Donal proud of Final Product

On the recent visit to Arás an Uachtaráin, the President of Ireland Mary McAleese and her husband Martin were presented with copies of the Ulster GAA history book “The Evolution of the GAA: Ulaidh, Éire agus Eile”.

“The Evolution of the GAA: Ulaidh, Éire agus Eile” brings together leading writers and academics to examine the history of the GAA over 125 years, in Ulster, Ireland, and abroad, and the antiquity of Gaelic games over previous centuries.

The book opens with a series of personal reflections by prominent members of the GAA from Ulster in the last seven decades: President Mary McAleese, Cardinal Seán Brady, Paddy McFlynn, Maurice Hayes, Jim McKeever, Peter Quinn and Mickey Harte. This is followed by a range of academic essays on themes of GAA history, with many new findings relating to such matters as:

• Protestant influence on the playing of hurling and variant games pre-1884;
• how the GAA’s rules may have wiped out traditional styles of play in Ulster;
• how John McKay, a founding secretary, came from Co. Down and died in London, and how his son became a world-famous theatrical producer;
• why Gaelic games have become less violent over time;
• how the football rules for years failed to define the solo-run accurately;
• why Ulster was the GAA’s weakest province up to the 1940s, and why this began to change;
• why camogie flourished after 1930, despite two national splits;
• why the Sam Maguire Cup was not presented after the 1947 football final;
• how native Bretons have embraced Gaelic games as part of a Celtic identity;
• and why, from a global perspective, capitalism, secularism and urbanisation present the biggest challenges to the GAA in future.

Other special features include newly completed records of all Ulster SFC and SHC results and final teams, 1888-2009; the most extensive bibliography of GAA-related material published to date; and dozens of previously unpublished images.

There are very limited copies of the book still available to buy.

Anyone wishing to purchase the book should contact Sharon Haughey on sharon.haughey.ulster@gaa.ie or (028) 3751 7180.

The book cost is £20 (plus £5 postage and packaging).

Co-author of the superb publication, Donal McAnallen, says the hard work researching and compiling the book now seems worthwhile:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioJEd6deIGA[/youtube]

Donal’s Interview As Gaeilge:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDlCPkUVc9c&feature=related[/youtube]