BY ALAN RODGERS
A.RODGERS@GAELICLIFE.COM
A RARE collection of GAA history is set to go under the hammer at a special auction which includes one of just two known medals from the very first All-Ireland Football Final.
The match programme from Down's first ever All-Ireland Final in 1960 is another of the precious items generating a lot of interest among gaelic games collectors.
Just last week a ticket from Bloody Sunday fetched thousands. Now this latest event organised by Mealy's Auctioneers in Kilkenny has a second ticket from that fateful day, this time in pristine condition.
"The 1887 All-Ireland medal wasn't actually awarded to the player until 25 years later. It was made by Duffner's of Tipperary and comes from a time when teams were 21 a side," said George F Mealy.
"Things like this are extremely scarce and we know of only one other medal from that final in existence. It's inscribed with the name of the player, who was Patrick Q Reeves.
"Unfortunately, we don't know how or where he played. But the fact that he was on that first team to win the All-Ireland Football title is very unique.
"We also have a medal from Kilkenny's first All-Ireland hurling win in 1904 and the oldest surviving match programme from their 1913 win, which saw them complete their only three in a row.
"Items of Ulster interest include the programme from Donegal's first All-Ireland win in 1992 and various Lagan Cup matches in the 1940s and 1950s," he added.
The auction of sporting memorabilia has added significance coming in time for the GAA's 125th Anniversary next year. It is expected to prove particularly interesting to the Association itself, which already has a wide range of material on display in the GAA Museum at Croke Park.
Possibly the earliest collection of all comes from a GAA athletics meeting in 1885. At that time, events such as running, the long jump and high jump were far more popular than gaelic football and hurling.
"Demands in this collection is likely to come from both those involved in the GAA and buyers from abroad. This is the second auction of its kind and looks destined to surpass last year's." added Mealy.
