SOMEBODY once said that nostalgia wasn't what it used to be. Well, they were wrong. Those of us who were at the presentation of the Silver Jubilee awards for the All Ireland club championships, in the AIB premises in Ballsbridge on Tuesday night, were more than delighted to renew acquaintance the memories of the many players who had given us so much pleasure down the years.

A visit to Paddy Cullen's pub on my way to the ceremony brought me face to face, after many years, with Denis Cough Ian, one of the many gentlemen of hurling. Later, it was a pleasure to meet the evergreen Joe Hennessy and the extraordinarily youthful looking Tony Doran, not an ounce above the weight he carried when he last pulled on the Wexford jersey and pulled overhead on a dropping ball.

Needless to say, the name of Ollie Walsh was mentioned by many, and as Paddy Buggy pointed out, Kilkenny has gone through a very bleak time in recent months with the deaths of "Link" Walsh, Ted Carroll and Ollie Walsh.

Meeting Joe Hennessy reminded me of a Railway Cup match some years ago in Ballinasloe when Joe and Sylvie Linnane tried to sort out a minor problem with each other by indulging in a fencing match with their hurleys. Not a mean blow was struck, although Sylvie's hurley splintered, if memory serves me right.

In any event, the referee sent the pair of them off and, as they walked to the line, Joe put his arm around Sylvie's shoulder and the pair walked off laughing and sat beside each other on the grass for the rest of the match.

As one expects at this kind of function, Jack Boothman was in his element, sparing nobody his caustic comments. He was matched, as on other occasions, by Micheiil O Muircheartaigh, who was master of ceremonies.

One couldn't help feeling that this was an All Star of All Stars event. There was, needless and useless, speculation as to what either the football or the hurling teams selected would have done to any opposition. This is what nostalgia is about one can only sympathise with those who are not old enough to indulge.

Needless to say, the occasion also gave Boothman, and Hugh Cawley of AIB, the opportunity to stress the importance of the club to the life of the GAA. It was for club achievements and club performances that the players were being honoured and both speakers reminded us that without the club and the parish the GAA would stand for nought.

With this in mind, the sponsors decided to make two special awards to a hurler and a footballer for their contribution to the coaching and promotion of the game at club level. Nobody was surprised when Len Gaynor was honoured for his services to hurling and his input to Clare hurling, in particular, was mentioned.

Many might have been surprised to find the name of Tommy Murphy from Baltinglass on the football trophy, but he, more than any other, epitomises the true meaning of devotion to club. A Leinster minor medal in 1974, three Sigerson Cup medals, an O'Byrne Cup medal, 13 Wicklow senior championship medals, one Leinster club medal and an All Ireland club medal, as well as an eight year stint as player coach with Baltinglass, illustrates that an All Ireland medal isn't the be all and end all of achievement.

Afterwards sentences beginning "D'ye remember the day that ..." were being flung around as players who had clashed bodily and verbally on the pitch sought to heal the wounds of combat with the salve of comradeship. Truly, this was a nostalgic occasion, but also one which cemented friendships.

On this occasion, 33 clubs from 11 counties were honoured and even if sonic of us are unlikely to be around when the Golden Jubilee awards are presented, the teams which were honoured on this occasion will be honoured then. Their names have been engraved on a brass scroll, which AIB presented to the GAA, which will have a place in the new museum which is part of the plan for the new Croke Park.

Events like these provide the GAA with a social dimension which it might not otherwise have, but the enthusiasm with which players who are no longer active in the game greet these schemes shows clearly how important they are. The introduction of Silver Jubilee All Ireland teams at Croke Park on All Ireland day is another example of how men like to reflect on the glories of their youth. In an increasingly depressing world, few can blame them or refuse to join in.