The Luas ambled down Middle Abbey Street. Past Arnott’s. Where Bill Kelly set the Dubs on the sponsorship road.
The Four Courts came into view. Behind them, Ormond Square. The pavements that nurtured a football genius, Johnny Giles.
Guinness was across the Liffey. Gaybo’s dad worked there. In the days of the horse and tram.
Now the modern-day tram rewinds the clock. It pulls in at a station called Museum.
The National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks is across the track. Its vast courtyard has hosted many state occasions, with the Army Number 1 Band.
From the second floor, comes the theme music of The Sunday Game. The first show was broadcast in 1979.
The opening credits feature Paddy Cullen, Seán Doherty and the Dublin defence trying to give the Bomber Liston a parking ticket.
At the time, Con Houlihan was the most famous journalist in Ireland. Writing for the Evening Press. On that All-Ireland final day, he was queuing to get into the Canal End.
One of his neighbours from Kerry spotted him and asked: “Connie, what have you been doing with yourself in Dublin!”
The footage is part of an exhibition – GAA: People, Objects and Stories.
There’s a collection of pictures. One photograph shows well-known Dublin follower, Dublin Gerry, with Cork fan, Cyril Kavanagh, the man in the sombrero hat.
There’s a picture of three gentlemen who arrived early for a game, sitting in an empty stand and enjoying a flask of tea and the sandwiches.
Another photo shows a Galway player surrounded, almost submerged, by a forest of hurls, as children seek his signature.
The John 3:7 sign is also on the picture wall, as are images of fans’ faces, portraying hope and anguish.
On a television screen, there’s footage of a protest at half-time in the All-Ireland Football final of 1946. The teachers weren’t happy with the Government’s pay policy.
The final had been postponed for two weeks as all GAA players were asked to help save the harvest.
Ireland was still feeling the effect of the Second World War. Bread rationing was a daily reality.
The summer of ’46 was one of the wettest on record. Severe flooding threatened the harvest.
In the final, Roscommon were six points up with time running out. Kerry scored two goals to draw. Kerry won the replay three weeks later.
The 1960 All-Ireland football final is also featured. Down beat Kerry. The first Ulster side to lift Sam.
Before 1965, the RTÉ radio commentator was not allowed to name an injured player, say who was sent off or name any player involved in a row.
There are sections on how Gaelic games inspired art, literature and song.
There’s a novel about the First Sunday in September. Tadhg Coakley wrote it.
It’s an intriguing tale about the emotions of different characters on the day of the All-Ireland Hurling final.
The songs of the Saw Doctors have also graced the terraces. The N17 blasted out across Hill 16 this summer. And there was The Green and Red of Mayo and My Heart is Livin in the Sixties Still.
There’s classical works of art. A painting from Jack B Yeats, entitled Handball Alley.
Jack B won a silver medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics. For his painting, Liffey Swim.
He painted another handball alley in Swinford, County Mayo. He was in the company of JM Synge.
Yeats’ sketches were to accompany Synge’s article on Life in the West of Ireland for the Manchester Guardian.
There’s also the painting of ‘The Tipperary Hurler’ by Limerick’s Seán Keating. The painting adorns the front cover of the book, ‘The Epic Origins of Hurling’, which was launched last May by the Past Pupils of St Joseph’s, Fairview.
There’s a picture of Seamus Connolly in his studio. Sculpting the statue of Mick Mackey, which stands in Castleconnell.
Photographer Maurice Grehan has pictures of the spectacular Gaelic4Mothers National Blitz Day in Portmarnock.
Naomh Mearnóg’s Timmy Maher is featured with his noble initiative – Wheelchair Hurling.
There’s items on Scór and the Cúl Camps. And how the Sam Maguire Cup was crafted.
Brian Cody’s cap is there. And Ursula Jacob’s helmet, as well as Maeve Gilroy’s tweed camogie dress, handwoven in Antrim.
There’s a black and white photo of children playing rounders in East Wall. Sighle Humphries organised games of rounders in the exercise yard of Kilmainham Jail with a bat that was chiselled from a wooden chair.
When Éamon De Valera was a prisoner in Kilmainham Jail, he played handball with the prison governor, William Corri.
There’s a section on the Poc Fada, with Pat Hartigan driving the sliotar over the Cooley Mountains.
Another Poc Fada champ, Brendan Cummins, is also on video, alongside Humphrey Kelleher.
The competition began in 1960. It usually took place on the seventh Sunday after Easter, Whit Sunday.
It was thought to be the unluckiest day of the year. People were advised to stay indoors.
But the competition still flourishes today. Kelleher has been a guiding force.
The Dublin Poc Fada is hosted by Beann Éadair. It takes place over the hill of Howth, Gaybo’s slice of Heaven.
The lure of the Cooley’s on Bank Holiday August Monday appeals as much as ever. Completing the 5K circuit with the fewest possible shots is the aim.
These days, the sliotar has changed quite a bit from the fifteenth century. The All-Ireland final of 2020 between Limerick and Waterford saw the yellow sliotar being used for the first time.
That game was played behind closed doors because of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
On the ground floor of the Museum, Siobhan Doyle’s book smiles out from the glass case – ‘A History of the GAA in 100 objects.’
Visitors to the GAA exhibition are encouraged to leave their own stories and memories of their GAA journey.
The responses will be included in an exhibition archive for future generations to enjoy.
Many of the items in this exhibition are on public display for the first time. They are truly priceless. Admission is free.
Tuesday to Saturday (10am to 5pm). Sunday and Monday (1pm to 5pm). www.museum.ie
