*Crowds gather at the 2023 Michael Cusack Day at the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre in Carron. Photograph Eamon Ward.
AS THE 140th anniversary of the Gaelic Athletic Association draws closer, the birthplace of the organisation’s founder is preparing to host a commemorative day in his honour.
On Sunday, the fifth annual Michael Cusack Day will be held from 1.00pm to 3.00pm at the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre where he was born in the heart of the Burren on 20th September 1847.
The event will feature hurley making demonstrations by Aidan Cuddihy of Inagh based Macóda Hurleys, live music from the children of Carron National School where Cusack attended and later became a teacher and Clare County Council’s Elected Members will each be presented with a Clare GAA Michael Cusack commemorative jersey, which was launched earlier this year and takes its inspiration from the iconic Cusack cottage.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) stated, “Michael Cusack’s dream of a Gaelic Athletic Association became a reality almost 140 years ago when he and a group of spirited Irishmen had the foresight to establish a national organisation that would make our traditional, indigenous sports more accessible to the masses. As we approach that historic moment in Hayes Hotel in Thurles on 1st November 1884, when the organisation was founded, it is only right and proper that the people of Clare and the wider GAA community comes together to celebrate and commemorate Cusack’s legacy”.
Located in the centre of the award-winning Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre features the original Cusack homestead thatched cottage, the 6km Cusack Way Walk, a Fairy Trail, the Púca artwork and an audio-visual experience that transports visitors back in time to famine-era 1840s Ireland. The attraction also hosts team building weekends, wedding ceremonies and school tours. Guided tours of the popular visitor attraction are available each day from 10.00am.
“We are constantly exploring new ways to commemorate the life of a pioneering individual whose contribution to Irish culture and society is unique and continues to have an impact across the island of Ireland and abroad to this day,” explained Dónal Ó hAiniféin, Chair of the Board of Michael Cusack Heritage Centre. “Earlier this year, we renamed the centre as the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre to recognise the iconic status of the birthplace of the founder of the GAA as a ‘National Asset of Intrinsic Heritage Value’. Our mission is to bring the Cusack story to the wider public so that we may encourage current and future generations to cherish their heritage and celebrate the true sense of community spirit and cultural identity that Cusack promoted”.
John O’Malley, Acting Director of Tourism Development with Clare County Council commented, “The Local Authority is delighted to be able to support the continued development and promotion of the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre as a hub for GAA-related community programmes and establish a Centre of Excellence in Wellbeing. The work that has been undertaken here in recent years is a credit to everyone involved”.
According to Tim Madden, Manager of the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre, “Michael Cusack’s story reflects all that is good about the community and society of his time, namely the Irish language, Gaelic Games, and promoting Irish culture and tradition through education. We are proud to promote these values at our visitor attraction”.
Madden continued, “We are steadfastly committed to having an impact that extends far beyond the boundaries of the attraction, whether that is through our promotion of Carron and the Burren as a centre for health and wellness or the roll-out of our ‘Improving Your Wellbeing Programme’. To date, the Programme has been delivered on-site to more than 400 primary and post primary school students and Youthreach members from across County Clare and to over to 300 schools nationwide”.
“Sustainability and inclusiveness are at the heart of everything we do,” added Mr. Madden. “Having won the Emerald Excellence Award 2024 through the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark Code of Practice for Sustainable Tourism, we implement extensive environmental plans such as rainwater harvesting, carbon offsetting, biodiversity management and rewilding, as well as advocate ‘Leave No Trace’ for all visitors. The Centre also collaborates very closely with the other 70 businesses in the Burren Ecotourism Network”.
Attendees of this Sunday’s Michael Cusack Day will receive free entry to the Michael Cusack Heritage Centre, the Púca Sculpture and the Fairy Trail. In recognition of the first meeting of the GAA on 1st November 1884 and the 140th anniversary of the GAA, the Centre also will be announcing “GAA 140” as a creative listening process with schools from the beginning of November. A discount of 20% off normal admission prices will be offered to all visitors during GAA 140, which runs to the end of October 2025.
