Galway features prominently in history of camogie

DID you know that the first ever All-Ireland senior camogie final was played at the Sportsground in Galway? And that it also involved the Tribeswomen? And that it was refereed by a Galway man? If not, well, all you need to know about the sport can now be found in Mary

Moran’s new book, ‘A Game of Our Own: Camogie’s Story’.

Just published, the new book is an absolutely cracking read. From detailing the origins of camogie and the association to outlining the winners of the various championships over the years, Moran’s offering is the bible for even the most cursory of camogie fans.

Furthermore, it is also filled with some interesting anecdotes, stories, photographs and facts. Quite simply, it is to camogie what Raymond Smith’s manuscript, Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games, is to the GAA – Invaluable.

“Well, it was certainly wanted because there was nothing really available on camogie,” says author Moran. “You know, players came, retired and were never heard of again. There was nowhere you could look up what a player had won, who she had played with or anything.”

No doubt, Moran was the ideal person to write this comprehensive account. As a player, she was an All-Ireland senior medal winner with Cork while she also won county championships in Cork and Dublin with Old Aloysians and Celtic respectively.

She also was Chair of Cork Camogie Board from 1968 to 1978 and coached Cork teams to win All-Ireland minor, junior and senior titles, with the latter victories achieved in ’72 and ’73. She also served on the Munster Council as treasurer and chairperson and was elected President of the Camogie Association in 1979.

Indeed, she has been a true servant of the game over the decades – fulfilling many other roles, including national PRO and inter-county referee – while she has previously written histories of Munster Colleges, All-Ireland Colleges and Cork and Munster camogie.

Compiling the extensive amount of data for all her works some people might find daunting, but Moran explains that she has been collecting camogie material and memorabilia since she was a child.So impressive is her new book, it is difficult to allude to every newsworthy point – and there are many – but there are those that just grab the attention. “Many people thought we grew out of the GAA, but we didn’t. It was the Gaelic League,” outlines the author, who was born in Limerick but moved with her family to Cork when she was 11 years old.

An association called An Cumann Camoguidheachta was formed on February 5, 1905 but by the end of the decade the new game was in danger of dying out. However, the intervention of Crokes Gaelic Club proved pivotal in re-establishing the association in 1911 and, over the ensuing years, competitions like the Ashbourne Cup (colleges) were put in place while the sport was also introduced into the Tailteann Games.

However, it was not until 1932 that the first All-Ireland championship took place, with the final, itself – between Galway and Dublin – not being played until July 30, 1933. It was held at the Sportsground and was refereed by Stephen Jordan of Athenry.

“What held it up was the Tailteann Games in ’32. The provincial councils were not formed in camogie at that time and the organisation outside Dublin wasn’t the best. Some of the counties claimed they weren’t ready early in the season to play and they were putting it back and putting it back. So, it ran to the following year. So, there were two All-Irelands played in ’33. The other was in December.

“The funny thing about that first All-Ireland was that there was a hurling match between Galway and Cork before it and it was called off after 10 minutes because the conditions were so bad. Yet, the girls went out afterwards and played their match,” she says.

Galway, captained by Peg Morris, lost that All-Ireland 3-2 to 0-2. Mayo man Sean O’Duffy, who donated the cup, also presented the silverware to Dublin captain Mollie Gill, who, coincidentally, was also President of the Camogie Association at the time.

Over the course of Moran’s book, though, Galway players and teams feature prominently, at all age levels and grades. “Galway has always been very prominent in camogie. Even in those early years, in Peg Morris, their captain, they had an extraordinary player. She was a player who would hold her own with anyone.”

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.