This is a contemporaneous account of the Gaelic Athletic Association's inaugural fixture held in Cork, on Sunday May 10th 1885. Ballygarvan was the chosen venue for the historic event, the fledgling Gaelic Athletic Association's first promotion. The competition was an athletics fixture. Athletics were equally promoted under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association until 1924, when they ceded responsibility to the Irish Athletics Council. The GAA's county hurling and football championship competitions were not organised until the following year 1886. The Cork Examiner reported as follows - CORK SOUTHERN HUNT CLUB AND BALLYGARVAN ATHLETIC SPORTS Committee - T. Sheehan, M. Callanan, J.J. Marshall, J. Finn, J.P. Sheehan, J. Sullivan, J. Marshall, D. Cronin, J. Bowen, J. Crowley, J. Butler and T.B. Scannell. Handicapper and Starter- E.R. Gibbbons. Judge- W.W. Woods. Hon. Treasurer - T.J. Sheehan. Hon. Secretary - D. Sullivan. These annual sports were held yesterday at the old trysting place in the meadow at Ballygarvan, and proved a most decided success - a much greater success in fact than the promoters anticipated, and far in advance of anything witnessed before in the same place. The attendance was something enormous, the Cork people pouring into the village on cars from one o'clock up to three, while the country folk for miles around all gathered together to enjoy a day's sport. The meeting was held under the rules of the Gaelic Athletic Association, and, as a consequence, the entries were numerous and the competition A1. The greatest punctuality was observed in the starting of the events, and the crowd was extremely orderly, the few police present having a sinecure office for the day. Mr. Gibbons proved an excellent handicapper and starter, Mr. Woods a faultless judge, Mr. D. Sullivan an efficient secretary, while no more energetic worker could be found as a member of the committee and general manager than Mr. T.B. Scannell. Class was well represented by the competitors, T.J Mahony,of Rosscarbery, who is in rare fettle, securing the 440 and 220 yards races from scratch in a style that places him in the first rank of athletes. The 220 yards was, perhaps, one of the best races ever seen on a track in the south of Ireland, and the manner in which O'Mahony won it from a man getting the extreme limit of 20 yards start was worth going the whole way to see. It was a real treat, a sterling performance, and he well deserved the enthusiastic greeting he received on breasting the tape. The track was a little uneven, with a high wind prevailing, and to compass it in 27 seconds was a rattling good performance. The one mile fell to Denis O'Neill, while C.J. Bourke secured the two mile and the half mile in fine style. He excelled himself in both events, and his two wins were very popular - in fact, from his style of yesterday as compared to past performances, one would imagine either that his foot was on his "native heath", or else that he has made vast improvement, even within the space of one week. M. O'Sullivan secured the high jump; and in the boys race J. Sheehan got first prize and W. O'Connell second, the winner of the final heath being disqualified on the ground of jostling. There were three heats and a final for the youths, 18 turning up in each of the three heats, and some of the lads give great promise of developing into good athletes. Appended are details: - Boys Race, 440 yards - First Heat - D. Corcoran, 1st ; W. Downey, 2nd ; eighteen competed. Second heat - J. Sheehan 1st; M. O'Flynn, 2nd ; eighteen competed. Final heat - R. Linehan, 1st; disqualified; J. Sheehan, 2nd; W. Connell, 1st. Linehan was disqualified for jostling Connell and the prizes were given to Sheehan and Connell. 440 YARDS - Handicap - T.J. Mahony, Rosscarbery, scratch, 1st; P. O'Connell, 8 yds. 2nd. Time, 62 secs. Also competed - J. Callaghan, 8 yds; C.J. Bourke, 10 yds; M.O'Sullivan, Ballinhassig, 5 yds; and C. Flynn, 25 yds. This was a fine race. O'Mahony forged ahead and ran through his men like a cyclone, defeating his most dangerous opponent, O'Callaghan, by fully 10 yds. in addition to the handicap of 8 yds. One Mile Handicap - Denis O'Neill, scratch, 1st; C.J. Bourke, 35 yds. 2nd. Time, 5 mins. 15 secs. Also competed - P. O'Callaghan, 20 yds. The latter gave up after running three laps. The race was a good one between Bourke and O'Neill, but when the latter got in front he kept there, and finally won by ten yards. 220 Yards Handicap - T.J. Mahony, Rosscarbery, scratch, 1st; C. Flynn, 20 yds, 2nd. Time, 27 secs. Also competed - M. O'Sullivan, Ballinhassig, scratch; J.J. O'Sullivan, 10 yds. This was the best race of the day. Flynn made the best use of the handicap allowed him, but Mahony raced like a steam engine all the way, and defeated Flynn on the tape by six inches. Flynn fell at the tape consequent of the exertion he made to land in front. The winner was loudly cheered for his fine performance. Two Mile Handicap - C.J. Bourke, 30 yds, 1st; Denis O'Neill, scratch, 2nd. Time, 11 mins 15 secs. Also competed - J. Lynch, 90 yds. Bourke passed the limit man in the third lap, and O'Neill did the same in the sixth lap, when Lynch retired. O'Neill then did put on the steam to overhaul Bourke, but it was no use, and the latter running strong and well won by ten yards more than his handicap. Half Mile Handicap - C.J. Bourke, 35 yds, 1st; P. O'Callaghan, 20 yds, 2nd. Time, 2 mins 29 secs. Also competed - Denis O'Neill, scratch; C. Flynn, 40 yds. In the third lap O'Callaghan raced past Bourke, who was leading, but could not get much in advance do what he could. A hundred yards from home O'Callaghan seemed to tire, and Bourke gradually him down. He got even with him 30 yards from the tape, and extending himself he came with a tremendous rush to the goal, beating O'Callaghan by five yards. The enthusiasm of the crowd was great at Bourke's second and most sensational win. High Jump - M. O'Sullivan, Ballinhassig, won easily. Drag Hunt (confined to the hounds of the C.S.H.C.) - The course was about three and a half miles. Twenty-four dogs competed, and the race resulted in Rambler winning, while Trueman was second, and Major third.