GAA was founded here in 1884
According to Thurles teacher and local historian, Joe Tobin, thirteen people were present when the GAA was founded in 1884.
The seven ‘accepted’ founders were: -
Michael Cusack, Maurice Davin, John Wyse Power, J. K. Bracken, Joseph O’Ryan, John McKay and Thomas St. George MacCarthy.
Tobin makes a strong case for the inclusion of six additional founders, five from Thurles – Charles Culhane, Michael Cantwell, Tim Dwyer, John Butler, William Delahunty, and one from Carrick-on-Suir, William Foley, in a learned article in the current edition of the Tipperary Historical Journal.
He strongly supports his case by reference to their inclusion in the Thurles based, Tipperary Leader, newspaper and to the fact that all of them were involved in athletics or were members of the I.R.B.
