G.A.A. Publications - 1988
Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 1989, pp 62-63
Whereas the appearance of the 'Tipperary G.A.A. Story' was the most important publishing event in the county over the past year a number of club histories also saw the light of day. It is encouraging to see so many clubs undertaking the task of researching and writing their histories and it is to be hoped that their example may encourage the others to get to work.
Borrisoleigh
At the end of 1986, too late for inclusion in the article on publications in the 1987 Yearbook, Borrisoleigh published their G.A.A. history. 'A Century of G.A.A. in Borrisoleigh' is a joint effort by Lar Long and Timmy Delaney and sells for £7. It contains 212 pages. The first three chapters give a cursory glance at the early years up to 1940 and from then to 1986 the history of the club is covered in greater detail. The last chapters include information on Borrisoleigh players who made their names at inter-county level, the club's involvement in Scor, the history of Bishop Quinlan Park and Borrisoleigh players who performed with distinction with other clubs and counties. The strength of the book is in its illustrations, having over eighty pages of photographs between its covers. The book was printed by the Leinster Leader Ltd.
Boherlahan and Dualla
Back in 1973 Philip Ryan published the 'Tubberadora-Boherlahan Hurling Story', a forty page account of the hurling highlights from the famous parish. The booklet gave people an appetite for more information and that came at the end of 1987 with the publication of 'Boherlahan and Dualla: A Century of Gaelic Games', by John Maher and Philip Ryan. The book, in an attractive dustcover of blue with a gold sash, contains 354 pages, was printed by Litho Press Co., Midleton, Co. Cork and sells for £10. The book is divided into sixteen chapters and twelve appendices. The Tubberadora years are covered in extensive detail and chapter 8 gives a detailed account of the glorious years of Boherlahan. The appendices are a mine of information, especially those dealing with county and divisional finals. The book carries over fifty pages of photographs.
Eire Óg
In 1943 Eire Óg became the first team from the west division to take the county senior hurling title. That achievement is given pride of place in the history of the club 'Eire Óg: GAA. History: 1886-1986' by Eileen O'Carroll, which was published at the end of 1987. The book, which contains 190 pages, is really about the years in the west division from 1930 to 1986. The earlier period is only glanced at in Chapter 1. An interesting point about the book is the way the author follows each chapter with profiles on the most prominent contemporary personalities. It gives a variety and a human interest to the book. There are over forty pages of photographs and the book is printed by Tipperary Offset Printers.
Ballingarry
Ballingarry launched their history at Thurles at the end of August and the 216 page production, printed by the Kilkenny People Ltd. is a credit to them. It has a very attractive cover containing colour pictures of recent achievements and sells for £7. Written by a committee it covers the history of the club from 1887 to 1987 in great detail. James Murray was the chairman of this committee and he pays special tribute to the editor, Dick Molloy, who compiled the book and Paddy O'Connell, who worked so assiduously collecting material for it. The book contains over seventy photographs, is very detailed on athletics with plenty on Ballincurry and Coolquill and has interesting memories of teams from Crohane, the Commons and Smith O'Briens. Such books have to be paid for and Ballingarry collected no less than fifty two pages of ads, which form quarter of the book. As well as adding twenty-five percent to the cost of the publication this practice takes from the book as the pages of ads intrude on the enjoyment of reading it. This very fact is bad for the reader but obviously good for the advertiser. It might have been possible to have got these sponsors to agree to a discreet listing at the back of the book. It certainly would have made it more pleasant for the reader.
Templemore, Clonmore, Killea
Not many readers will be aware that these three clubs are in the same parish. What about the Parish Rule? A brief guide to the situation would be that Templemore is the football end of things, Clonmore is the intermediate hurling side and Killea, of Tommy Treacy fame, is the junior. Any gaps in our information will be adequately filled on December 7 when Martin Bourke's monumental work on the G.A.A. in the parish will be launched at the Templemore Arms. This book, in large format, will approach 600 pages. It is being printed by Litho Press, Middleton and it is hoped, as a result of generous sponsorship to keep the price at under £10. It should make fascinating reading containing, not only a historical account of the years, but profiles of All-Ireland players, Bill Ryan, Jim Ryan, Billy Grant, Arthur Carroll and the legendary Tommy Treacy. As well the parish produced administrators of the calibre of Canon Fogarty, J. K. Bracken and Fr. Lee. There is an extensive section on the schools, with no less than twenty five photographs from Templemore C.B.S.
Kilsheelan and Kilcash
For the past few years Sean Nugent has been beavering away on the history of Kilsheelan and Kilcash and he is hoping to see it launched on December 8. The interesting thing about this parish is that the first club was formed in Kilcash about 1884 and it continued in existence until 1910. The Kilsheelan club saw the light of day in 1924 and the midwife was Bill O'Keeffe. Before he died in 1984, Bill wrote an account of the formation of the club and that account forms part of this book. Bill himself is profiled in the book as is his brother, Gerry, of colossal fame. Other famous Kilsheelan men were Jack Roche and Paddy Larkin, the father of Tom. The latter is the only native of the parish to win senior All-Ireland honours. Another famous hurler was Jim Kehoe. He won an All-Ireland Intermediate medal and a National League medal. He also has the distinction of winning Railway Cup medals in hurling and football. There are many other things in this book of over three hundred pages, including an account of the Ballypatrick Handball Club and the famous Tony Ryan. The book will sell at £10 in paperback and £15 for the hardback version.
There are three other club histories in the can, but for various reasons haven't yet been published. They are Thurles Sarsfields by Donie O'Gorman, Fethard by Mick Ahearne and Galtee Rovers by Seamus McCarthy.
On the question of publications I hope all readers collect the fine programmes produced for Tipperary matches last year and this year. Some of them are already collector's items. Our county final programmes of 1987 and 1988 were a credit to Donie O'Gorman and his committee. I should like to refer to the cover of this year's programme with the photograph of Hill 16 on All-Ireland day. How many of you picked yourselves out?
Finally, I refer you to a new publication on Gaelic games that made its appearance first in July 1986. Called 'Gaelic Review' it appeared with great fanfare and sold for £1, with a postal subscription of £12 for the year. Published by Victory Irish Publications Ltd., 82 Upper Georges St., Dun Laoghaire and edited by Martin Breheny of the 'Irish Press' Group, it hasn't lived up to expectations and has appeared sporadically. It's a pity because such publications are rare indeed.