A 100th anniversary talk, ‘John McKay of Down: GAA Co-Founder’, will be delivered by Dónal McAnallen, Library and Archives Manager for National Museums NI, at Downpatrick Russell Gaelic Union club on Sunday evening at 7.30pm.
Saturday December 2 2023 marks the centenary of the death of a major but largely forgotten figure in the GAA’s history – John McKay, Downpatrick native, founder member, joint secretary of the association, and later Irish News reporter.
McKay was the only Ulsterman involved in the establishment of the GAA. He came to the billiard room of Hayes’ Hotel, Thurles, on November 1 1884 as a representative of Cork Amateur Athletic Club and a reporter for the Cork Examiner. He left as one of three secretaries of the new organisation.
By Fri 1st Dec
