the ban

The Ban is an audio story. created by Niamh O Brien as part of the Tiny LIttle Histories Project.

The GAA is the life-blood of the parish of Kildimo Pallaskenry, Co.Limerick. It is the main social activity in the area which brings people together to share in craic, fun, excitement, joy, frustration and disappointment. It is what keeps the community connected, the place is unimaginable without it. But in 1959 an event occurred which forced Kildimo Pallaskenry GAA Club and all of its members to refrain from all GAA activities for five years. No hurling, no football, no training, no matches. This sentence, known locally as “The Ban”, was handed down after a brawl broke out during a match against the neighbouring club of Ballybrown. Reports of what happened at the match were recorded in local newspapers but the people of Kildimo have their own recollections of the event and still challenge the harsh suspension.

Interviewees: John Nash and James Carey.

Presented by The GAFF, Tiny Little Histories is a community story sharing programme.

The Tiny Little Histories project was piloted in 2021, inspired by the work of the Place Based Curriculum in Leeds. The GAFF with Creative Communities Midwest, invited artists and community groups to share cultural and historical experiences and bring them to public audiences through digital platforms. An audio installation and photographic exhibition of this work will open at the Limerick City Gallery Of Art (LCGA) on October 6th 2022

Tiny Little Histories embraces a layer of oral history, through a collaborative arts methodology, that too often disappears with the passing of generations. Working with UK based artist, Lowri Evans and curator, Maeve McGrath, artists working with community groups excavated stories from the Midwest, bringing them into the public domain through this audio installation.

The GAFF graciously acknowledges support from The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíonn and Limerick Arts Office in the delivery of its work. The GAFF would like to thank the Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA) for supporting the delivery of this project.