The GAA is an organisation steeped in rich history and ingrained into the fabric of Irish daily lives.
Passionate players dedicate countless hours to their club and county while diehard fans live and breathe every aspect of Gaelic football and hurling.
The culmination of both is witnessed twice a year when more than 80,000 pumped-up punters descend on the GAA’s HQ Croke Park to watch their teams battle it out for either the Sam Maguire or Liam MacCarthy Cup.
But the fans and players aren’t the only things that make the GAA what it is today.
In a newly-released book, one of Ireland’s top historians Siobhan Doyle compiled a list of 100 items that encapsulates some of the association’s history which has been instrumental to the GAA and the games themselves throughout the years.
A History Of The GAA In 100 Objects provides a fascinating insight into key artefacts in the organisation’s history such as the first Gaelic football rule book, a pair of glasses damaged during Bloody Sunday, jerseys worn during the All-Ireland and Michael Cusack’s blackthorn stick.
The book delves into the back story of the items and provides fans of the games with some never before seen relics.
One of the objects featured is the original rule book from 1888 which was drafted by the GAA’s first president Maurice Davin.
Before its creation, games were often abandoned as opposing teams played under different rules.
Writing in her book, Doyle explained that the GAA was anxious to standardise the rules and structure of its games.
The rule book outlined what was allowed in Gaelic football along with guidelines for the size of the playing field, the use of goalposts, and regulations for the throw-in.
Another object featured is a letter from Michael Cusack to Maurice Davin in August 1884.
In the letter, Cusack called for the GAA to be formed before the end of the year. He talks about his connections with the press and how they will help garner support for the organisation.
Cusack also highlights the importance of working together in his message to Davin.
Another incredible addition is one of the oldest hurling balls which predates the creation of the GAA itself.
The ball, which is believed to be from the period 1402- 1435, is made from matted cow hair with a plaited horsehair covering and was found by Hugh Lyons in 1975 while hand-cutting turf in a bog in Lavally in Sligo.
Doyle’s book also contains a map of Croke Park from 1913 which was included in the land sale agreement to the GAA from Frank Brazil Dineen.
The Limerick man initially purchased the grounds which were then called the City and Suburban Sports Ground for £3,250 because the GAA couldn’t afford them.
Dineen made restorations to the ground, building terraces, and relaid the pitch before he sold it on to the GAA on December 18, 1913.
The book also features a shoelace worn by Tipperary player Bill Ryan on Bloody Sunday.
His own football boots had been thrown out of a train window following a brawl with soldiers on the way to Dublin.
Ryan’s replacement boots were too loose and Michael Hogan reached for his kitbag and returned with a spare shoelace before they took on Dublin in a one-off challenge match.
Crown Forces later opened fire on the 10,000 spectators who had packed into Croke Park to watch the game which was in aid of the Republican Prisoners Dependents Fund.
Hogan was among the 14 civilians who died on Bloody Sunday and Ryan, who was the last surviving player, kept the bootlace for the rest of his life.
Another piece of history that is included is Sam Maguire’s gold pocket watch which was gifted to him in 1923.
The book also reveals the back story to the “John 3:7” sign which was often spotted at matches.
The sign was carried by Frank Hogan who spotted a similar one at the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament in 1987.
It read “John 3:16” and is a Bible verse. Frank, who passed away in 2020, used that for a short amount of time to spread a Christian message but ultimately switched because it was too long to recite when quizzed by fans.
He settled on “John 3:7” which reads: “Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.”
The sign was stolen back in 2009 on a train journey to Limerick but wound up in Kildare Garda station a couple of days later – making frontpage news at the time.
Explaining why the book was written, author Siobhan Doyle told the Irish Mirror: “The simple answer is that it hasn’t been done before.
“There is very little research that looks at the GAA’s history through objects, which is surprising considering that there are so many fascinating pieces of memorabilia and collections out there.
“I was working on the GAA’s centenary programme for Bloody Sunday and while I was researching the clothing, personal items and visual representations of that historical event, it occurred to me that an extended examination of GAA objects doesn’t exist.
“So the project that eventually became this book started from there.
“There are people in every county that have dedicated rooms in their houses or sheds out the back full of match programmes, books and various different pieces of GAA history.
“These collections are meticulously organised after countless hours of proudly sifting through the things that they have acquired through purchase, exchange, donation, and inheritance.
"I am glad to share many objects from those collections in this book and I hope that some of their treasured items will eventually enter museum collections to be shared and appreciated by the wider public.”
Siobhan said it was important to include a diverse range of items in the book and revealed this was one of the most challenging aspects of compiling the list.
She told us: “Objects such as the Poc Fada marking stone, the scissors used to open the Cusack Stand and Playstation game are some examples that people might not expect as they turn the pages.”
She also stressed “without these people safekeeping, the objects would deteriorate, the stories would be lost and my book couldn’t have been written”.
History Of The GAA In 100 Objects by Siobhan Doyle, is available in all bookshops and online booksellers
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