Donal McAnallen: The story of barely-known John McKay, co-founder of the GAA

This weekend's centenary anniversary of his death provides an opportunity to refresh the story of this former Cork Examiner reporter and GAA founder, with a raft of new research on his extraordinary life and legacy

John McKay, the little-known co-founder of the GAA

Saturday marks the centenary of the death of a major but largely forgotten figure in the GAA’s history – John McKay, Down native, founder member and joint secretary, and Cork Examiner reporter.

McKay was the only Cork representative involved in the establishment of the GAA in 1884. He went to Thurles as a representative of Cork Amateur Athletic Club and a reporter. He left as one of three secretaries of the new organisation, alongside the mercurial Michael Cusack and John Wyse Power.