The day when Garret FitzGerald gave hurling a try in Birr

A new book recalls a memorable visit of former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald to Birr.

Written by Roscommon native John Scally, the book is entitled '100 Extraordinary GAA Occasions'.

Scally writes: “While he (Garret FitzGerald) believed deeply in the power of community, it was clear that his appreciation of the GAA was more at the level of theory rather than practice. It will probably come as a surprise to many people that Garret produced two memorable GAA moments – albeit for the wrong reasons.

“On the canvas trail in 1981 which would see him become Taoiseach for the first time, he posed for a photo opportunity swinging a hurley in the hurling stronghold of Birr.

“One of his media handlers thought it would be a masterstroke to set up a photo shoot involving Garret swinging a hurley and sending the sliotar into outer space. The only problem was that, despite multiple attempts, Garret completely failed to connect the hurley with the sliotar. There was no Christy Ring moment.

“In an effort to salvage something from the public relations catastrophe, the same media handler arranged an interview with Garret and a sympathetic journalist. The interview turned a disaster into a calamity as it unfolded as follows.

“Interviewer: ‘What prompted you to try hurling?’ Garret: ‘I've always wanted to play hurling so I thought it would be a good thing to learn the rudiments of the game.’ Interviewer: ‘So have you learned much?’ Garret: ‘Yes, I have, how to swing a cue'.”

John Scally’s book '100 Extraordinary GAA Occasions' is available in all good bookshops now.