DkIT Lecturer Dr Richard McElligott to edit landmark Atlas of the GAA in collaboration with the GAA and UCC
Dr Richard McElligott, Lecturer in Modern and Irish History in the Department of Humanities, DkIT, is to co-edit a new landmark Atlas of the GAA.
At a launch event in University College Cork (UCC) in early June, the GAA announced a new partnership with UCC to publish an Atlas of the GAA, a major new publication that will explore, map and celebrate the cultural significance of the organisation both nationally and internationally.
Atlas of the GAA: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael / The Gaelic Athletic Association will feature in the critically acclaimed Atlas Series published by Cork University Press, the publishing arm of UCC. The volume will coincide with the 145th anniversary of the GAA in 2029 and forms part of a wider programme of commemorative initiatives leading towards the association’s 150th anniversary in 2034.
Central to the project is a call to action to GAA clubs, at home and abroad, to actively participate in shaping this definitive record of the organisation. Clubs will be invited to contribute key data that will inform a major mapping exercise, capturing the scale, reach and cultural significance of the Association.
The volume, which will draw on the data for a selection of maps, will be co-edited by Dr McElligott, Dr John Crowley (UCC School of the Human Environment) and Dr Donal Ó Drisceoil (UCC School of History) - who previously collaborated on Atlas of the Irish Revolution (2017) - and Dr Liam O’Callaghan (School of Health and Sport Sciences, Liverpool Hope University).
The Atlas will also cover the role of women in the history of the GAA and include the growth of the Camogie Association since 1924 and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association since 1974.
Speaking at the launch Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said:
“We are delighted and honoured that the award-winning Atlas series from Cork University Press will now add a study of Gaelic games to its impressive collection. This landmark project will be the first major academic work on the GAA since our oral history project as part of our 125 celebrations, and following on from that success, I believe the Atlas of the GAA will be something that will position the Association as we look to mark our 150th anniversary in 2034.
“Since 1884 the GAA has grown to occupy a pre-eminent place in Irish life, as synonymous for our community cohesion as we are for our thrilling games. Mapping and charting this journey through an academic lens will be a milestone and I’ve no doubt it will be a most sought-after publication.
“In addition to the resource that will be the printed Atlas, we are hugely excited about the digital mapping project, which will allow us to preserve for posterity the stories of all 1,600 GAA clubs dotted throughout Ireland and the more than 500 operating around the globe. I look forward to every one of our units engaging and telling their story when the time comes.”
President of UCC, Professor John O’Halloran commented:
“UCC is delighted to partner with the GAA on this ambitious project, which draws on grassroots research and the renowned Atlas Series format to explore the cultural significance of Ireland’s foremost sporting organisation. It is a wonderful example of public scholarship in action."
Dr McElligott added
"This Atlas is a brilliant opportunity to capture the unique and hugely significant history of the GAA over the past 145 years. We are assembling a team of expert contributors to explore every possible facet of the GAA's rich history and impact on broader Irish society. Our aim is to produce a work that will remain the go to source on the GAA's history for generations to come."
" Its almost impossible to imagine Ireland without the immense reach and impact of the GAA on our social, cultural and sporting life since 1884. Being a proud Kerryman and a fanatical follower of the Green and Gold, the GAA has been a central part of my life as it is to so many more millions across this island and beyond. This project is all about exploring how the GAA became such a force in Irish life and where it sees itself over the next 150 years."
The Atlas of the GAA will depend on the active involvement of clubs to help document places, people and memories. Further details on how clubs can contribute data and participate in the mapping process will be announced by the GAA in due course.
Learn more:
https://www.corkuniversitypress.com/blog/gaa-to-partner-with-ucc-on-landmark-atlas-of-the-gaa/
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2026/06/12/gaa-to-collaborate-with-ucc-for-2029-atlas-project/
https://www.gaa.ie/article/gaa-to-partner-with-ucc-on-landmark-atlas-of-the-gaa
Image Caption: Dr Richard McElligott, Atlas co-editor; Professor John O’Halloran, President of University College Cork; Dr Donal Ó Drisceoil, Atlas co-editor; Jarlath Burns, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael; Charlie Roche, Atlas cartographer and Dr John Crowley, Atlas co-editor at the announcement of a new partnership between UCC and the GAA to publish Atlas of the GAA in the award-winning Atlas Series from Cork University Press.
photo by Marcin Lewandowski | soundofphotography.com © @soundofphotography 2026
