Look back on the season that was with the Kilkenny GAA Yearbook

It’s the time of year when a slew of publications competes for space on the shelves of bookshops and the attentions of thousands of interested readers.

Every topic known to mankind is encased in all shapes and sizes of covers, but there is one constant in a wide range of Kilkenny bookshops that has remained the same for nigh on 33 years - the award-winning Kilkenny GAA Yearbook.

Once more the committee of the Kilkenny Co Board have excelled in producing a terrific compilation of the life and times of the Kilkenny GAA family in an absorbing 208 pages of historical fact, colour photographs of individuals, teams, personalities, events and bereavements of former servants of the wonderful games.

Gerry O’Neill and his team spare nothing of themselves in presenting yet another wonderful compilation of GAA activity through the year over the Kilkenny GAA spectrum.

This year’s publication covers every stratum of GAA competitions from schools and second and third level colleges, through club and intercounty competition to camogie at every conceivable stage to handball and more. Last year’s Yearbook covered a third of the Kilkenny involvement at All-Ireland levels from the start of the Association.

Gerry O’Neill covers the 1957 to 2000 era in what has proved to be a unique nostalgic concept – its amazing the numerous comments of approval this segment has earned from the avid GAA aficionados.

John Knox writes a big story about a big man and a big career - Brian Cody. No man in the History of the game deserves such recognition more.

There are lots of stories, lots of news and thousands of pictures. The glories of the footballers winning an All-Ireland title is well documented, the camogie super All-Ireland winning stars are there in all their majesty.

The All-Stars are there and for the second time only in its 33 years of publication, a young woman stands alone on the much-coveted poster that comes with the Yearbook - take a bow Katie Nolan.

There’s a lot more besides. If you want to get your hands on one hurry up. They are in every shop around the county.