16th June 2011

The GAA Museum at Croke Park Stadium has launched an exhibition to honour the late Dermot Earley which will feature memorabilia from his extraordinary life.

The exhibition, titled Dermot Earley –Leader & Legend, opened on Thursday 16th June, marking almost a year since the former GAA star and Army Chief-of-Staff passed away.  The temporary exhibition will run until Spring 2012 and feature souvenirs from Dermot’s life as a hugely successful Gaelic footballer, playing for both Roscommon and Connacht, and from his distinguished military career in the Irish Defence Forces.

The GAA Museum in Croke Park was extensively redeveloped in 2010. The museum is dedicated to promoting an appreciation of the values, culture and history of Gaelic games.  This includes honouring those who have made an outstanding contribution to the national game, something which Dermot Earley certainly did throughout his long and distinguished GAA career as a player, manager and mentor to young people. 

The temporary exhibition at the GAA Museum is based on an exhibition developed by the Curragh Military Museum in County Kildare.   The primary focus of the exhibition is on Dermot Earley, his playing days as a Gaelic footballer with Roscommon and Connacht and his rise through the military ranks to hold the office of Chief-of-Staff of the Irish Defence Forces.  In addition to personal items that belonged to Dermot, the exhibition also includes Dermot’s county and provincial jerseys, match programmes and imagery of his playing and managerial career.  This is complemented with footage from RTE’s The Sunday Game and Cloch le Carn documentary series, as well as TG4’s Laochra Gael series which featured Dermot several years ago.  From his military career, the exhibition features a number of uniforms, his medal collection and items that represent his military career, including decommissioned weapons.

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Críostóir Ó Cuana, welcomed the launch of the Dermot Earley exhibition, He said:  “Dermot Earley was one of the most prolific GAA players of our time and he contributed enormously to Gaelic games in so many ways.   While he shone on and off the pitch, his highly respected career in the Irish Defence Forces also deserves to be honoured and remembered. The exhibition at the GAA Museum will pay respect to one of our greats and highlight the glorious career and legacy that Dermot Earley has left behind”

Commenting on the exhibition, Dermot Earley’s son, Dermot Earley Jnr said, “It is a real honour for our family to see our father’s memory celebrated with this exhibition at the GAA Museum in Croke Park.  The exhibition features so many aspects of my father’s life that really illustrate his successful career within the GAA and in the military.  On behalf of my family, we would like to thank the GAA for a truly touching tribute to my father and we hope that many GAA fans will get the chance to enjoy the memorable journey through his life”

Dermot Earley - Leader & Legend will run at the GAA Museum at Croke Park Stadium until Spring 2012.

A visit to the exhibition is included in admission to the GAA Museum, which is open daily throughout the year.