Local historian's book chosen for the GAA Museum Book Club

The November reading choice for the GAA Museum Book Club is titled 'Peadar Cowan (1903-62): Westmeath GAA administrator and political maverick'. It’s written by Mullingar Shamrocks stalwart Tom Hunt and published by Four Courts Press.

The book is published as part of the Maynooth Studies in Local History series, with 153 titles produced to date. This one tells the intriguing story of Peadar Cowan. Cowan was imprisoned during the War of Independence, before serving as an officer in the Irish army (with whom he was based in Athlone) until 1931.

He had a varied political career both on the fringes and later as an independent TD. He was involved in the Republican Prisoners’ Release Association and was a founding member of Clann na Poblachta in 1946.

In the 1950s Cowan’s personal and professional life unravelled and he served a prison sentence.

Upon his release he wrote Dungeons Deep, a searing analysis of the Irish prison system. On the sporting side Cowan was heavily involved in the Westmeath Gaelic Athletic Association.

Tom Hunt is a native of Clonea, Carrick on Suir, Co Waterford and holds a PhD from De Montford University.

He has published several other local history books including ‘Sport and Society in Victorian Ireland: the case of Westmeath’.

Those who don’t have or can’t borrow a copy of Peadar Cowan (1903 – 62): Westmeath GAA administrator and political maverick can purchase the book online from the GAA Museum Gift Shop throughout October for a discounted price of €8.

The author interview Q&A session will take place at 8.30pm on Thursday, 25th November.

The one-hour live event will take place via Microsoft Teams and a video link will be shared with members in advance via email.