PLASSEY'S GAELS
A History of the GAA at NIHE, NCPE, Thomond College & the University Of Limerick 1972-2012
John O'Callaghan

It is difficult to describe adequately the role of the GAA in many communities and to quantify its social impact, but it has been second only to Churches and possibly trade unions as a force in Irish culture since 1884.

While researching this book, author John O'Callaghan discovered a UL GAA club membership application form signed by himself in a rush of enthusiasm during Freshers' Week, 1997. The box indicating fee payment or otherwise remains unticked. He did not join the club and never had any affiliation with it but developed a healthy respect for the UL clubs whose nature is different to that of other GAA clubs, because of their association with colleges rather than communities.

As John explains in this first history of GAA in UL, 'The nature of GAA in colleges is somewhat transitory, for the most part involving students for staccato four-year spells rather than locals with a lifetime attachment to place. But it doesn't, in any way, lessen the importance of the games for the students who play on the teams.'

Passion and history unite in this history of Gaelic games in the University of Limerick and its predecessors, Thomond College of Education, the National College of Physical Education (NCPE), and the National Institute of Higher Education (NIHE). Based on original research, unpublished documents and interviews, Plassey's Gaels tells the story of establishing and maintaining an identity and tradition in a changing environment, often featuring adverse institutional and sporting contexts. Perhaps the sweetest success was the Fitzgibbon Cup victory of 1989, achieved at the first attempt and after having previously been denied access to premier third-level competitions.

Only since 1988 has the standard of the team rather than the type of institution determined participation in the Fitzgibbon Cup and its football equivalent, the Sigerson Cup, both of which were inaugurated early in the second decade of the twentieth century.

The Thomond footballers won the All-Ireland in 1978, while the UL footballers won two Limerick county championships in the1990s, losing the first on a technicality after victory on the field of play. Many GAA personalities, such as Pat Spillane, Brian Mullins, Fiona O'Driscoll and Brian Lohan, were students and played for the club. Their memories and insights are recorded. Also addressed are issues central to GAA debates everywhere, such as scheduling problems, training frequency and methods, treatment of players, and the place of third-level competition within the association. Stories of epic games, personalities, and bitter controversies are also included.

UL GAA is clearly different to community-based GAA clubs but its foundation is the same club spirit and ethos found throughout the GAA. Tradition does not emerge fully formed: it has to be created and fostered and UL GAA is doing that. Tweet

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