‘Keeping The Dream Alive’ book celebrates Limerick’s Historic 1973 All-Ireland Win

Keeping The Dream Alive celebrates Limerick’s Historic 1973 All-Ireland Win and contains over 500 pages packed with original archive material plus a host of rare photographs, many of which have never been seen before – until now!

‘1973 – Keeping The Dream Alive’ looks at Limerick’s historic All-Ireland victory, bringing together the team’s legacy, generational impact, and the spirit of Limerick’s community

A commemorative book titled ‘1973 – Keeping The Dream Alive’ chronicles Limerick’s historic All Ireland success half a century ago.

In production since January by three authors, Liam O’Brien, James Lundon, and Niall Deegan, all net profits from the book’s sales will be distributed equally between two deserving charities, The Children’s Ark University Hospital Limerick and the Limerick Society St. Vincent de Paul.

‘1973 – Keeping the Dream Alive’ takes a look at the 1973 All-Ireland-winning Limerick Senior Hurling team and the impact it had on Limerick and Limerick hurling during that period.

Liam O’Brien, one of the book authors, said it was important to remember this because “this year first of all, marks the 50-year anniversary”.

He added, “If you look at it in the broader context of Limerick hurling, clearly now, the wonderful success we’ve had over the last years, the 74 final win is probably the single most important one because it’s in the middle  of a 78-year gap, between 1940 and 2018, that was Limerick’s solitary All-Ireland win.

“It was a big gap, but it would have been a huge gap had it not been for then when you see there are other counties, the likes of Cavan and Mayo in football, and Waterford in hurling.”

O’Brien explained although he was born two years after the 73 win, he “would have known all those players, watching them playing” and noted Willie Moore was a teacher of his, pointing to the influence and impact the team had on more than one generation of Limerick supporters.

1973 – Keeping The Dream Alive' (The Story Of Limerick's Historic All Ireland Success 50 Years On):

A book launch has been planned for Sunday November 5th from 6:30pm at The Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa in Adare. pic.twitter.com/RIsRuI9FRZ— Limerick GAA (@LimerickCLG) October 3, 2023

Pointing to the generational influence of some of the players, the author highlighted Éamonn Cregan’s story, “Éamonn Cregan’s dad played with the great Mackey team of the 30s, Ned Cregan, and yet Éamonn Cregan coaches Shane Dowling and Peter Casey, and coached Aaron Gilanne and Declan Hannon in Mary immaculate College.”

“Who knows where we would have been had we not won it in 73, you know in the aftermath, there would have been lots of disappointment as we know, and the years that followed in Limerick itself. But at least, generally speaking, it was immense in the aftermath of that.” 

The group plans to launch the book officially in the coming weeks in October and December with more information not follow on the launch event details.

James Lundon explained he had been working on another Limerick Hurling book when Liam approached him, he said, “It’s been nine months of intense effort since the 9th of January, so we will hopefully have the book in hand by the 9th of October.”

The book features content from many different archives including photographs from the Limerick Leader archive, writings about the time, never-before-seen content, and James said he has a great collection of Limerick Hurling information but “dug out newspapers, memorabilia I didn’t have myself”. 

The title of the book, “1973 – Keeping the Dream Alive” is because, James says, “that success is hugely important, and that’s why the subtitle of the book ‘Keeping the Dream Alive’ is that, if they hadn’t won in 1973, we would be looking down a gap of almost 80 years.”

1973 – Keeping The Dream Alive' book:
(The Story Of Limerick's Historic All Ireland Success 50 Years On).
Closing date for pre-orders is Oct 2nd @ 8pm
An exciting upcoming publication that is a must for Limerick supporters everywhere!
To order send to [email protected]: pic.twitter.com/PE4izsrJP8— Limerick GAA (@LimerickCLG) October 1, 2023

He said, “The whole idea of John Kiely and the boys of the present have been an incredible inspiration to all of us, giving us that energy which we didn’t have before.”

Liam noted the importance of remembering these achievements, saying, “Sport is so big in Limerick, but the social aspect of it is huge as well, so we have wonderful photos of supporters, the All-Ireland Final, and the homecoming,” Liam O’Brien told I Love Limerick, adding that there is some content “never seen before”.

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