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New GAA exhibition launched at National Museum of Ireland

The yellow sliotar first used in the 2020 All-Ireland senior hurling final is part of the new exhibition. Picture by Seamus Loughran
The yellow sliotar first used in the 2020 All-Ireland senior hurling final is part of the new exhibition. Picture by Seamus Loughran
By David Roy

A HANDWOVEN tweed camogie dress worn in the 1960s during a successful decade for Antrim camogie and a medieval mether from Co Armagh are among the items featured in a new multi-media exhibition on the GAA.

Open to the public at the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) in Dublin from Thursday, GAA: People, Objects & Stories is the creation of Dr Siobhán Doyle, curator of Glass, Ceramics and Asian Collections at NMI and author of the critically acclaimed book A History of the GAA in 100 Objects.

The exhibition includes objects dating from the 15th century to the present day, including many which will be on public display for the first time, such as:

  • A Medieval Mether, found at Corran in Co Armagh. The design of the iconic Liam MacCarthy cups is based on wooden methers, which are in the NMI permanent collection.
  • A commemorative porcelain plate designed by Oisín Kelly and manufactured by Belleek Pottery in 1976. The plate was commissioned by Erne Gaels GAA club as a fundraising venture to help finance the development of their playing facilities in Belleek, Co Fermanagh.
  • A handwoven tweed camogie dress worn by Maeve Gilroy in the 1960s during a successful decade for Antrim camogie. Maeve was awarded the Cú Chulann camogie award in 1956 and went on to become a respected coach and referee.
  • A 10 carat gold GAA medal made in New York, dating 1936, which is thought to have been presented to one of the players from the Cavan football team or Limerick hurling team that travelled to play in New York in Yankee Stadium.
  • A medal presented to Austin Stack the Irish nationalist politician, militant republican and political prisoner, and celebrated athlete, when he was captain of the Kerry football team who won the Croke Cup competition in 1904-05. The Croke Cup Competition was one of the earliest inter-county tournaments in hurling and football.
  • A hurling helmet worn by camogie player and former Wexford captain and now GAA analyst Ursula Jacob in the many All-Ireland finals in which she won medals from 2007 to 2020.
  • A yellow sliotar used in the 2020 All-Ireland senior hurling final between Limerick and Waterford, which marked the first game in which the yellow sliotar replaced the traditional white sliotar. The 2020 All-Ireland hurling final was also the first final to be played behind closed doors, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • An illustration of camogie uniforms by fashion designer Neillí Mulcahy, from 1969. Camogie uniforms, like much of the attire of female athletes, has a history of discomfort with regulations and traditions being prioritised over athleticism. Néillí’s illustration is her suggestion for what camogie uniforms should look like.

While the GAA was formally established in 1884, the oldest objects on display as part of the exhibition are hurling balls made from matted cow hair with plaited horsehair dating back to the 15th century, found in bogland areas in Co Kerry, Mayo and Limerick.

Also on display is a rugby football used by the prisoners to play Gaelic football in Frongoch internment camp in Wales in 1916 and a hurl owned by Michael Collins.

From the more recent past in the exhibition, is the baseball cap worn by one of the most successful managers in the history of hurling, Brian Cody, when he was Kilkenny senior hurling manager from 1999 to 2022.

On three feature walls, visitors to the exhibition will also be able to see digital reproductions of artworks, newly commissioned designs and photographs of Gaelic Games.

Amongst the themes explored are how the GAA has influenced artists in the 20th century, the evolution of GAA jersey designs and the crossover in design between the Sam Maguire Cup and the Ardagh Chalice.

Visitors to the exhibition will be invited to respond  with their own GAA memories. These responses will be compiled and included in an exhibition archive that will preserve the stories for future generations.

The Republic's minister for sport and physical education Thomas Byrne with NMI director Lynn Scarff at the launch of the new exhibition. Picture by Marc O'Sullivan
The Republic's minister for sport and physical education Thomas Byrne with NMI director Lynn Scarff at the launch of the new exhibition. Picture by Marc O'Sullivan

“All of the objects displayed as part of GAA: People, Objects & Stories are accompanied by narratives that illustrate their significance in the history of the GAA, and in Ireland," said Dr Siobhán Doyle.

"Whether it’s the evolution of camogie uniforms for women, or the rugby ball that was used in the Frongoch internment camp, they all tell a story of the GAA’s unique influence and role in Irish history right up to the current day. 

"We are also inviting visitors to the exhibition to share their own GAA memories and images with us, so that they can be preserved for future generations.”

GAA: People, Objects & Stories is open to the public at the National Museum of Ireland's Decorative Arts & History department at Collins Barracks from Thursday September 14. Admission is free. 

For more information about the National Museum of Ireland, visit museum.ie