Monthly Archives: December 2016

Westmeath are at the centre of the Ireland and at the heart of the GAA. Not every county has a trophy cabinet bursting at the seams, but Westmeath are a distinguished county, with many different strands of GAA flourishing. We tested the theory of Six Degrees of separation with the Lake County to see just how much everything is connected to everything else in the GAA.

St Loman’s Mental Hospital

John Heslin is one of the main men for Westmeath, who plays for the St Loman’s Club in Mullingar. As Michael Caine might say, not many people know this but Heslin’s club were formerly known as ‘Mental Hospital’, winning a Westmeath SHC title as 'Mental Hospital' in 1924 before landing a maiden Westmeath SFC title in 1948, beating Athlone by 0-4 to 0-1 in the final. The unusual name is derived from the fact that St Loman's has a long association with St Loman's Hospital, a large psychiatric hospital in the town with a history dating back to the Victorian era. The clubhouse and its superb, modern facilities are located beside the hospital, which operates on the Delvin Road. The club

Laois is one of the few counties to have featured in All Ireland Finals in hurling and football, underlining its status as a true dual county. Their footballers lost All Irelands in 1889 and 1936, but won the first National League in 1926. 101 years ago their hurlers won the 1915 All Ireland Final.

The Nineties Minors

The 2000s golden generation from Laois was based on a series of top class minor sides that contested three All Irelands from 1996-1998, winning two. They were managed by Gabriel Lawlor and threatened to dominate on into the senior grade. Classy Laois footballers from the noughties era include the brilliant Beano McDonald, Padraig Clancy, Fergal Byron, Joe Higgins and Tom Kelly to name a handful. They won a further minor championship in 2003, adding more talent to the senior panel. The players of the era may have a few regrets in looking at what u18 rivals Kerry and Tyrone achieved but their Leinster championship was a significant breakthrough in a

The Irish language edition of our 1916 Commemoration jersey marks the significant contribution that Irish language played in forming the opinions in Ireland in the early years of the twentieth century.

The Irish edition 1916 Commemoration jersey is developed in conjunction with Conradh na Gaeilge. This edition of the jersey featuring the Proclamation 'as Gaeilge' commemorates the role of the Irish language and the contribution of the Gaelic League/Conradh na Gaeilge in the events of 1916.

Of the sixteen leaders executed the majority were members of the Gaelic League. Ceannt, Clarke, Mac Diarmada, MacDonagh. O’Hanrahan, Pádraig Pearse, Willie Pearse, Casement, Heuston, Colbert, Daly and Kent were all members of the Gaelic League.

It was one of the key organizations in

What have Derek Ryan, Saoirse Ronan and Kathryn Thomas all got in common? All would look well in the new Carlow GAA jersey which hits the streets today. Give us a shout guys, all are proud Scallion Aters, natives of the county that brought us the uniquely named Fighting Cocks, Palatine, Mount Leinster Rangers and Éire Óg. Yes, follow me up to Carlow the cry!

The Tullow Tank

Carlow is one of the lesser spotted GAA counties, but dipping into the county’s past reviewal some lively snippets of information. In the week that’s in it, it would be remiss not to start by mentioning that the Tullow Tank, Sean O’Brien is a proud Carlow GAA man and when he’s not taking a wrecking ball to unsuspecting Kiwis he occasionally has