THE legendary big red book made an appearance in Newry last night as a GAA stalwart heard the famous phrase 'this is your life'.
In a special tribute to Danny Murphy, the former president of the Ulster Council GAA was honoured for his years of dedication to Gaelic games.
During the event based on the former television show This Is Your Life, a surprised Mr Murphy was joined by family, friends, leading GAA figures and sports commentators at the Canal Court Hotel.
Among those to pay tribute were Ulster Council president Martin McAviney, former Down county chairman Donal McCormack and Stormont culture, arts and leisure minister Carál Ní Chuilín.
The event was organised by former Newry school teacher Aidan O'Rourke who said he "wanted to honour Danny for all his work in the Ulster Council and at Croke Park".
Around 400 people listened as Mr O'Rourke opened the big red book on Mr Murphy's sporting and personal achievements.
With an opening introduction from his brother Owen, his family history was recalled before the tribute quickly moved to his first experience of the GAA in Ballyholland where his career began.
Playing at schoolboy level in the early to mid 1960s, he was also successful playing hurling for Warrenpoint and Rostrevor as well as shot-putt competitions.
Mr Murphy played for Burren up to senior level from 1976-1985, including being part of the 1977 side that reached the Down County final, losing by a narrow margin.
Most of the players on the 1977 team were due to be at last night's event including captain Frank McGovern, Seamus McGovern and Paddy McMahon.
Serving on the Burren club committee in the 1970s, he held several roles in the South Down committee before being elected as one of the Down delegates to the Ulster Council in 1982.
"This was a first step in a wonderful administrative career with the GAA at provincial level in Ulster and over 34 years later you continue to serve on the Ulster Council with distinction," Mr O'Rourke said.
Mr McAviney paid tribute to Mr Murphy's "encyclopaedic knowledge of the GAA rule book".
Mr Murphy was also Ulster GAA Council treasurer, Down GAA county chairman, vice-president of the Ulster Council and Ulster GAA president.
Mr O'Rourke said: "During his tenure as secretary of Comhairle Uladh, he has master-minded the spread of Gaelic games in areas where they were not too popular in the past and also been involved in the physical development
of major county grounds in all the nine counties of Ulster.
"Danny has overseen hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in GAA projects and established a close relationship with the GAA and various political parties in Northern Ireland."
GAA president-elect Aogán O Fearghaill was the final person to honour him, describing him as a man who had "dedicated his life to the GAA".