Offaly's central role in formation of ladies football celebrated on Late Late Show

OFFALY'S central role in the formation of organised ladies football was celebrated on RTE's Late Late Show on Friday evening last.

Presenter Patrick Kielty oversaw a GAA Special, honouring the GAA's role in Irish society and culture.

Offaly was to the fore when the Ladies Gaelic Football Association was founded in 1974. They lost to Tipperary by 2-3 to 2-2 in the first All-Ireland final in Durrow, Laois that October and members of both teams were among the many guests on Friday's show.

Only a handful of counties played the game at that time and ladies football has experienced phenomenal growth in the past couple of decades with All-Ireland finals taking place in Croke Park in front of large crowds.

The Offaly 1974 captain Agnes Gorman recalled on Friday evening that there were just a few spectators of family members and neighbours at that final. She revealed that they had no jerseys and had to borrow a set from Killavilla – they wore a tri-colour jersey before amalgamating with Ballyskenach some years ago. The Kilcormac woman drew laughter as she said they had to give the jerseys back, joking: “They were probably perfumed too”.

Offaly won the All-Ireland in 1979 and 1981 and lost finals in 1976 and 1982, declining as a force after that.

Pictured above on Friday evening at the RTE show were:

Front, left to right, Agnes Gorman.(captain), Mary Boland, Frances Dolan, Kathleen Buckley Lucy White, Mary Foy, Fidelma Geraghty.
Back: Ann Moran, Mary Kelly, Tona McRedmond, Mary Nevin, Catherine Daly, Renee Brennan, Mary Todd, Catherine Hynes, Phylliss Price.