Looking Back: Kilcullen GAA booklet launch
The story with it is worth republishing in full.
Kilcullen GAA launches its history
The writer of Kilcullen GAA's history — Artie Aspell — wasn't able to be at the launch of the booklet last week, but the oldest living member of the 'Rags' was present — Tom Howe, still a chirpy 95 who played for the club in 1916/17. At the reception in The Hideout, Chairman Christy Howard congratulated Artie for producing a reflection of the club for the past 96 years ... "a reflection of the struggle in Kilcullen to keep the club at the forefront," he said. "On a county basis we still seem to be struggling — though there are a lot of GAA promoters, we're not getting the breakthrough that reflects the hard work being put into the games."
Among the County Board guests at the launch was Seamus Aldrich — he noted that Kilcullen was in the first three clubs to produce a history in the county. "And from what I can see, it seems to be the best production so far," he said. He recalled his own playing days against the 'Rags' and said Kilcullen was "always a hard team to beat" despite their own representation of being a struggling club. "The work now being put into it will probably ensure that it will be a club of great force in the future," he added.
Fr Sean Mundow said the GAA's involvement with youth and underage levels was the most important part of youth activities in the parish. "And I hope that the support at games from friends and families of young players will be continued," he said.
School Principal Brian Keyes noted that the birth of the GAA was only part of the rising tide of nationalism and pride in a national identity. "It was tied up with Irish culture in general — Irish music, dancing and song," he said. "Unfortunately, those others seem to have been pushed into more minor areas — in some ways they're not being pushed at all." He also commented on criticisms that schools weren't giving support to the GAA, noting that nowadays the majority of teachers were women, and also that the domination of the teaching profession by people from the West of Ireland was no more. "But there's still a lot of goodwill for the organisation from Primary teachers," he said. "And now the responsibility for promotion of the games is where it should be — in the hands of the clubs themselves."
Veteran player Tom Howe recalled several games of his youth, including one in Baltinglass where the visiting team had been billeted in a local pub the night before. "I remember at one stage I could see THREE balls coming towards me," he narrated to laughter. "I didn't know which one to kick, but eventually took a puck at the middle one ... and it was never seen again!"
Christy Howard also paid tribute to another club member of the same vintage who'd sadly died during the week — Jim Kelly. He had never played, but served as Treasurer in the 'difficult days'. There are memories from Jim Kelly in the club history, which was edited and produced by Patsy Aspell. A limited number are available, price two pounds.
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