Tipperary objects included in new GAA exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland

A multi-media exhibition that offers a new perspective on the GAA’s influence through the lens of social history, design and popular culture was launched at the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks.

GAA: People, Objects and Stories is the creation of Dr Siobhán Doyle, who is the NMI’s Curator of Glass, Ceramics and Asian Collections, and author of the critically acclaimed A History of the GAA in 100 Objects, which was published last year.

Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne, visited the National Museum of Ireland for a tour of the exhibition and for a photocall to mark the launch of the new exhibition.

The exhibition includes objects dating from the 15th century to the present day, including many which will be on public display for the first time.

Objects on display from Tipperary include a commemorative teacup depicting Thomas Croke (1823-1902), Catholic Archbishop of Cashel and first patron of the GAA.

Also included is the painting, The Tipperary Hurler, by Seán Keating (1928), and an image of children from Borrisoleigh, Co Tipperary performing at the Scór na nÓg All-Ireland finals in 2020.

While the GAA was formally established in 1884, the oldest objects on display as part of the exhibition are hurling balls made from matted cow hair with plaited horsehair dating back to the 15th century, found in bogland areas in counties Kerry, Mayo and Limerick.

Also on display is a rugby football used by the prisoners to play Gaelic football in Frongoch internment camp in Wales in 1916 and a hurley owned by Michael Collins.

From the more recent past in the exhibition is the baseball cap worn by one of the most successful managers in the history of hurling, Brian Cody, when he was Kilkenny senior hurling manager from 1999-2022.

On three feature walls, visitors to the exhibition will also be able to see digital reproductions of artworks, newly commissioned design and photographs of Gaelic Games. How the GAA has influenced artists in the 20th century, the evolution of GAA jersey designs and the crossover in design between the Sam Maguire Cup and the Ardagh Chalice, are amongst the themes that are explored. 

Visitors to the exhibition will be invited to respond to it, with their own GAA memories. These responses will be compiled and included in an exhibition archive that will preserve the stories for future generations.