THIS year marks the 175th anniversary of the birth of Michael Cusack, founder of the GAA, and the Burren-based Centre named in his honour has big plans, writes Conor Clohessy.
Born on September 20, 1847, Cusack’s love for education, Irish culture and sport led to the foundation of what is today the world’s largest amateur sporting organisation.
Situated in Carron in the heart of award-winning Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, the Michael Cusack Centre is inviting the public to explore the heart and soul of the GAA in the valley where Cusack was born, as part of their commemoration to his legacy.
Sheila Keane, Education Officer at the centre told the Champion they will be dedicating all of 2022 to “Cusack 175”, hoping to run the “Camán to the Burren” Team Building Weekends, where wellness and wellbeing are a key component of the mentally and physically stimulating experience.
This initiative takes place at the centre and select locations in the Global Geopark – the Michael Cusack Centre aims to play a leading role in Wellness Tourism in the region and encourages those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of life along to find tranquillity and relaxation in a very peaceful and mindful setting.
Last year, the centre ran a very successful wellbeing programme called GoingWell for the secondary school students of Clare in junior cycle and hope to continue expanding the initiative this year for Cusack 175 by piloting a community-based wellbeing programme called GoingWell Clare later in 2022.
Sheila said: “We’re also planning an upgrade to the beautiful Cusack Way Walk. It’s a linear 6-kilometre walk that starts at the Michael Cusack Centre and goes through ancient farmland landscapes, native hazel woods and Burren flora, up to the eighth century Cliff Fort of Cahercommaun. The walk is popular and free to the public, but a guided walk can be booked at the centre.”
One of the new avenues planned at the centre includes the hosting of select wedding ceremonies; the setting along with all its cultural and historic significance is hoped to provide an ideal location for many special days to come.
School tours continue to be popular at the Michael Cusack Centre also, and this year the centre will be working with primary schools to develop tour packages that offer the best experiences to students; themes include history, archaeology, geology, flora and fauna and folklore.
Besides that, the centre can also provide private tours that can be organised through their website and are currently working at a new pilot project involving storytelling called “Stories from the Cottage”, which they hope to roll out in celebration of Cusack 175.
“At the Cusack Homestead Thatched Cottage, our audio-visual experience transports you back in time to Famine era 1840’s Ireland, while the Exhibition Centre dedicated to Michael Cusack is a must for all GAA fans. There, the story begins in 1847, and is told right through to the formation of the GAA in 1884 and beyond,” said Sheila.
Sheila added: “Our Fairy Trail is lovely for the entire family. It invites the younger visitor to explore and enjoy the magic of the space while the older visitor can appreciate its contemplative quality.
“The GAA Trail, which leads to Cusack Cottage, has each county and province in Ireland represented by an ash tree planted in 1984, to celebrate the centenary of the GAA. They’ll both be getting an upgrade.”
This year, the official commemoration day will take place on Sunday September 18; this will be the third year the centre hosts the annual “Michael Cusack Day”, celebrated on site in Carron and marked with music, entertainment performances, local food, and crafts – the best of what the area has to offer.
Sheila has been at the centre since January 2021, noting that even throughout the pandemic the centre was kept busy, so she is excited for the even more hectic months ahead as the centre continues to expand its services.