

Now that big hoor in Australia has gone and fecked it all up entirely with a flash of temper that was entirely in keeping with his character, it appears. It is not the first time that he has displayed OTT aggression as is the case with the little brother (6’9’) Osaki.

Setanta and Osaki – they sound like two Sumo wrestlers, don’t they?

It must be the highly charged Aussie air that gets to them playing that crazy game called Aussie Rules.  Aussie Mules would be a better term for it – basically a bunch of steroid-fuelled thugs knocking the shit out of each other - and every couple of years, the unfortunate GAA football dwarfs from Ireland as well.

Maybe we should thank Setanta for what he has done as being some small retribution for the savagery the Aussies showed to their Irish opposition over the years (except of course Graham Geraghty, for which they should have got special medals).

Anyway, don’t expect Sean Og to roll out the red carpet for Setanta the next time he comes home.

His chances of being a TD have just taken a bad knock by the younger fellas behaviour! (Along with the way he is making a fool of himself in theCork hurling row - the CMPD virus)

Ye langer ye, Setanta boy!

Sharon Shannon and Mundy confirmed for GAA 125 Celebratory Night

The GAA announces today the full programme of events for the launch of the 125 celebrations for Saturday night the 31st of January.

Sharon Shannon and Mundy will entertain crowds as part of the celebrations at Croke Park, marking 125 years of the GAA. The pair, whose duet ‘Galway Girl’ was the undisputed chart success of Summer 2008, will perform at half time on the night.

“The quality musical act together with an exciting game of football and also a specially designed lighting and fireworks spectacular promises to be a night to remember.   So bring the whole family to mark this monumental moment in the GAA’s history.” Jarlath Burns Chairman of 125 Committee.

The entertainment starts at 6.30pm with Hector Ó H hEochagáin and throw-in of the Dublin v All Ireland Champions Tyrone game commences at 7.30pm. Half time entertainment will feature Sharon Shannon and Mundy and 9pm sees the start of “Iconic moments” a show featuring some GAA highlights.

The crowd will then be entertained by a spectacular lighting and firework display which will light up the whole stadium. Larry Mullen’s specially designed soundtrack, incorporating a selection of contemporary and traditional Irish music, will feature Micheal ó Muircheartaigh’s bi-lingual tribute to the GAA which will accompany the firework display.

Get to Croke Park early to experience the full programme of entertainment.  A limited number of tickets are still available, however stand tickets are almost sold out. So purchase your ticket now to avoid disappointment from the participating counties, on http://www.gaa.ie/ or from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.

Ticket  Prices are as follows:

Stand                                                                                                                           €20

Stand Juvenile(Designated sections of Davin and Cusack Stands)                          €5

(Juveniles must be accompanied by an adult)

Senior Citizens/Students (with I.D.) (Davin and Cusack Stands only)                      €10

(Must purchase full price ticket – refund available at Block D

turnstiles to rear of Cusack Stand prior to entry)

Terrace                                                                                                                       €15

Wheelchair and Attendant Passes                                                                             €20

Group Passes per juvenile, 1 adult per 10 juveniles free of charge                           €3