For over 66 years, the remains of Thomas St George McCarthy have lain in an unmarked grave near Dublin. The quiet plot at Deansgrange Cemetery gives no clue as to whose final resting place it holds - let alone the role McCarthy played in changing the course of Irish sporting history. The former Royal Irish Inspector died at the age of 80 in 1946 when his reduced means meant there was no headstone to mark the grave he bought while a police officer. McCarthy was one of seven sports enthusiasts who gathered in Thurles's Hayes Hotel in his home county of Tipperary in 1884 for the inaugural meeting of the GAA. While fellow founder Michael Cusack went on to have a Croke Park stand named after him, McCarthy hadn't so much as a gravestone to prove his legacy - until now. The accomplished athlete, who two years beforehand won an international cap for the Irish rugby team, believed the new initiative would encourage young men onto the sports field and away from the temptations of hard liquor. However, ironically, two years later he fell foul of the association's own rules when it instituted the controversial rule 21 that prohibited any member of the British forces from joining. So while Co Clare man Michael Cusack - who was also at the famous Hayes Hotel meet - has become synonymous with the association's foundation, McCarthy's role has never been heralded to the same extent. As the GAA marks its 125th anniversary, its chiefs set about righting McCarthy's legacy by erecting a headstone on the grave to |acknowledge his role in founding the association. The symbolic gesture comes after a police memorial group in Northern Ireland expressed concern that his contribution to gaelic games had been effectively airbrushed from history. PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott and Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy have both been invited to a ceremony at Deansgrange Cemetery later this month to officially unveil the new granite memorial. The RUC's George Cross |Foundation, which represents the force that succeeded the RIC after partition, maintained McCarthy's low-key legacy was because of his time in a Crown uniform, during which he was stationed in counties as far apart as Tipperary and Londonderry. Foundation chair Jim McDonald said he brought up the issue with Jarlath Burns - the former Armagh star who heads the GAA's 125th anniversary organising committee - at a chance meeting in Belfast last year. "To be fair to Jarlath he took up my challenge and raised the matter with the GAA," he said. "They have now produced a fitting tribute to McCarthy which I think gives him the recognition he has always deserved." Relations between the GAA and the police north of the border have been steadily improving since the association scrapped Rule 21 in 2001. In the wake of that move, the George Cross foundation presented the GAA with the McCarthy cup, which is now played for every year by gaelic football teams from the PSNI and Garda. The ceremony to mark the installation of McCarthy's headstone takes place on November 18.

david09 (Kildare) - Posts: 115 - 10/11/2009 20:27:02    480639

Most of the people on here wouldnt have any respect for him because of his ties to the British security forces especially the Nordies which is a shame. About time people other then Cusack are getting the recognition that they deserve.

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 10/11/2009 22:48:02    480682

Well said Paddy

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 10/11/2009 23:19:16    480711

Better late than never. Good to see that the GAA is an association that is capable of moving forward in a positive fashion after a few words with the right person and that it is acted on decisively. Great if the association could be so proactive in many other areas.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1881 - 10/11/2009 23:32:11    480727

Dont start making references ro "nordies", this is rude

laflour (Cavan) - Posts: 528 - 10/11/2009 23:36:04    480731

ask the family of adain mc anespie or any one of the families of the several other people murdered by the ruc and loyalist paramilitaries,simply because they were nationalist members of the local gaa clubs in thier areas...ps to the administrors.please allow this post to be shown.its topical and it happened.

orchardman (Armagh) - Posts: 158 - 10/11/2009 23:42:06    480738

because of his ties to the British security forces especially the Nordies which is a shame.

F@ck off. it was two "nordies" Jarlath Burns and Donal Mc Anallen who played a major role in unearthing his grave. pity you had to lower such a great thread instantly and without warant paddy, your truly a twisted pathetic little coward.

trileacman (Tyrone) - Posts: 759 - 10/11/2009 23:45:21    480741

What's up with being called ''nordies'',a good few of you's call us free stater's !


Fair deuce to Jarlath & Donal by the way

Duffy89 (Wexford) - Posts: 3320 - 10/11/2009 23:54:17    480759

orchardman
County: Armagh
Posts: 43

480738
ask the family of adain mc anespie or any one of the families of the several other people murdered by the ruc and loyalist paramilitaries,simply because they were nationalist members of the local gaa clubs in thier areas...ps to the administrors.please allow this post to be shown.its topical and it happened.




No, it DIDN'T happen.

I have no intention of discussing ANYTHING of a personal nature to a bereaved family on a website, I am merely pointing out that your post is inaccurate.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 11/11/2009 00:19:19    480778

paddyogall
County: Mayo
Posts: 2004

480682
Most of the people on here wouldnt have any respect for him because of his ties to the British security forces especially the Nordies



I also take exception to this remark. I understand where you are coming from, but please realise that there are only a FEW dissidents in the North of Ireland, although I admit they all seem to post here.

By and large the population of Northern Ireland embraces the peace process, which is why Sinn Fein is now the biggest party.

As you already know, I personally have no problem with security forces and the GAA. I did campaign for 30 years to have them admitted.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 11/11/2009 00:22:28    480781

"Nordies" God bless us, and you call yourself a GAA person? That kind of ignorance makes me sick.. and talking about "yous" and "us", as if someone who happens to be under British occupation in the six counties is less an Irishman than their comrades south of the cursed border. Michael Cusack would be turning in his grave if he thought that this attitude prevailed amongst patrons of the GAA.. Perhaps you should go and read the aims of the GAA, you might come across this:

"The Association is a National Organisation which has as its basic aim the strengthening of the National Identity in a 32 County Ireland through the preservation and promotion of Gaelic games and pastimes."

Making references to "nordies" and "yous and us" is most certainly not helping the strengthening of the National identity of Ireland..And Paddyogal, it's great that your in such a position that you can speak on behalf of all Hoganstand users but count me out, thanks. Every GAA supporter has respect for one of the founders of our association. Next time your thinking about posting a comment consider the rest of us who have to read your drivel.

Shooter (Antrim) - Posts: 5 - 11/11/2009 01:14:23    480805

Orchardman: surely its somewhat unfair to tarnish this individual because of others actions whilst they served as police officers. Judging from the story on the original post, this guy seemed to have good intentions at heart, hoping that the sport would stop young men from gettign involved in hard liquor, and he was just a victim of circumstance that his job ended up barring him from playing etc. I don't deny there has been some horrendous goings on in Northern Ireland, but it would seem a tad unfair to ostracise this individual for something that was a) out of his control and b) happened years after he had died.

Tongo (UK) - Posts: 1795 - 11/11/2009 07:32:58    480826

Paddy you're a total disgrace. You're buddy isn't much better. Did you even read the thing before you posted ?

RoverTin (Derry) - Posts: 228 - 11/11/2009 08:41:43    480841

The RUC's George Cross |Foundation, which represents the force that succeeded the RIC after partition, maintained McCarthy's low-key legacy was because of his time in a Crown uniform, during which he was stationed in counties as far apart as Tipperary and Londonderry.

David09, Did you ever think of removing the London prefix out of Derry when copying and pasteing this article?

Despite this, It was a good article and nice to see Thomas St. George McCarthy recognised.

Covie.in.D7 (Mayo) - Posts: 164 - 11/11/2009 09:10:20    480848

The only people who have lowered the tone of this Topic is the two Nordies who have responded. Its no surprise really.

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 11/11/2009 09:22:25    480851

Patrique as a Tyrone gael who has family links to St Endas CLG, Glengormley i find your 'smart *** retort' to Orchard man here deeply deeply offensive. There was a man slain at the gates of that club by a loyalist murder squad THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY OPEN their new clubhouse. How you could be see it as anything other than a man being murdered for being a member of the GAA is beyond me. I have no problem with this founding member being remembered but fo you to claim that people weren't murdered by Loyalist death squads simply for being GAA members quite frankly makes me feel sick. Once again you have hijacked a thread to start shouting about what you have done and what you have campaigned for while making a hugely insensitive remark which is factually inaccurate.

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 11/11/2009 10:04:52    480881

chefinny.first of all thanks for your inclusion of the facts as they were.patrique has once again shown his blind ignorance of factual events that took place.sorrry patrique but it did happen.not only did it happen,but the young man in question was being threatened by the police for several months,laughing and telling him it was gonna happen,so you get your facts right....secondly,my gripe is not with the old cop who was present in thurles..my gripe and the thing that sickens me is that an ruc rememberance group is calling for a gaa founder to be remembered,this is the same group who as i previously stated.murdered and colluded to murder members of the gaa........franky patrique your ignorance is not all that surprising or uncommon

orchardman (Armagh) - Posts: 158 - 11/11/2009 11:02:50    480932

Shooter from Antrim is correct, people shouln't be making derogatory remarks like "those nordies" etc. People living in the North had a difficult time playing / following Gaelic games in the last 30-40 years. Something that those of us living in the south never had to contend with.
Having said that, it's a good thing that Thomas St George McCarthy is being remembered, we should have all moved on a bit.

jos33 (Dublin) - Posts: 243 - 11/11/2009 11:04:25    480935

jos33
County: Dublin
Posts: 82

People living in the North had a difficult time playing / following Gaelic games in the last 30-40 years. Something that those of us living in the south never had to contend with.
_________________________________________

Excuse me for going a little off topic but you're talking through your hat. Ever hear of the Civil War? Possibly the most bloodiest thing this country/island/nation has ever gone through?

So yes, those of us in the south have had to put up with attrocities while playing Gaelic games. Some people will have heard the story of the two Kerrymen, both local leaders on opposing sides of the war, who put their differences aside for the sake of football in Kerry and ended up winning the All-Ireland.

3inarow08 (Kerry) - Posts: 2455 - 11/11/2009 11:50:07    480975

Orchard man i was refering to the murder of a north Belfast Gael and not Aiden MacAnespie.

Although i do fully agree that he was murdered in cold blood by a member of the crown forces. Whether or not this was a direct result of his involvment with the GAA though is not something that can be definitively proved or disproved. I would suspect that the English soldier who murdered him did so because he was a member of the GAA. However unlike Patrique I am not going to talk about myths but reality and facts.

GAA folk suffered almost daily harrasment from Loyalists and the security forces of the English crown, this is not up for debate Patrique. It would also be fair to say that members of the Orange Order and protestants living in nationalist strongholds can have the same gripes about how they suffered, which is also not up for debate.

I am truly sorry to have soiled this thread but that man Patrique's statement chilled me to my core and had to be addressed.

I would encourage anybody to Goggle St Endas CLG in Glengormley and see just what gaels had to go through there are numerous other examples of clubs and people who have suffered and i will give more examples of people/clubs who have suffered just for being members of the GAA to shut this knowall Patrique up if needed.

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 11/11/2009 11:57:55    480984