The GAA: Founding a Movement is a new podcast from the GAA for Leaving Cert Students and history lovers focusing on the years 1884-1891.
This period, when the association was formed, is a case study on the Leaving Cert history curriculum for 2026 and 2027. The podcast is a collaboration between Drumcondra Education Centre with the GAA's History Committee and GAA Communications.
It is available on YouTube and GAA.ie as a one-hour video podcast in both Irish and English. Watch the English version up top and as Gaeilge here - listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify.
Historians and teachers discuss the social and political backdrop to the establishment of the GAA in 1884, it's concentration on athletics and the forces and people who shaped it during those at times difficult and challenging early years of power struggles, in-fighting and asserting itself in Irish life.
Some of the most priceless documents in the GAA's museum archive in Croke Park feature and the Museum has developed special tours to accompany the podcast and the Leaving Cert module on the GAA. Mystery out of History is the name of this specially dedicated tour.
Bookings are through tours@crokepark.ie.
Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns, who participates in the podcasts, said: "The GAA was born during a fascinating period in Irish life, amid a maelstrom of cultural, societal and political revolution. We are indebted to the people who took those first steps more than 140 years ago and to those who ensured we weathered several early storms that could easily have sunk the adventure before it had a chance to get going."
Frances Moss, Director of Drumcondra Education Centre stated: "I am delighted to welcome this collaboration between Drumcondra Education Centre, several prominent History educators and the GAA through its President, museum and cultural staff. The result is a resource on the early years of the GAA's history which is both informative and user friendly for teachers and students, particularly with the documents-based questions on the Leaving Certificate in mind."
History teachers seeking additional resources on this subject matter can check out Drumcondra Education Support centre website for more details. See Drumcondra Education Centre.
The GAA: Founding a Movement was produced by Niamh Boyle and Cian Murphy and is available now on GAA.ie, Spotify, Apple Podcasts - wherever you get your podcasts.
Visit RTÉ Learn for more Leaving Cert content now, with more to come closer to exam time.
