Launch of History of Avondhu GAA Book
December 09, 2024
Last Friday night, in the Hibernian Hotel, dignitaries from Cork GAA, such as Chairman Pat Horgan, and Development office, Tony McAuliffe were in attendance, as Michael Foley, from Killavullen launched the history of Avondhu GAA. Michael now resides in Dingle, but very evidently and clearly has not forgotten his roots in Killavullen, and despite his considerable reputation and renown, could talk amicably with everyone in the room. John Courtney as Chairman of Avondhu GAA opened the proceedings and the master of ceremonies was the very capable Ciaran O Regan, the Divisional PRO.
With presentations, to the referees who did finals in the divisions, and the clubs who won championship grades in 2024, it made for a filled agenda that Ciaran kept moving along at a brisk pace. Killavullen were very proud that they received the Junior A Hurling championship medals, and Liam Cronin, our captain accepted the medals of behalf of the club.
The remarkable history of the Avondhu GAA Division has been gathered together by a very hard working history sub-committee, which was very capably led out by Barry Ahern into what will be a collector’s items of a mammoth book, featuring the collective history of games in the Division, from its founding in 1924 right up to and including 2024 events.
Comprising of some 599 pages, and over 280 photographs, and stories and antidotes and rich history, it is envisaged that demand will be very strong for the book, both in the Division and from further afield. The Avondhu Board has decided to print 300 copies of this book, and with 24 clubs in the division, it is expected to sell out quickly. It will not be available in local bookstores, and can only be ordered directly from the club, through our secretary, Eoin Jones.
Michael Foley was very loud in his praise of those that toil to put such a mammoth compilation together. He was fulsome his praise of the style and texture and quality of the book, and he only seeing it briefly on the night before he spoke. The quality of the numerous pictures in the book, grab your attention, and draw you into the text. The various writers of the book, and Barry that edited it, and Liam Hayes who published it, are to be complimented for the style and layout and the mind-blowing level of research that is necessary to compile such an edifice.
It will become a real coffee table book, and kudos to all who were involved in its production. Gaels of North Cork owe them a huge depth of gratitude for what undoubtedly took hundreds of hours to assemble into what was unveiled last Friday night.