MICHAEL CUSACK BIOGRAPHY

Michael Cusack was born in 1847 in Carron, County Clare. He was born during one of the worst years of the famine, which is commonly known as ‘Black ’47. Michael would have grown up playing hurling, but he also played other sports through his teaching career including, handball, shot putt, rugby and cricket. He was all Ireland shotputt champion in 1879 and again in 1882. Although young Michael did not attend school until he was 11 years old, he quickly showed that he was a bright and able pupil. After a spell as a student teacher in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, he returned to teach at the national school in Corofin for a few months. He then went on to get his teaching qualifications in Dublin. His first major post was as school master at Lough Cutra national school in Galway where he received the princely sum of £18 per year. Michael Cusack though in a number of different locations including St. Colmans in Newry, Co Down, Blackrock College in County Dublin, Kilkenny College in Kilkenny and Clongowes Wood in County Kildare. He later settled in Dublin City where he set up his own school called ‘Cusack’s Civil Service Academy’. He was an excellent teacher and his school became very popular, very quickly. In 1882 he was selected as first president of the Metropolitan Hurling Club and in 1883 he founded a hurling club at his own academy. In 1884 Michael Cusack, together with likeminded individuals founded the Gaelic Athletic Association in Hayes Hotel in Thurles, Co Tipperary. He was made first secretary of the GAA. Under his guidance the GAA quickly grew from strength to strength, but Cusack only has two years in charge and by 1886 he was no longer a member of the committee. In 1887 he founded his own newspaper called ‘The Celtic Times’, the paper ran successfully for 18 months. Although Michael was no longer on the GAA committee, he still played a huge part in Gaelic games activities by acting as club delegate and refereeing matches. Michael Cusack died in 1906 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin. He left a huge legacy behind him and is widely regarded as the saviour of our native Irish sports.