Tipperary’s G.A.A. Ballads

This book was produced in 2000 to mark the Millennium by the G.A.A. in the county.  It is a comprehensive collection of Tipperary’s ballads, poems and songs.  The huge job of collecting and compiling the hundreds of pieces in the collection was undertaken by Seamus J. King, Liam Ó Donnchú and Jimmy Smyth.

There are ballads from as early as 1741. All the many All-Ireland victories are marked as well as club victories and rivalries.  There are laments and tributes to many people from Sam Maguire to Michael O’Hehir, Christy Ring of Cork to Wexford’s Nickey Rackard, as well as all the Tipperary heroes like Jimmy and John Doyle, Nicky English and Babs Keating.

While the main focus is certainly on Tipperary, there is material in the book to interest Irish people everywhere, a real treasure house of revived memories.  The work is a wonderful feat of research and great credit is due to the three compilers for a job well done.

Hardcover: 700 pages
Published: 2000
Publisher: Tipperary County Board
Printer: Kilkenny People Printing
Availability: Available from Lar Na Pairce