IRELAND v AUSTRALIA. Official Programme (International Series) 1984.

Dublin: GAA / Bank of Ireland International Series, 1984. Slim 8vo. Original pictorial card wrappers in green, white and orange, with photographic portraits of Stephen Malaxos and Jack O’Shea to covers. 8 pp. (including advertisements and informational matter). Very good. Light creasing and handling wear to covers; small abrasions and minor edge wear. Internally clean and sound.

A scarce official programme issued for the Ireland v Australia International Rules series, capturing a formative period in the development of the hybrid code between Gaelic football and Australian Rules. Includes contemporary articles such as The Games in Australia, outlining the spread of Gaelic games among the Irish diaspora, together with tourist information from Bord Fáilte—an evocative reminder of the GAA’s international cultural outreach. The cover design, in bold tricolour palette, is particularly striking and highly collectible, featuring two iconic figures of the era: Stephen Malaxos (Australia) and Jack O’Shea (Kerry), the latter one of the most decorated Gaelic footballers of all time.

Ephemeral GAA programmes of the International Rules series are increasingly scarce, especially in such presentable condition, and are keenly sought by collectors of Kerry football, Irish sporting history, and diaspora material.

[WR GAA]