Press Releases

November 12: GAA announce Oral History project

13, 2008

Wednesday, November 12

The GAA is delighted to announce the commencement of the GAA Oral History project at a launch held today (12th November 2008) at Croke Park.

This is one of the largest projects undertaken of its kind and will trace the history of the GAA through the memories of its members. The basic aim of this project, commissioned by the GAA and undertaken by Boston College, is to run a community based public history project, to celebrate 125 years of the Association by collecting, preserving and embracing the past of the GAA.

"This is a project about the GAA: our games, our people, our history, our place in Irish life. No sporting organisation anywhere in the world has attempted to do what this project will do," stated President of the GAA Nickey Brennan.

"It is the biggest sporting history projects ever undertaken in the world and will leave a remarkable legacy for future generations. It is a unique project and we invite every GAA supporter, club, and family to be part of it and to tell their GAA story," he added at Wednesday's launch.

The project will draw together every section of the GAA at a key moment in its history and it is envisaged as being a centrepiece of the 125th anniversary celebrations. It is hoped that this will excite, interest and inspire the followers of the GAA and allow everyone to become actively involved. It is not just a snapshot taken in the year of the 125th anniversary, but will be added to year-on-year as new memories are collected, it is about the future as well as about the past.

A questionnaire will be made available to every club, club historian, local history society and junior cert teacher, in hard copy and via the web, to be filled out by or used to interview anyone who has ever been involved in the GAA. This will allow for the recording of the GAA’s history at the most personal and local level. In its entirety the project will create a series of books, websites, radio and television programmes, as well as a searchable digital archive which will be permanently housed in the GAA museum.

"The material gathered will become an indispensable resource for future generations who wish to understand not only the story of the GAA, but also the story of modern Ireland. This is a project for people who live in every corner of Ireland and anybody with an interest in Ireland," stated Professor Mike Cronin, Boston College who is undertaking the research.

The key to the success of this project lies in creating a sense of ownership in every parish in Ireland. The structure of the GAA at local level is the perfect vehicle to develop an oral history project. Getting every club on board will be the first objective.

To take part in the project visit www.gaahistory.com, email info@gaahistory.com or call 01-6625055.

For media enquiries and further information, please contact: Lisa Clancy, Director of Communications, GAA on 01-8658614, 087-2314260 (Mob) or lclancy@admingaa.ie.

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