Éire Og - The History of the GAA in Oxford - Part One

This is a three part video made by Máire McSorley to celebrate 50 years of Gaelic Games in Oxford. It was shown to a 450 strong crowd of Irish people with strong connections with Oxford at the 50th anniversary dinner in Oxford on 31st May 2009. Id love you to view this and the other two parts and rate and comment on all three. A 350 page book was written by Máire McSorley and by Henry Wymbs, who broadcasts an Irish music radio programme on Sunday afternoons. Check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p001d75t/episodes/2009 The book costs £15 and all profits go to the development of Gaelic Games in Oxford. Copies can be obtained by emailing mcglynn_siobhan@hotmail.com The following is an extract from the book Éire Óg, 50 Years of Gaelic Games in Oxford by Henry Wymbs & Máire McSorley. Éire Óg was established in Oxford in 1959 and is part of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael - The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The official website www.gaa.ie tells us that the organisation was set up to revive and nurture traditional, indigenous pastimes of Ireland, primarily Gaelic Football and Hurling. Of course the GAA operates mainly in Ireland but in recognition of the huge numbers of Irish diaspora across the world, the GAA supports the establishment of member organisations in other countries including Britain. In 1959 in Ireland the GAA had been in existence for 75 years. The 75th Anniversary was commemorated with the opening of the new Hogan Stand at Croke Park. Croke Park, the Dublin headquarters of the GAA was named for Archbishop Thomas Croke of Cashel who was influential in the development of social policy in Ireland, supporting Home Rule and the Land League and playing a major role in the growth of the GAA particularly in rural Ireland. Also in this year three men collapsed and died at Croke Park during the All-Ireland Hurling Final Replay. Irish emigrants in Britain and indeed throughout the world are practiced at valuing and nurturing their heritage and culture, whilst at the same time making a solid and valuable contribution to their local communities. For Irish people, the benefits of keeping Irish culture alive outside of Ireland are twofold. First, the sense of identity which is fostered by taking part in activities which connect us to our roots is both empowering and self affirming. Secondly, the social, geographical and historical connections established whilst undertaking such activities provide a network of support through shared experiences at what can be initially at least, a very lonely time. There is no doubt that some Irish emigrants chose to settle in Oxford because the city had an active GAA - they have told us so. So, Éire Óg was not established just to field the excellent teams of Gaelic footballers and hurlers that it did, it was set up to bring Irish families in Oxford together and it has been doing exactly that for the past 50 years. The largest group of Irish-born people living in England now are those who left Ireland in the late 50s & 60s around the time Éire Óg was becoming established in Oxford. When they arrived in England, many Irish people were recruited to the construction, manufacturing and transport industries and to the NHS. The rapid development of the motor industry in the midlands in the 1960s resulted in many Irish people coming to live and work in Coventry, Birmingham and of course Oxford. Arriving in Oxford from Ireland, Irish people would often have the name and address of others from their home county who were living in the city and so would always have a place to stay and very often would get an introduction to an employer. Conversations after Mass on Sundays kept newly arrived people in touch with life in the Oxford Irish community and for some this is where they were recruited to join Éire Óg and to play hurling or Gaelic football.