History created as Trinity college gets first set of GAA goalposts

History has been made at Trinty College, Dublin with the instillation of a set of GAA goalposts at College Park allowing Gaelic games to be played on the City Centre campus for the first time in the 418-year history of the college.

It is sure to be a big boost to GAA in the college whose members have relied on the generosity of the Clanna Gael Fontenoy and Parnells GAA clubs in recent years for training facilities.

Trinity GAA Officer Eoin Vaughan says that it is a huge boost to the GAA to have on-campus facilities.

“It’s brilliant news for the college to have a set of goalposts in place to play Gaelic games in our City Centre campus,” Vaughan said.

“GAA has always had an important part to play in college life, and anything we can do to make life easier for students by having a GAA facility on campus is a welcome bonus.

“We have 400 students involved in Gaelic Games in the college at the moment, and hopefully the addition of this training facility will boost us in our quest for success this year.”

Ireland’s oldest and most prestigious university has a deeper Gaelic sporting history than the GAA itself.  In 1879 the first meeting of the Irish Hurling union was held in House 17 of Botany Bay in Trinity College.  Edward Carson played in a game in 1877.

Despite the early promise, the GAA did not take root in Trinity until the 1950’s.  The GAA’s strong association with the Catholic Church, its ban of foreign games and the Catholic church barring their members attending College, all inhibited the development of Gaelic games.

The name most associated with the foundation of GAA in Trinity is Colm Kennelly who went on to become a Kerry All- Ireland star in 1953 and 1954.

Gaelic games has now a firm footing within the college and there are now vibrant clubs in Hurling, Camogie, Ladies Gaelic, Men’s Gaelic Football and Handball.

The recent arrival of GAA goalposts for use in College park is further evidence of the growth of Gaelic games within the college.

The club is hoping the goalposts will help with training on campus and also that they can challenge regularly for honours.

The omens are good with the handballers winning All Ireland honours in the 40 by 20 intervarsities in Tralee recently.  Also the Ladies Gaelic footballers have qualified for the final of their division of the league.

The men’s footballers are training hard for the Trench cup under former Galway footballer and Dublin selector Brian Talty.

The Trinity hurlers who have been boosted by the inclusion of six Kilkenny men are hoping that former All Ireland medal winner with Clare Stephen Mc Namara will guide them to the Ryan cup weekend at NUI Galway next month.