More than half the athletes on the 1888 GAA ‘junket’ to the US failed to return to Ireland

[barryqwalsh]

New information about the famous Gaelic Athletic Association’s “American Invasion Tour” of 1888 has emerged after 128 years in the original diary kept by one of the participants that has come to light.

Pat Davin – a renowned Tipperary athlete from Carrick-on-Suir and brother of Maurice Davin (co-founder and first president of the GAA) – kept the diary during the month-long tour of US cities. The trip was planned to showcase the prowess of Irish athletes and hurlers and to raise funds for a planned revival of the ancient Tailteann Games.


Diary reveals how hurlers absconded in New York

 

[barryqwalsh]

Can you blame them?

Ireland in1888 was very tough for the vast majority of the people, who were very poor.

America must have looked like another planet to them. They didn't want to back to living hand to mouth.

I wonder who their descendants are today?

 

[Agit8r]

Well yeah. No potato blight in these parts...