*Tony Kelly officially launched the club history. Photograph: Jane Flanagan.
A NEW book charting the first one hundred years of Ballyea GAA club has been launched.
Before a packed house at The Local Inn in Drumquin on Saturday evening, the history of Ballyea GAA (1884-1984) was launched by Clare hurling captain and Ballyea’s own Tony Kelly.
Entitled ‘Bringing honour to the name of Ballyea’, editor Michael O’Shea explained that the book name was taken from “one of Michael McTigue’s many inspiring quotes to Ballyea GAA club annual general meetings”.
At the outset club chairman Diarmuid Considine welcomed all and thanked the history project committee of Michael O’Shea, Vincent O’Connor and Seamus O’Reilly for their work in bringing the project to fruition.
Clare GAA chairman Kieran Keating congratulated all involved and wished the club continued success in the years ahead.
A native of Darragh, O’Shea has lived in Kent in England for much of the past forty years but never lost touch with his home parish.
Now retired the former club secretary and player gave a detailed account of the club’s rise from small beginnings.
In the introduction to the publication Michael says, “Ballyea GAA club is now well known amongst the hurling fraternity due to its unprecedented success at county and provincial levels over the past decade. However it had very humble beginnings having been re-formed by a small group of local men in Blake’s Car house in Ballyvulligan in April 1934. Little did the ‘founding fathers’ at that meeting imagine the success Ballyea would achieve nearly a century later, four county senior titles, a Munster club title, an All-Ireland final appearance in Croke Park, and one of their own accepting the Liam McCarthy cup on behalf of Clare. Their sole intention was to give local boys and men the opportunity to play hurling”.
Launching the publication Tony Kelly thanked the editorial committee and paid tribute to all who had been involved in playing for and running the club over the years. “Without what ye have done we wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we have achieved in the last few years. It’s a fantastic thing to have in the club”, he said when urging all to buy the publication.
Master of ceremonies for the occasion was former club chairman Patrick Moylan. The publication is available through the club and from local shops.
All photographs by Jane Flanagan.
