The County Longford GAA Archive will be launched in Longford Library on Monday, 19 December, at 7.30 pm. This exciting initiative is a partnership between Longford County Library, Heritage and Archives Services and Longford GAA.
The aim is to have records such as minutes and photographs, as well as programmes and other items, deposited in the Archive in Longford County Library HQ. There they will be preserved and made accessible to the community.
Albert Cooney, the Chairman of Longford County Board, is in no doubt about the Archive’s importance. ‘We recognise that officials and members of the organisation have important material, like programmes, relating to the history of the GAA in Longford. We want to make sure it’s preserved for future generations,’ he said. ‘The County Board is fully behind the Archive, and we are encouraging all clubs and units of the organisation in the county to deposit their records in it,’ he added.
Cllr Turlough McGovern, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, welcomes the creation of the Archive. ‘We in Longford County Council are delighted to be working with the GAA in the creation of this Archive. We all know how important GAA is to the people of the county over several generations. We have to make sure that its history is protected for the future,’ he said.
Longford County Council Chief Executive, Paddy Mahon, sees great potential in the new Archive. ‘The Archive will be a great resource that will not only preserve material but will enable it to be used in projects on the history of the GAA involving schools and community groups,’ he stated.
The Archive will be launched by Dr Tom Hunt, distinguished Mullingar-based sports historian, who will give a talk on the development of the GAA in Longford.