The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Beale GAA’s new history gets Mícheál’s stamp of approval
“I WOULD safely say this is definitely one of the finest club history books that I have ever seen.”
When the voice of the GAA, the inimitable Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, tells you that, you know you’ve penned a good ‘un.
More than 300 people attended the launch of Beale GAA’s Sand in Our Boots at the Cliff House Hotel in Ballybunion on Saturday night (October 29) - a great attendance, but one the club’s graft deserved.
An exhaustive account of Beale GAA’s 116-year history, Sand in Our Boots carries more than 600 pages and 300 photographs, and is the product of 3 years of graft by the club’s history committee.
“Every effort has been made to produce an accurate record of the GAA in the parish of Ballybunion,” History Committee Chairperson Bríd Griffin told The Kerryman.
“While compiling this book, we were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of so many people, as they shared with us their memoirs and mementoes from down through the years. This project has grown beyond all our expectations and resulted in this extensive historical tome,” she added.
Mícheál was joined at the launch by club legends Ogie Moran and Bomber Liston, and Bríd said their presence represented ‘the enduring bond between the club and those who’ve worn and support the club colours.’
“Like most GAA clubs, we aren’t just a sporting organisation; we have been a focal point and positive influence in our locality for almost one hundred and twenty years,” she said.
“The appreciation for Beale GAA was reflected by the amount of people we had here for the launch. They’ll all be well rewarded when they read a book that will rekindle memories and provoke much discussion and debate.”