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Buses, Trains and Gaelic Games – A History of CIE GAA Clubs
by John Cassidy
Format: Paperback
Publication date: 19th August, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-907179-11-2
Price: €15
Patrick Kavanagh said that no one could write a comprehensive account of Irish life that ignored the Gaelic Athletic Association. Likewise, any attempt to chronicle the history of the GAA would be far from complete if the CIE GAA clubs were omitted.
The clubs have been involved with the promotion of Gaelic Games from as far back as 1886 – almost as far back as the inception of the Association itself – and the workforce of C.I.E. still turn to Gaelic Games as an outlet for sport and leisure to this day.
This book serves as a record of the activities and achievements of the various transport teams over the past one hundred and twenty five years. All those who are interested in the promotion of Gaelic Games will be inspired by the very fine account of the development of the clubs.
John Cassidy, who undertook the task of researching this book, is owed a great debt of gratitude, not only by G.A.A. followers and supporters in the areas covered by the book, but by all students of the G.A.A.
A word from the Author
In May 2008, a number of my colleagues and I decided to compile a history of G.A.A. clubs within Dublin Bus over the past sixty years. I was appointed to co-ordinate the research. At first it was going to be a short history of clubs in Dublin City service, but as I delved into old copies of the Companies magazines I discovered there was more to the clubs history than I had first anticipated. I realised it would be impossible to write solely about Dublin Bus clubs without touching on the history of all the other G.A.A. clubs whose founders and members throughout the years have been responsible for the growth and spread of our national games within C.I.E. nationwide.
There were times the task seemed too much but as it happened, the more people I discussed it, with the more encouragement I got. Everybody felt that Gaelic games had made a major contribution to the sporting, social and cultural life of transport workers, that a written account of the various clubs would make interesting reading. It covers most of the G.A.A. clubs associated with transport workers since the foundation of the G.A.A. in 1884.
It is an informal telling of the achievements of the various clubs since their foundation until they disbanded. Long accounts of matches have been avoided as I tried to strike a balance between entertaining and informing, but above all to preserve in permanent form the story of Gaelic games in C.I.E.
Much of the story was in danger of being lost indeed its history of the pre 1940 period had been lost. I tried to cover each unit within C.I.E. fairly and fully, but the amount of space given to any topic was dictated by its importance and the amount of information available.
Over the past centaury, many people have served the clubs as players, officials and supporters, many who should have been mentioned have been omitted. I hope they will accept that any omissions are regretted, but it would be impossible to include all who ever played with or served the clubs. Similarly it is hoped that any errors you discover will be pardoned on the grounds that a little over twelve months is totally inadequate for a book such as this and I simply did not have the time or the resources to do all the checking.
I feel that the book is substantially accurate and I would be grateful if you would draw any errors to my attention so that at least one copy can be amended. Opinions expressed in this book are mine alone. While many of the clubs are but a memory the friendship built up over the years in C.I.E. through the G.A.A. fraternity has stood the test of time.
I dedicate this book to the many transport workers, who in their different ways, helped to create limitless hours of pleasure on the playing fields, in the handball alleys and in the quiz series over the last one hundred and twenty five years.
John Cassidy
July 2009
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