GAA President Christy Cooney said he could feel the hand of history upon those gathered in Liberty Square, Thurles yesterday. The fabric of the GAA was all around them.

From across the country, hundreds travelled to a cold and wet Thurles to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the GAA at a midday ceremony.

It was here, precisely 125 years beforehand -- on November 1, 1884 -- that one of the world's greatest sporting organisations was founded.

The GAA stalwarts gathered around the statue of first patron, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Dr Thomas Croke.

The stadium named after local hurler, Tom Semple, was a short walk up the road and over the bridge. And just a short puck away was one of the country's most famous landmark buildings -- Hayes Hotel.

It was here in the billiards' room of the then Commercial Hotel that the country's most renowned sporting organisation was founded.

Mr Cooney said it "all started a matter of yards from where we are sitting today".

It was a day for GAA volunteers, players, members, supporters and mentors to celebrate.

They applauded enthusiastically when the GAA president said the organisation had become "a pillar of Irish society".

Mr Cooney said Ireland would be a vastly different place without the influence of Cumann Luthcleas Gael.

"A much lesser place," Mr Cooney added, and nobody dissented.

There were no fireworks or pomp yesterday. This was a low-key event to acknowledge the GAA founders.

A special Mass was celebrated at Thurles Cathedral by current patron of the GAA and Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Dr Dermot Clifford.

Dr Clifford spoke of the tens of thousands of volunteers across the country. Minutes later, former Armagh footballer Jarlath Burns was vigorously wiping the rain off rows of seats, before the parade arrived.

Just like on All-Ireland final day, the Artane Band led the GAA family, with every county flag held aloft. The congregation paused briefly at their birthplace and looked across at Hayes Hotel.

Gaels from all counties, clubs and parishes could feel the ghosts of the seven, Michael Cusack, Maurice Davin, John Wyse Power, John McKay, JK Bracken, Joseph O'Ryan and Thomas St George McCarthy looking at them from the upstairs windows.

Once regarded as old fashioned and conformist, the GAA had moved on from the old days of conservatism, Mr Cooney told the gathering.

"We have been described as conservative and slow to change, but I would question that with anybody," he added.

During his sermon, Dr Clifford recalled that, at one time in Ireland, "sport was run by the gentry" and involved sports from England. The GAA was set up "to serve the sporting needs of the humbler sections of society", he said.

The archbishop said the GAA's first secretary, Michael Cusack, "planted an acorn which would grow into a great oak tree whose roots would spread to every parish in Ireland". Mass-goers heard that in Cusack's own words, the GAA spread "like a prairie fire".

Reward

Dr Clifford said yesterday's events were commemorating men and women of the GAA whose support was only known to their club and parish. He praised the "host of humble volunteers who work quietly and never looked for a reward".

On the celebration of the 'Feast of All Saints', Dr Clifford said GAA volunteers everywhere were part of "the great company of saints".

Eight former GAA presidents then presented symbols of the organisation including the Sam Maguire, a replica of the Liam McCarthy cup, the hurley used by Galway player Pat Madden in the first All-Ireland hurling final in 1888, an All-Ireland medal, the GAA rule book and a replica of a 1920 Bloody Sunday jersey. Tipperary's Noel McGrath read the hurlers' prayer.

After the Mass, the Artane Band led members of Thurles's U14 hurlers, carrying the 32 county flags, to the Dr Thomas Croke statue -- where Mr Cooney and GAA secretary general Padraig Duffy laid a wreath.

Mr Cooney noted that yesterday's events were the culmination of year-long celebrations for the GAA.

"The celebrations started off with over 80,000 at the Dublin-Tyrone game in Croke Park and gave an expression of where the association is today and where it came from," Mr Cooney said.

"Not alone did we celebrate our birthday at home, we celebrated throughout the world and with our many clubs overseas," he added.

- Barry Duggan

Irish Independent