Former referee Buckley to put vast collection of GAA memorabilia up for auction in Offaly

The auction takes place in Gallen Community School, Ferbane from 6.30pm with viewing available from 3pm

Former GAA referee Carthage Buckley, whose items will be available at the auction. Pic: Pat Murphy/Sportsfile

A treasure trove of GAA, rugby and soccer sporting memorabilia gathered over almost 70 years will go under the hammer in Ferbane, Co Offaly on Friday evening.

Collected by former inter-county referee Carthage Buckley, the Irish Examiner’s own columnist and another leading match official of old Brian Gavin will conduct the auction, which takes place in Gallen Community School, Ferbane from 6.30pm with viewing available from 3pm.

Buckley has made available his vast collection as he aims to raise funds for Offaly Dóchas Cancer Support Group in the memory of his late son John, who passed away from cancer in 2019 at the age of 42.

Over 2,000 items will be bid on including All-Ireland senior football and hurling final programmes going back to the 1954 hurling decider when Cork were victorious and the legend Christy Ring claimed his eight Celtic Cross.

Buckley also hopes his 1947 Cavan-Kerry All-Ireland SFC final match programme will raise a large sum of money for the charity. Two exclusive books capturing 90 years of All-Ireland senior hurling post-match coverage are also in the collection.

As well, copies of the fondly remembered “Our Games” series and rare GAA annuals from the 1970s are included along with series of books. FA Cup final match programmes, a special “Liverpool collection” and rugby programmes going back to the late 1970s featured too.

Buckley is happy to part with a labour of love to honour his son in aid of Dóchas after they had provided great support to him during his illness. "John loved sports and I cannot think of a better way of remembering him.

“Collecting has been my passion, and I'm delighted at the opportunity to find new homes for so much valuable material. He'd be chuffed but probably surprised that I've decided to part with so much of the collection.”