Key dates in the life of Michael Cusack

1847 Michael was born 20 September
1858 Pupil of Carron National School
1847 Appointed Senior Monitor at Carron school, 1 March
1864 Death of his mother, 13 May, leaves Carron, 13 November
1867 Taught for first six months of this year at Richmond school, Corofin; 31 December begins teaching at Lough Cutra National School, near Gort
1871 Left Lough Cutra and arrived at St Colman’s College, Newry on 16 October
1874 During the summer left Newry
1875 Teaching at Blackrock College from summer ’74 to December ’75; during the summer won the 16 and 56 pound events as a member of Blackrock College cricket club and took part in a handball competition as member of Trinity rowing club
1876 In January went to St John’s College, Kilkenny, until April and then to Clongowes Wood, Kildare; Married Margaret Imelda Woods, from County Down, 14 June
1877 Ran academy at Nelson St, Dublin most likely in partnership with Hamilton Bell
1878 At end of year, opened his own academy at 4 Gardiner’s Place
1879 All Ireland champion at putting 16 pound shot and again in 1882
1882 On 14 January became committee member of Aontacht na Gaeilge and on 9 August named as treasurer; 6 December selected as first president of the Metropolitan hurling club
1883 Founded hurling club at his academy during October
1884 1 November founded Gaelic Athletic Association
1885 Rules for football and hurling under control of GAA, as proposed by Maurice Davin were published for the first time in United Ireland on 7 February; famous athletic meeting organised by Michael took place at Tralee on 17 June; this led to a crushing defeat for the IAAA, the rival athletics body
1886 His secretaryship of GAA, which began 1 November 1884 ends in controversy on 4 July
1887 First issue of his own newspaper The Celtic Times appeared
1890 He was closely involved with presentation made by the Dublin County Board to Parnell on 24 February
1896 Acted as referee at a game in Croke Park on 17 July
1901 Wrote a letter A plea for hurling on 14 November
1902 Became member of hurling league and his son John was also associated with it; wrote a letter on 1 July while holidaying in Lisdoonvarna; on 20 June he left Dublin for a visit to Clare
1903 Attended the two meetings of the GAA convention
1906 Was present at GAA convention where he received £50 at the suggestion of Dublin County Board; died on 28 November and laid to rest in Glasnevin on 2 December

From The Man from Carron, by Br Seán McNamara, 2005