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1887 (4 June) Gaelic Athletic Association County Co

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1887 (4 June) Gaelic Athletic Association County Cork Committee illuminated address to William Gladstone MP. lithographed on card and silk by Guy & Co., Cork, in its original gilt frame 30 by 25cm., 12 by 10in.

Provenance: William Gladstone Library, Fasque House; whence purchased by the present owner. Historic Dedication to William Ewart Gladstone from The Gaelic Athletic Association inscribed: "To The Right Hon. W.E. Gladstone M.P." Dear Sir, On behalf of the County Cork Committee of The Gaelic Athletic Association we ask your acceptance of the accompanying Presentation, as a small token of the esteem in which you are held by our body: our only regret being that we cannot make a presentation commensurate with the affection of our hearts in regard to you, The foremost English Statesman of the century, the friend of Ireland and of her constitutional freedom, you have obtained a place in the heart of every true Irishman that nothing can banish or efface. We are happy to say that the Gaelic Athletic Association has been a great success in popularising the Ancient Irish Game of Hurling among the manhood of the present day, its membership now reaching to about Fifty Thousand over the country, and before another year has passed away we confidently anticipate that the number will be doubled. Contemporaneous with the arrival of that period, we fervently hope that you will see the great object to which you have devoted your priceless energies crowned with full success- the right by Irishmen to legislate for Irishmen in Ireland. 4th June, 1887 Signed D. Horgan, Alderman, Chairman. D.M. Lane, Hon. Sec. T.O'Riordan, Provincial Hon. Sec the Citation is on silk and bordered by a series of oval lithographs depicting, Hurling, Football, Bowling, Handball, Running, Jumping, Hammer Throwing and Irish Dancing. Also surmounting the dedication are oval portraits of Michael Davitt, Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Cusack and Dr Croke The G.A.A. was founded 3 years previously in Thurles and Gladstone's exertions in trying to secure Home Rule for Ireland, combined with the repercussions and aftermath of the Maamtrasna Murders led to the fall of the Liberal Government and Gladstone's position as Prime Minister. He subsequently became P.M. in August, 1892, the fourth time he held this position An extraordinary and attractive item, dated three years after the GAA was founded, and probably the one and only time the GAA paid obeisance to the British Establishment!

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