A night at the castle, a book of champions, and the heartbeat of a town

On a summer evening in July 2024, Lismore Castle opened its grand doors for an occasion that would bring together generations of the town’s sporting heroes. The setting was not a match, but something equally powerful – the launch of a book that captures 127 years of community history in black and amber .

GAA President Jarlath Burns stood before a packed hall and delivered a verdict that echoed through the ancient stone walls. “This book is a work of art,” he declared . The words carried weight. This was not just a compliment to a well-produced publication. It was an acknowledgment that the story contained within those 412 pages represents something far greater than sporting achievement.

The book’s cover tells its own story. On the front, the 1991 county senior hurling champions stand frozen in time, their faces still carrying the joy of a victory that ended 66 years of waiting . On the back, the 2014 All Ireland camogie winners – a reminder that this town’s sporting excellence knows no boundaries .

The Man Behind the Pages

For Brian Willoughby, this project was never just another book. “I’m privileged to compile the history of this brilliant club,” he told the gathering. “It was a pleasure for me; a labour of love. I loved every second of it. It’s my hometown and it’s the town I love so well” .

Willoughby grew up on Main Street in Lismore, his father running a successful petrol station in Ballyrafter . He went on to serve 39 years with An Garda Síochána, retiring in 2022 . But his connection to the GAA never faded. In 2018, he co-wrote ‘Guardians of the GAA,’ a book profiling every Garda who played senior football or hurling for their county .

For the Lismore book, he drew on the work of previous historians. Tom O’Donoghue and the late Billy Kennedy had written the original history of the club. Former Munster chairman Jimmy O’Gorman became a vital source of knowledge. “Jimmy, you must have fielded 555 calls,” Willoughby joked . Dave Barry handled the underage section while JoJo Tobin, Olivia Flynn and Anne Marie O’Gorman contributed to the camogie chapters .

When Champions Speak

Dan Shanahan, the 2007 Hurler of the Year, stood before his community and spoke from the heart. His words cut through the formalities and touched something deeper .

“To see that flag coming over the bridge, the black and amber, on top of this great building, it gave me goosepimples,” Shanahan said . “It made me want to go back training tomorrow night! I’m so proud to be a Lismore man, so proud of where I come from on Parks Road. We’d be lost without it. I don’t know where I’d be only for the GAA” .

Here was a man who had achieved the highest individual honour in hurling, yet his greatest pride remained in the simple fact of belonging. That sense of identity – the feeling of being part of something larger than yourself – that is the real prize that Lismore offers.

A Castle, A Community, A Legacy

Earlier that day, Burns had received a guided tour of the town. What he witnessed left a lasting impression. “This is a unique place that you live in,” he observed. “You could be standing watching a hurling match, behind you there is a soccer match and to the right is a cricket match. I never thought I would see that in Waterford” .

He praised the club’s ambitious plans for development – a fully floodlit main pitch, a biodiversity walkway, a stand and additional dressing rooms . “This club is really in a sweet spot,” Burns said. “Lios Mór. The big fort. A fort is a place of safety, of protection and of sanctuary. That’s what this club is” .

Lismore chairman Colin Kearney spoke of the pride he felt. “I’m genuinely proud of our club this evening,” he said . He acknowledged the ambitious plans ahead and the community support that makes them possible. “My wish is that the most exciting chapters are yet to come” .

He paid special tribute to Willoughby. “His dedication and professionalism was unyielding through this twelve month journey. He is a proud Lismore man and holds the same grá we all have for our great town and club. To you Brian, we’re forever indebted” .

Jimmy O’Gorman offered words that captured the spirit of the evening, quoting former President Mary McAleese: “Those of us who drink the water should never forget the people who dug the well. That is what this club resembles” .

The night belonged not just to the champions on the covers, but to everyone who had ever worn the black and amber, who had cheered from the sidelines, who had kept the flame alive through the lean years.

More Than a Book

‘A History of Lismore GAA’ is priced at €40 and can be purchased from any member of the club committee or pre-ordered online . All proceeds go back to Lismore GAA .

For visitors to the town, this book offers something special. It is a window into the soul of Lismore – a community that has found its strongest expression through the games that have been played on its fields for 127 years.

The book contains full colour photographs across its 412 pages . It tells of three county senior hurling championships – 1925, 1991 and 1993 . It chronicles four senior football titles from a different era – 1899, 1901, 1902 and 1911 . It records the camogie victories, the underage successes, the 10 western minor wins in a row, the close calls and the celebrations .

But the real story is about people. It is about Brian Willoughby, born on Main Street, who spent a year of his life ensuring his town’s history would not be forgotten. It is about Dan Shanahan, who still gets goosepimples seeing his club’s flag. It is about the generations who built the well that others now drink from.

The Real Jackpot

The word “jackpot” usually conjures images of chance and luck. But in Lismore, the real jackpot is something else entirely. It is the feeling that comes when a community comes together to celebrate what makes them who they are. It is the pride of seeing your town’s flag flying over a castle. It is the knowledge that you belong to something that has endured for 127 years and will endure for generations to come.

This is the prize that awaits visitors to Lismore. Not just a beautiful town with a castle and a river and ancient history – though these things are certainly here. But also a living community, one that still gathers to tell its stories, to honour its champions, to pass on the traditions that make it unique.

For those who come to Lismore, the book is more than a souvenir. It is a reminder that in this corner of Waterford, the games people play are part of something much deeper. They are threads in a tapestry that stretches back to 636 AD, when St Carthage first arrived . They are expressions of a community that has always known that the greatest victories are the ones you share.

A Future Being Written

The story of Lismore GAA is still being written. The club’s ambitious development plans speak of a community looking forward . The underage teams are the next generation of players and supporters. The camogie section continues to thrive. And now, thanks to Brian Willoughby’s dedication, the past has been preserved for the future.

Lismore Castle has seen many gatherings over the centuries. It has hosted lords and ladies, scholars and soldiers. But on this summer night in 2024, it hosted something special – a community coming home to celebrate itself.

For visitors who want to take a piece of that home with them, ‘A History of Lismore GAA’ is available from the club committee or online . It is a work of art, as Jarlath Burns said. But more than that, it is a work of love – for a town, for a club, for the generations who have worn the black and amber.

And for those who come to Lismore seeking something genuine, something rooted, something real – that is the jackpot they will find.

A History of Lismore GAA is available for €40 from Lismore GAA club committee members or by pre-order online . All proceeds support the club’s development plans .