Speech by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., at the launch of A Season of Sundaysin Jury’s Hotel Croke Park on Monday, 11 December 2006 at 7:30 pm.

It is a pleasure to be with you all to launch this year’s A Season of Sundays – a gift worthy of inclusion in every GAA fan’s Chirstmas stocking!

I can truly say that with authority because Ray sent me a copy for my perusal ahead of tonight’s launch. Slowly but surely, more and more books, giving the different angles of Gaelic games are being published. All of them are welcome additions to GAA literature. They enhance our understanding and enjoyment of Gaelic games and help to complete the vast and colourful mosaic of GAA history for us.

I think above all, GAA lends itself most suitably to the art of photography. For me as a GAA follower, a book that aspires to capture the essence of Gaelic games without the use of photography would be like an art book without the paintings! Put simply – photos capture its very essence and its prominent place in Irish life. That is what makes A Season of Sundays such a sought after publication.

The GAA itself is not just an organisation. It is a way of life. It is a known fact that for one to get the best out of life, one has to engage with it. Life, in its broadest terms has its ups and downs, its memories, its experiences and its legacies. Any sport, and particularly the GAA, is a microcosm of life. As the GAA and all modern sport has progressed so too has the unique art form of photojournalism and film. Through this medium, and through the eye of the artist, many golden moments of GAA, and sport in general, have been captured.

You only have to look at this magnificent compilation to see the accuracy of the well worn cliché that “a picture paints a thousand words”. The power of the images is drawn not only from their technical excellence and the poetic eye that took them, but chiefly from the underlying passion of life’s experience which they exemplify. This collection is a prime illustration of the essential connection between photojournalists, their craft and the events and audience they seek to record. In these pictures, we can clearly see a passion for the sport and the craft of photography. The images evoke a great empathy for both players and audience as well as respect for the occasion and what it means for the wider community.

All of us here tonight hold in our memories those moments in time that have sparked strong emotions throughout the 2006 season. I recall with sadness the Dubs going down in the semi-final against Mayo in what was classed by some as one of the greatest games of all time. We all saw the expectancy and hope of the Mayo people eager to make a first All Ireland Crown in 55 years – an event that was not to be, thanks to Kieran Donaghy’s marvellous performance for Kerry on the day.

Photographers always say that a splash of red in a photo really enhances the shot. And as if to prove the point, the Corkonians made a remarkable spectacle with victories spanning the Camogie and Ladies Football All Ireland. In hurling, the Kilkenny Cats thought that the Rebels had enough to be getting on with and brought the Liam McCarthy home instead. All of these events are captured here in all their glory along with numerous other wonderful moments demonstrating with great clarity why Gaelic games have become such an intrinsic part of Irish life.

While not wanting to highlight one picture over another, I cannot but be struck by Mick O’Dwyer’s countenance on page 31 and Dan Shanahan’s passion on page 113 of the book.

There is no doubt that we get out of life what we put into it. So too a vibrant healthy democracy depends on those who are willing to become engaged with and contribute to their community. Society as a whole has benefited immeasurably from all sporting codes. They in turn depend on volunteers from all walks of life for their continued success. We are fortunate in this country to have so many people committed to sport and I thank them for their commitment to the youth of this country.

The GAA exemplifies what can be done and how we can all benefit. Nobody loses and we are fortunate that modern day artists such as photojournalists of the calibre of Ray McManus and his team are on hand to witness and record the achievements and contributions of so many volunteers.

This being the 10th edition of a Season of Sundays, Ray and his Sportsfile team have a great deal of which to be proud. To me, the publication of this excellent tome is ‘the icing on the cake’ in terms of sports photojournalism. A Season of Sundays is a portfolio any artist would be more than proud to exhibit. The book testifies to the strides they have collectively made in developing their business over its 26 year history through the calibre of the photography alone. That is a fantastic achievement and one worthy of all our praise.

My warmest congratulations go to Ray and all of you whose expertise and skill has put the spotlight firmly on the milestones, the glamour and the richness of Gaelic games in modern Ireland. We look forward to many, many more years of your excellent sports coverage.

A Season of Sundays has earned its place in the written and pictorial history of GAA. I recommend the book to everyone. Well done and thank you.

ENDS.