Paul Rouse: How the GAA gave a depth of meaning to county boundaries 

It took time for the making of rules, for the defining and redefining of the game and its geography of affiliation to win absolute supremacy over the traditional world of boiled bacon and pitch-side liquor.

GROWING PAINS: By August 1887, Michael Cusack was describing the GAA’s rule on the relationship between parishes and clubs as a ‘fruitful source of annoyance. Pic: by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

It is considered an article of faith within the GAA that lines drawn on maps are sacred in their meaning: county plays against county, parish plays against parish.

This idea of neat territorial divides fits perfectly into the modern world of sport – like all history though, it is far from neat when considered in detail.