History of Kilbeacanty GAA

Over the past 125 years Kilbeacanty GAA has experienced peaks and troughs. Today, like many clubs across the county and the country, it is being drained by emigration. Four stalwarts of the club marked its momentous anniversary by documenting its journey from then to now in a new book.

Gerry Mannion, Gerry Glynn, Pat Regan and Michael O’Grady began work researching the club’s history back in March. This Friday, the fruits of their labour, From Peggy’s Meadow to Pairc Mhuire – A 125 year history of Kilbeacanty GAA, will be launched at McCarthy’s Bar in the village.
“Basically we started by researching the archives. I did most of the research online. I saved as many articles about the club from newspapers as I could find and any written records about the club. We also got books about hurling in Galway and we used them as sources as well. After that we interviewed three of our most successful living former hurlers. Steve Mahon, Paddy Donoghue and Ronan Reilly are club members who hold All-Ireland hurling medals,” explained Pat Regan.
“They had a pretty good insight into growing up in the parish and hurling in the club and its development over the years.
“They also revealed who was key to that and who they saw as their inspirations so that was an interesting part of the interviews,” Pat recalled.
Pat’s family have a long history with the club. His grandfather was involved in its early years before his uncles got involved and today Pat himself sits on its committee.
Therefore for him, the book was more reflective than revelatory.
“For me, there were no shocks but some of it might surprise the readers,” he said.
The good years, Pat asserts, are easy to pick out.
“The teams of the late 1930s and early 1940s, they represented a good era where the club was very successful and the second era would have been the 1960s and 1970s.”
The periods of the country’s greatest economic difficulties, the 1950s and the 1980s, don’t feature in the list of stand-out good years.
“We covered the historical aspects in the book too and also the economic climate, the political climate and the world climate, to put things in context. We have mentioned Parnell, the Famine the world wars, the Civil War and the Rising, things like that,” Pat outlined.
“It was really interesting to write about. I did most of the work on that element of it. I was made redundant about two and a half years ago and I had the time to spend on it. Luckily enough I am back working now but at the time I was available and it was really enjoyable,” he recalled.
The club has had highs and lows and like the country, today the club is in a trough.
“The biggest fear at the moment is the economic climate and losing players to emigration, which is what happened in the 1980s.
“It is happening in every club, not just ours, but we are just hoping that it won’t be too bad again,” Pat added.
According to Pat, the book, because of its historical context, is something that will be of interest not just to those in Kilbeacanty but also to people in other clubs.
“It is an enjoyable book for anyone to read, just to see the ups and downs of a club through different historical time frames,” Pat commented.
“People can find out about how Kilbeacanty came to take part in the first county hurling and football finals and how they missed out on the chance to play in the first All-Ireland hurling final. Kilbeacanty would have a population of about 1,000 people and it would be one of the smallest clubs in the county of Galway but we had two real standout teams, one in 1945, who were Galway junior club final winners and in 1978 the club produced the Galway intermediate champions,” he added.
The co-authors have also added a modern twist to the book.
“We made a DVD with interviews from local historians and former members of the club.
“We got groups of people and former players from different eras in the club’s history, sat them down together and got them talking about different things that happened in the club and we videoed that.
“We did that for the different age groups and now we have about four hours of footage, which comes with the book.
“I think every club in the country should do that because it is something really great to have,” Pat concluded.
From Peggy’s Meadow to Pairc Mhuire will be available from club members or at the launch on Friday evening.