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In September 1938, the Munster Express in its column “Gaelic Memories of the Past” published a series of articles reviewing the development of the GAA over the previous 50 years. The first article in the series had the long title, “How South Kilkenny Played Its Part in the Moulding of the Greatest Amateur Sporting Organisation in the World” (30 Sept. 1938, p. 7). One of the more interesting parts of the first article is the description of early football rules where wrestling of opponents was allowed and the scoring area was 63 feet wide!

Certainly unusual for today’s press coverage of football, the 1938 article commenced with a quotation from “Oft in the Stilly Night” by Dublin born Thomas Moore (1779-1825). “Fond memory brings the light of other days around me,” as the song goes…  

  

The First Article

And now I shall retrace for the benefit of our readers the memorable deeds of the famous footballers of South Kilkenny who played a big part in the moulding of the Gaelic Athletic Association—now considered the greatest amateur sporting organisation in the world. To older readers it will bring a thrill of pride when the spotlight of publicity is focused on the happy days of 1887 and 1888, when the renowned Kilmacow football team reached the All-Ireland final, which was not played the latter year owing to the American invasion. [The American invasion in 1888 was a sports tour of the Northeastern U.S. by GAA players. See, Mark Holan (2018) “GAA ‘American Invasion’ Began 130 Years Ago“.]

To them it will revive fond memories of many hectic battle for honours in the Gaelic Athletic arena, when their hearts beat high with joy at thrills provided when the parish representatives clashed in earnest conflict for the county title, and later when the county individual winners tested bone and sinew with other counties in the long and honoured trail to All-Ireland fame.

To the younger generation who have seen the progress of the GAA brought to a most successful fruition in the present-day records of attainment, it will Also bring a thrill of pride that their forefathers played such a heroic part in the foundations of such a noble structure, which has bravely withstood the storms of vicissitude and criticism through many a trying year. It is only fitting, then, that the men who conceived and created it, and the men who answered the clarion call in every parish should be remembered and their deeds of valour recalled. In this respect it is only right to say that the men of South Kilkenny played a noble part in that glorious chapter of the annals of the Association.

Founding of the GAA

The GAA was founded at Thurles on November 1^st, 1884, Maurice Davin being elected its first President and Michael Cusack (to whose memory the new £50,000 stand was recently opened at Croke Park) its first Secretary. Clubs were formed subsequently throughout Ireland, some of the first to be formed being Waterford, Dungarvan, Gearys (Kilkenny), Callan and Ballyneale (Co. Tipperary). Michael Cusack, Secretary of the GAA, refereed the first Gaelic football match played under the rules in the county, at Kilkenny, between Gearys and Dalkey.  No club being existence in existence in the area at the time, a number of players from Kilmacow and Slieverue parishes, where ample talent was available, assisted Waterford Commercials, led by Pat Brazil of the city. Included were Mike Walsh, Mickey Kinsella, Johnny Fitzpatrick, John Moore and Micky Dalton of Kilmacow parish, and Watty McGrath, Jack McGrath and Dick Walsh of the Slieverue area.

Let us cast our minds back, therefore, to 50 years ago when the famous teams of Kilmacow, Mooncoin, Piltow, Slieverue, Mullinavat, ;Ballyhale, Glenmore, Ballycallan, the Gearys, the Larkins, Conahy  and others delighted the hearts of followers with their football prowess in Co. Kilkenny, and brought crowds from far and near to witness their battles for supremacy in the county championship. [Glenmore formed it local club on 17 July 1887. For further details see our post of 30 June 2023.

The Commercials’ training ground was at Ballinaneeshagh, a mile outside the city, and very often Kilmacow and Slieverue players walked to the training ground every Sunday after Mass for practice and back again the same evening. The familiar mode of transport to and from matches at the time was a wagonette; there were no bicycles, motors or buses in those days, and the added task of walking did not hamper the players’ ability in the least and they were as fresh when they returned home that night as when they left home in the morning.

Early Football Rules

The Commercials played a challenge game with Dan Fraher’s team at Dungarvan, which resulted in a draw, but the City representatives won the return game, which was played at Waterford, by a goal. In the first two years of the Association wrestling was allowed at Gaelic games, and a player could throw his opponent with a hold. I am not certain if any particular form of “Irish Whip” or “Killarney Flip” was in vogue at the time, but it became so over-vigorous that the Gaelic Athletic Association at its annual Congress held in Thurles on Nov. 15^th, 1886, passed a motion prohibiting wrestling in football.

Point posts were introduced the same year, which meant that, besides the goal posts of 21 feet apart, there were also point posts at either side 21 feet apart also, which left a total scoring space of 63 feet. A point was scored when the ball was driven through the point posts and a goal when driven through the goal posts: but, strange to say, a goal would wipe out all the points—that is to say a team with one goal would be declared the winners over a team with 5, 6, 8, 20 or any number of points. The side points were abolished at the 1909 Congress held in Dublin.

Kilmacow Forms Football Team

Glancing back to 1886 again, it will be of interest to recall how the famous Kilmacow football team, which made history in the two subsequent years, came into being. Football was making good headway in the parish at that time, and practice was held in many districts notably at Skeard, Tinlough, and Grannagh Knock. The first Gaelic football match in the parish was played at Hunt’s field. Greenville (now St. Joseph’s de la Salle College grounds) in 1886, between a Waterford selection and a local team, which included Nicholas Phelan, Ballykeohan: Jack Heneberry, do’ Jack and Kieran Laffan, Greenville; Micky Hanlon, Parkereid; Dick McDonald, Milltown; Peter Ryan and Johnny Cleary of Gaustown; Jim Vereker, Ballincrea; Patsy Grant (tailor) Greenville; young Wall of Ballydaw; and others. Some of the foregoing are still hale and hearty, whilst others have passed to the Great Beyond.

A big crowd witnessed the game, which was well contested and resulted in a win for Kilmacow amidst much enthusiasm. At that time the Waterford and Kilmacow players and followers were like one big family, and a grand spirit of friendliness and co-operation existed between them. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that after the match at Greenville the visiting players were entertained at Per Heneberry’s shed at Ballykeohan that evening, and a jolly time was spent with rounds of beer, bread and cheese for all. Micky Kinsella and John Moore attended as invited guests prepartory to the formation of a club for Kilmacow.

Various suggestions were put forward, and finally it was decided to call a special meeting the following night to consider the whole matter. Accordingly, about 100 players and followers assembled at the same shed the night after, and with the light of a twopenny candle the Kilmacow Club was formed, which was later destined to shed fame, honour and renown on its birthplace, its county and Ireland.

First Kilmacow Officers

All present were enthusiastic about the project and the club was formed with the following officers—Chairman, Eddie Burris, Greenville; Vice-Chairman, Joe Dunphy, a Dublin man who was then employed as gardener at Kilcronagh House, and Kieran Laffan, Greenville, as Secretary and Treasurer. It was decided to affiliate two teams; Mike Walsh, Skeard, was appointed captain of the senior team and Micky Kinsella vice-captain. It was agreed to purchase a set of green and gold jerseys, and all members agreed to contribute a levy of 1/- and a fee of 2d. a week.

Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.

The photo of the 1888 GAA Football Rules is courtesy of the National Museum of Ireland. Further information on this historic publication can be found on the Museum’s website.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh