A GAA 'American Invasion' medal from the first game of hurling ever played on US soil will go under the hammer at the end of the month.

The medal dates back to 1888 when several founders of the GAA, including Michael Cusack, Dr Croke and Maurice Davin, fostered the idea of sending top athletes and hurlers to America to raise capital to fund the revival of the ancient Tailteann Games.

The party of 48 set sail to the US in September 1888, anchoring in New York after nine days. The party then embarked on a fundraising tour of Irish centres in America, staging hurling and athletics exhibitions and international contests between Ireland and the US.

The Sunday Independent reports that the medal will be auctioned at Mealy's Auctioneers in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on July 29 next for an estimated price of €2,000 to €3,000.

Also going under the hammer are a pair of early Dublin club championship medals won by Keating's in 1909 and 1911, Kilkenny county championship medals from 1927 and 1942 Wexford football championship medals. Tweet

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