Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG

Oral History

John Phelan

John Phelan tracks his GAA experience through his involvement with many different clubs over the years. Originally from Laois, he played hurling with Borris-in-Ossary when he was young, before going to St Kieran's College in Kilkenny as a boarder. Hurling was popular at the school and he spent a lot of his time playing the sport there. He later moved to Clare and played hurling and football for different clubs there, as well as running an inter-firms team. He still found time to play for Borris-in-Ossary and in 1972 they won their first county title, a special memory for John. He represented Laois at Under-21 and senior level briefly and was also involved in administration in Kilkenny. John tried his hand at coaching with the Lisdowney camogie team in Kilkenny and they were very successful in the 1980s, as were the Kilkenny camogie team. John talks about his work during those years and his efforts to improve the standing of camogie in the county. He always had an interest in local history and has published his work on the GAA in Laois, and plans to release an extensive history of the GAA in the area sometime in the future.