GAA

Question 1

Who published the October article encouraging organisation of Gaelic sports?

Answer 1

Michael Cusack

Question 2

What did Cusack’s article argue for?

Answer 2

Better organisation of Gaelic sports and resistance to British sports influence

Question 3

Who called for a formal rule book for Gaelic sports?

Answer 3

Maurice Davin

Question 4

Where was the founding meeting of the GAA held?

Answer 4

Thurles

Question 5

When was the GAA founded?

Answer 5

1 November 1884

Question 6

Who were the first GAA patrons?

Answer 6

Archbishop Thomas Croke, Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Davitt

Question 7

Who became the first President of the GAA?

Answer 7

Maurice Davin

Question 8

What role did Michael Cusack take in the early GAA?

Answer 8

Secretary

Question 9

When did the second GAA meeting take place?

Answer 9

27 December 1884

Question 10

Where was the 27 December meeting held?

Answer 10

Victoria Hall, Cork City

Question 11

What was read at the second meeting?

Answer 11

Letters from Parnell, Davitt and Croke supporting the GAA

Question 12

What caused many IAAA clubs to switch to the GAA?

Answer 12

Growing popularity of Gaelic athletics

Question 13

How many GAA clubs existed by November 1886?

Answer 13

600

Question 14

How many GAA clubs existed by 1890?

Answer 14

875

Question 15

What local institution influenced the structure of GAA clubs?

Answer 15

The Catholic parish

Question 16

Why did parish-based organisation help?

Answer 16

It made local matches easier to organise

Question 17

What did parish-based clubs show about the GAA?

Answer 17

A strong link with the Catholic Church

Question 18

What did the Church allow that helped the GAA?

Answer 18

Matches on Sundays

Question 19

When did inter-county matches begin?

Answer 19

1887

Question 20

What counties played in the first All-Ireland Hurling Final?

Answer 20

Tipperary and Galway

Question 21

What rule change reduced the value of a goal?

Answer 21

From 5 points to 3 points

Question 22

How were team sizes changed?

Answer 22

Reduced from 21 to 17

Question 23

What new scoring rule was introduced?

Answer 23

Points over the crossbar

Question 24

What was ‘the ban’?

Answer 24

Rule forbidding GAA members from playing rugby, soccer or competing in IFA/IRFU/IAAA events

Question 25

What split formed due to athletics being ignored in the GAA?

Answer 25

The National Athletic and Cycling Association

Question 26

What administrative issue often affected matches?

Answer 26

Late starts, cancellations, and pitch invasions

Question 27

Why was Cusack criticised as an administrator?

Answer 27

He failed to answer mail and caused disputes

Question 28

What newspaper did Cusack attack in 1886?

Answer 28

The Freeman’s Journal

Question 29

Why did Cusack attack the Freeman's Journal?

Answer 29

They refused to publish Archbishop Croke’s full pro-GAA speech

Question 30

What happened at the meeting on 4 July 1886?

Answer 30

Motion passed requesting Cusack’s resignation

Question 31

What was the vote for Cusack’s removal?

Answer 31

47 to 13

Question 32

Who were Cusack’s main critics?

Answer 32

John McKay and Wyse Power

Question 33

What group gained influence after Cusack’s fall?

Answer 33

The IRB (Irish Republican Brotherhood)

Question 34

What event increased nationalist militancy in 1886?

Answer 34

Defeat of the First Home Rule Bill

Question 35

What was the Plan of Campaign?

Answer 35

Tenant farmers collectively refusing rent if landlords didn’t lower prices

Question 36

What happened at the second annual convention (Nov 1886)?

Answer 36

IRB dominated the delegate list and executive elections

Question 37

Which executive position did Davin keep after IRB takeover?

Answer 37

President

Question 38

What major rule did the IRB-dominated executive pass in Feb 1887?

Answer 38

County committees had to include executive members

Question 39

Who was banned from the GAA in 1887?

Answer 39

Members of the RIC and DMP

Question 40

Why did Davin resign in April 1887?

Answer 40

He opposed IRB decisions made without proper convention approval

Question 41

What did Davin feel the GAA was becoming?

Answer 41

A political organisation, not a sporting one

Question 42

What caused division in the GAA?

Answer 42

Favouritism towards IRB members in disputes

Question 43

What tactic did the IRB use before the 1887 convention?

Answer 43

Creating fake clubs to increase their delegate numbers

Question 44

Who was prevented from entering the 1887 convention?

Answer 44

Dublin delegates (mostly anti-IRB)

Question 45

Who chaired the 1887 convention?

Answer 45

Pat Fitzgerald (IRB)

Question 46

Which cleric challenged Fitzgerald?

Answer 46

Fr. John Scanlon

Question 47

How many delegates left with Scanlon?

Answer 47

About 200

Question 48

What were the results of the presidential vote?

Answer 48

Bennett: 316, Davin: 210

Question 49

What did Archbishop Croke do after the chaotic convention?

Answer 49

Removed his patronage of the GAA

Question 50

What happened at the January 1888 convention?

Answer 50

Order was restored and no delegates were excluded

Question 51

What financial problem did the GAA face?

Answer 51

Debt of £500 (approx. €75,000 today)

Question 52

What were the Tailteann Games intended to promote?

Answer 52

Gaelic culture through athletic events

Question 53

Why did Davin organise the American tour?

Answer 53

To raise money for the Tailteann Games and clear GAA debt

Question 54

Why did the American tour fail?

Answer 54

Low turnout, poor weather, bad publicity

Question 55

What happened to some athletes after the American tour?

Answer 55

They stayed in the US as immigrants

Question 56

How much did the tour increase the GAA’s debt?

Answer 56

By about £450

Question 57

When did Davin resign again?

Answer 57

January 1889

Question 58

What made the GAA crisis worse in 1890?

Answer 58

The Parnell Split

Question 59

Which side did the IRB-led executive support?

Answer 59

Parnell

Question 60

How many clubs stopped organising between 1888–1892?

Answer 60

Nearly 1,000

Question 61

What helped the GAA recover by the late 1890s?

Answer 61

IRB reduced political activity and rules became clearer

Question 62

When was the ban on RIC members dropped?

Answer 62

Late 19th century

Question 63

What new principle was added to GAA rules?

Answer 63

The GAA must be non-political and non-sectarian

Question 64

What major purchase did the GAA make in 1923?

Answer 64

Jones’ Road sports ground (later Croke Park)

Question 65

What did the 1905 Rule 21 ban?

Answer 65

RIC and British Army members from joining the GAA

Question 66

What did the 1905 'foreign games' ban do?

Answer 66

Prohibited members from playing soccer or rugby

Question 67

What role did the GAA play in nationalism?

Answer 67

Mobilised members for Irish independence

Question 68

How many GAA clubs exist today in Ireland?

Answer 68

About 2,200

Question 69

How many GAA clubs exist worldwide?

Answer 69

Around 400

Question 70

Who were famous revolutionaries involved in the GAA?

Answer 70

Michael Collins, JJ Walsh

Question 71

What women’s sport was founded in 1904?

Answer 71

The Camogie Association

Question 72

When was the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association founded?

Answer 72

1974

Question 73

When were the Camogie Association and LGFA incorporated into the GAA?

Answer 73

2027