We've compiled some reasons why January GAA brings a cold, frozen tear to the eye of any true Gael.
Hastily constructed scoreboards
5 January 2020; Scoreboard operators during the 2020 Walsh Cup Round 3 match between Laois and Westmeath at O'Keeffe Park in Borris in Ossory, Laois. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
7 January 2018; Sean O'Regan of the Waterford County Board puts the scoreboard in place prior to the McGrath Cup match between Waterford and Cork at The Gold Coast Resort in Waterford. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The GAA kitman comes to the fore
12 January 2014; Denis Maher, Tipperary, has an adhesive sprayed onto his hands by Tipperary kit man John 'Hotpoint' Hayes. Waterford Crystal Cup, Preliminary Round, Tipperary v LIT, MacDonagh Park, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
GAA Volunteers of all ages are called upon
17 January 2016; Kerry maor uisce TJ O'SullEvan, son of Kerry County Board Chairman Patrick O'SullEvan, during the game. McGrath Cup Group A Round 3, Tipperary v Kerry. Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary. Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
Warm up where you can
26 January 2019; Podge Collins of Clare warms up in the tunnel prior to the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Round 1 match between Tipperary and Clare at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Photo by Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile
13 January 2019; Galway players warm up prior to the Connacht FBD League semi-final match between Galway and Mayo at Tuam Stadium in Galway. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
6 January 2019; Mark Kavanagh of Laois goes through his warm up routine prior to the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup Round 3 match between Laois and Dublin at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
5 January 2014; The Sligo players warm up outside the dressing rooms at Tuam Stadium before the match. FBD League, Section B, Round 1, Galway v Sligo, Tuam Stadium, Tuam, Co. Galway. Picture credit: Ray Ryan / SPORTSFILE
All hail the tae, and the tae makers
10 January 2016; Tea lady, Michelle Connolly. Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup, Group C, Round 2, Monaghan v Armagh, St Tiernach's Park, Clones, Co. Monaghan. Picture credit: Philip Fitzpatrick / SPORTSFILE
9 January 2022; The tea lady gets water for the kettle before the Walsh Cup Senior Hurling round 1 match between Galway and Offaly at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe, Galway. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
29 January 2023; Meath supporters, from left, Jimmy McNally, Ollie Lynch, Stephen McNally and Nick Dempsey, from Trim, enjoy some refreshments in the car park before the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Cork and Meath at Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
6 January 2007; Wicklow manager Mick O'Dwyer is served a cup of tea by Margaret Kennedy, from Arlkow. O'Byrne Cup, Wicklow v Carlow, County Park, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
The shop
30 January 2011; Ticket sellers Brian Corbett, left, and Christy O'Connor before the game as shopkeeper Louise Corbett, right, chats to two customers. Waterford Crystal Cup Semi-Final, Clare v Waterford, Sixmilebridge GAA Club, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare. Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
5 January 2014; Tom O'Shea, an official of Geraldine O’Hanrahans GAA Club, setting out the stall in the club's sweet shop prior to the game. Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup, Group A, Round 1, Wexford v Laois, Geraldine O’Hanrahans GAA Club, O'Kennedy Park, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE
19 January 2014; A vendor waits for customers as the Meath and DCU panels prepare for the match on the back pitch. Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup, Semi-Final, Meath v DCU, Páirc Táilteann, Navan, Co. Meath. Picture credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE
19 January 2014; Seamus Walsh, from Tullamore, Co. Offaly, sets up his shop ahead of the game. Bord Na Mona Walsh Cup, Quarter-Final, Offaly v Galway, O'Connor Park, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Picture credit: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE
18 January 2015; A young supporter watches on as an official opens the make shift shop. Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup, Group C, Round 3, Tyrone v Antrim, St. Tiernach's Park, Clones, Co. Tyrone. Picture credit: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE
23 January 2016; Shop vendors Peter and Carol Casey serve customers before the game. Munster Senior Hurling League Final, Limerick v Clare, Gaelic Grounds, Limerick. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
The extremely well-signposted ticket booth
8 January 2014; A general view of the ticket office outside Cashel GAA ground before the game between Longford and Kildare. Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup, Group B, Round 2, Longford v Kildare, Newtowncashel, Co. Longford. Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
3 January 2016; Marion Donnelly keeps dry in the ticket office. Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup, Group C, Monaghan v Ulster University, St Tiernach's Park, Clones, Co. Monaghan. Picture credit: Philip Fitzpatrick / SPORTSFILE
8 January 2017; Paddy McGee, from Trim, Co. Meath, sits ready to sell tickets ahead of the Bord na Mona Walsh Cup Group 4 Round 1 match between Meath and Offaly at St Loman's Park in Trim, Co. Meath. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
15 January 2022; A closed ticket sales hut before the O'Byrne Cup Group A match between Longford and Dublin at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The cold and the rain and the fog
7 January 2024; Cathal McShane of Tyrone warms-up before the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Group A match between Tyrone and Donegal at O’Neills Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
7 January 2024; Brian Kennedy of Tyrone and Jason McGee of Donegal compete for the second-half throw-in during the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Group A match between Tyrone and Donegal at O’Neills Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
6 January 2024; Louth players huddle before the Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup quarter-final match between Meath and Louth at Donaghmore Ashbourne GAA Club in Ashbourne, Meath. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
7 January 2024; Donegal manager Jim McGuinness speaks to his team before the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup Group A match between Tyrone and Donegal at O’Neills Healy Park in Omagh, Tyrone. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
7 January 2024; Cork players warm up before the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League Group A match between Cork and Limerick at Mallow GAA Complex in Mallow, Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
7 January 2024; Darragh Dempsey of Kilmacud Crokes in action against Conor Glass of Glen during the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship semi-final match between Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin, and Glen of Derry, at Páirc Esler in Newry, Down. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
See Also: 12 GAA Managers Who Went Back For A Second Spell
