Then & Now: Limerick's successful GAA year chronicled

COOLYROE Sports Complex was the venue for the launch of the Limerick GAA Annual 2023 on Thursday, March 16. It is the first such annual since 2016 all due to the efforts of Paul Anglim from Ballysteen. He offered his services to the County Board last August to compile the 420 page publication which covers the 2022 playing season. It was the second event held at the venue as earlier that evening the Feohanagh-Castlemahon GAA club opened their new walkway. A large crowd were present at the venue the club can be very proud of.

John Cregan who was the county board chairman in 2022 was MC for the launch held upstairs and he welcomed all and paid tribute to the home club. He called on the host club chairman Noel Corbett who did likewise, welcoming the county board officers and the different club members. Current chairman Seamus McNamara also spoke and was fulsome in his praise of John Kiely and the Limerick hurlers for giving the supporters so many fantastic days in Croke Park. He hoped to carry on the great work done by his predecessor John. Copies of the book were presented to John Kiely and Noel Corbett.

Paul Anglim was the next to address the gathering of club Gaels present. He gave a history of the yearbook which was first published in 1972 and paid tribute to previous editors including Seamus Ó Ceallaig, Sean Murphy and Harry Greensmyth who produced many great annuals in the 1970s and 1980s. He gave a run down on the contents included, how he chose the cover photo of Cian Lynch, scoring a point with a broken hurley. He spoke about updating the county roll of honour since 1984.

He paid tribute to Tim O'Connor whose Bits in Brief column has featured in yearbooks and GAA match programmes over many years. Paul thanked the county board for backing the book, proofreaders, contributors, photographers, etc.

The book was launched by four time All Ireland Limerick winning manager John Kiely from Galbally, who earlier opened the new walkway. He said it was nice to look back on the many memorable events included as they are usually looking forward to the next training session.

He paid tribute to the host club and their county player Seamus Flanagan for his commitment and work duties. He complimented Paul Anglim who compiled the book which contains some wonderful memories. He outlined some of the contents and was happy to see the wheelchair athletes included as they put a lot of effort into their games.

The photographs made the book with many memorable moments recalled by looking at them again. He paid tribute to the Green and White authors Joe Lyons and Ciarán Crowe who also published At Last and 20/20 Vision -Limerick Hurling in recent years. John also remembered the passing of many fine GAA people during 2022 and their contributions to club and county.
Fr Joe Cussen led the prayers for those people at the conclusion of the event. John Kiely and Paul Anglim signed books for all afterwards and refreshments were served as people mingled and enjoyed the occasion.

The money from the sales of the book which cost € 20 will go towards the Limerick team training fund. Every household who support Limerick GAA should buy a copy of this fine annual with the green and white cover. On behalf of all readers I thank Paul for his vision, drive and commitment to bring this fine book to fruition. Take a bow.

CONTENTS
READING through the contents gives an insight into all areas of the Gaelic Athletic Association within Limerick over the past year. The inter-county scene and club activities in GAA, Camogie, Ladies Football, Handball, Scór, Schools, etc are all covered. The Limerick GAA Roll of Honour at adult grades has been updated to 2022, which is welcome news for future researchers.

The adult club leaderboard from 1887 to 2022 is very interesting to see. It lists the top ten clubs honours won from the main competitions. Claughaun lead the way on 51 titles, Kilmallock 50, Treaty Sarsfields 43, Patrickswell 42, and Newcastle West 38.
All the county GAA clubs are featured with their roll of honours, and many submitted a review of the 2022 season.

Defunct Limerick city clubs by Paul Anglim is very interesting to read. It shows the details of the different clubs from the parishes there. Included are Commercials, Young Ireland's, Faugh A Ballagh, Geraldines, Sarsfields, St Mary's Abbey Sarsfield, St Finbarrs, St Brendan's Lansdowne Rovers, Seoirse Clancy's, Treaty Stone/ Treaty, Sarsfield and Treaty Sarsfield. Paul also writes about the rise and fall of the GAA in the Thomondgate area over 20 pages. John Reddington also covers the GAA clubs in Limerick city over six pages.

Council announce development of Limerick Greenway hub

There is a very informative list of all the Limerick GAA books published over the years for collectors to browse through. James Lundon covers 50 years of Limerick GAA yearbooks in his article and Ciarán Crowe tells the readers about the Green and White magazine role during Covid-19. Tim O'Connor has a page of Bits in Brief which has featured in yearbooks and match programmes over many years. A word from a commentator by Mal Keaveney recalls his day in 2018 when he did the All Ireland Hurling final commentary for Limerick Live 95.

Aideen Fitzpatrick has an article about Pat Hartigan and his five All Stars and Clara McGann about Limerick's crowning glories and other stories. The successful development of Gaelic games in Europe is by Cathal Cavanagh, and Cormac Thompson brings us Tadhg Flynn a master of his craft. How Mick Neville Park Rathkeale came to fruition is recalled by Liam Lenihan and Michael McDonnell. Mal Keaveney writes that Limerick hurling captain Declan Hannon from Adare is now a member of the 50 club. He follows Nickie Quaid and Graeme Mulcahy having played 50 senior hurling championship fixtures for Limerick.

Paul Anglim tells us about Canon Punch Park 'Limerick City's lost GAA field' and Pairc na nGael Askeaton once the home of Limerick football. Pat Wallace has two articles recalling memories from times past and John Anglim days to remember and days to forget. Pat English from the Galtee Gaels club involvement features in an article published in the Examiner on February 22 2022 by Michael Moynihan.

Tom Donovan's article is Limerick, the home of hurling balls and Cormac Liddy takes a stroll down memory lane. There are several other interesting articles, photographs, obituaries, question time and answers included in the Limerick GAA Annual which is a fine publication.