The GAA – A People’s History book launched

GAA Press Release

14 October 2009

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen has helped the GAA to officially launch its special 125 Publication ‘The GAA; A People’s History’ as part of the Association’s ongoing celebrations. With the assistance of launch partners ESB, the publication was unveiled at Croke Park on Tuesday night and the GAA will take the book on the road with further launch events planned for Cork (October 20), Newry (November 4) and Galway (November 11) in the coming weeks. The book is part of the Oral History Project commissioned by the Association as part of the 125 Celebrations and the project was undertaken by Boston College. The Social History, authored by Mike Cronin, Mark Duncan and Paul Rouse, includes a vast array of photographs and copies of official documentation and correspondence spanning the quarter and a century that the Association has been in existence.

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Críostóir Ó Cuana welcomed the publication of the new book and lauded those involved in the project. He said: “I say without hesitation that the full spectrum of the association’s wide and divergent activities are represented in what I personally believe is a superb production, one worthy of adding further allure to our 125th year. “It’s all here and the chapter headings delve into the varied and wide reaching activities that fall under the GAA’s wide and all encompassing banner. This is a Social History and to that end Games, Travel, Politics, Media, Community, Religion and the role of Women, Culture and Music in the Association, all feature. “If there is a more comprehensive study of this side of the Association I am not aware of it. The quality and diversity of the pictures and the reproduction of correspondence from different eras spanning the history of the Association has ensured that for the first time copies of rare and vital GAA artifacts have been collated between two covers enabling access to these items to all of our members who are lucky enough to place their hands on this book. “While I have my own opinions and views on a book that will occupy a special place in my own personal collection, I have every confidence that those fortunate enough to come into contact with the book will derive as much satisfaction from it as I do. “No collection should be without it.”

Priced at €30 and published by Collins Press, the book is now available in all reputable book stores across the country.