Fitting way to mark a special day

THIS year is the 125th anniversary of the foundation of the GAA, and from the start of the season it has been celebrated accordingly, with all kinds of high-profile events, most spectacularly the night-time fireworks display at the opening NFL game in Croke Park between Tyrone and Dublin.

Yesterday, however, November 1st, was the actual anniversary to the day, of that famous meeting in Hayes Hotel in Thurles town square in 1884, when a group of visionary gentlemen got together to form a body for the organisation and promotion of our native gaelic sports.

Given the time of year that’s in it, given also the massive effort that had already been spent in promoting that anniversary, it was understandable that yesterday’s formal festivities in Semple Stadium were rather low-key, personified in a muted pre-match parade of a platoon of individuals bearing the flags of all the competing counties of the GAA, behind the Artane Boys Band.