Kilkenny won the 1939 Senior All-Ireland Hurling Championship Final. The game which is also referred to as the Thunder and Lightning final was played in Croke Park, Dublin in September during a thunderstorm. Two days before the game Nazi Germany invaded Poland. On the day of the game Britain declared war on Germany signalling the start of World War II.
The first President of Ireland at the time of the final was Dr Douglas Hyde. He did not attend the game. He was for many years a patron of the GAA. He was removed as patron for attending an International soccer match between Ireland and Poland in 1938.
What became known as the Thunder and Lightning All Ireland Hurling Final was played at Croke Park in Dublin between Cork and Kilkenny in the year 1939 On This Day.
Croke park #1 ts by Paolo Trabattoni on 2011-08-07 17:20:00
First President by National Library of Ireland on The Commons on 1938-06-25 09:53:33