<span class="postTitle">Jim Devitt, Cashel</span> West Tipperary G.A.A. by J.J. Kennedy. Pub. by the West Tipp G.A.A. Board, 2001, pp 400-401

Jim Devitt, Cashel

West Tipperary G.A.A. by J.J. Kennedy. Pub. by the West Tipp G.A.A. Board, 2001, pp 400-401

For one fan Jim Devitt's anticipation on the field of play was one of the most striking aspects of his remarkable hurling ability. He illustrated this aspect from an incident in the Tippperary-Cork Munster championship clash at Thurles in 1945. A low ball came down the wing and Jim was behind his man. At exactly the right moment he stepped around him, caught the ball about two inches off the ground and cleared it up the field. It was a daring and successful move born out of brilliant anticipation. 

Another quality many people admired was his fluent stickmanship. He could pull on a ball on either side and never miss. This ability he perfected in a ball alley and he achieved such a level of skill that he was always sure of connecting. Seamus Leahy ruefully remembers a match he played against Devitt in the mid-fifties. It was Boherlahan versus Nenagh and a Nenagh mentor said to Seamus, who was playing on Jim Devitt that day: 'Stand behind him. He's sure to miss a couple in the hour and you can stick them in the net.' Jim Devitt didn't miss that day and there was no glory for Leahy. 

Some admirers remember that he used a light-looking hurley. Jim admits it was on the light side, especially in the handle, but it always had a good pull. Old Nicholas Gleeson of Shanballa, the father of Jack who played centrefield on the All Ireland team of 1937, used to make the hurleys for him. He recalls Nicholas coming to him a couple of weeks before the 1945 All Ireland with a new hurley. 'He wanted me to have time to get used to it'. He asked to have it back after the match so that he could have two All Ireland hurleys in his possession. His son's, Jack's, was the second one. However, the hurley was stolen on the train coming homw from the match. Jim knows who took it also but could never get it back. 

At the height of his hurling career Jim Devitt scaled at 9-8 to 9-10, not that terribly much above Barry McGuigan! But his size never worried him because his speed, anticipation and hurling skills proved adequate compensations. He tells a story of how people viewed his size. One day he was on his way to a match in Galway. The car stopped to pick up John Maher, Killinan. Mrs. Maher invited them all in for tea. Whe:she was introduced to Jim as one of the selection for the day, she exclaimed: 'Oh God! You're not going to pIay this child'. 

Jim's inter-county career began in 1944 when he played in the four-county league against Waterford. (The national league had been suspended for the duration of the war). Prior to this he had made a name for h.i.m- self in the army, which he joined in 1940. Based mostly in Limerick, Jimmy Cooney was his O.C. and the outstanding man in the ranks was Mick Mackey. He wanted Devitt to play with Ahane but he declined. He recalls that Paddy Shea of Kilfeacle accepted a similar invitation at the time and won five county medals with the Limerick club between 1941 and 1945. The high point of Jim's army career was the winning of the All-army final in 1943 with the 7th. Brigade of the Southern Command. The final was played in the Phoenix Pank and the medals presented by General M.J. Costello. 

Born in 1921 Jim recalls his first game with Cashel in 1938. The minor team cycled to Annacarty to play Eire Og. During the the game the hurleys ran out and one of the team had to leave the field for a time until Denis Tuohy came to the rescue. In the same year he was called to a county minor trial but didn't attend. Dan Cantwell did and was selected. In the following year he went with Jackie Corcoran for trial. Jackie was picked but Jim wasn't taken off the benches. At thisstage Batt Hickey was his God among hurlers and he sought to model his game on him. 

Hurling in Tipperary at this time was dominated by the Mid and it was difficult for anyone outside the division to get on the senior team. It was even more difficult if you came from the West .. Bill O'Donnell made the grade and Tony Brennan but they were the exceptions. Jim admits he had a bit of luck. At the 'there was only one player, Michael Murphy, a Clare man going for the position of wing back. As well Jim himself had an important 'friend', Joby Callanan, in the Thurles 'camp'. Joby had spotted Jim as early as 1943 when Cashel held Eire Og, the eventual county champions, to two points in the West championship and hada high opinion of his ability. 

Jim's rise to county senior status was meteoric. Having played in the Millar Shield competition in 1944 he came on for the four-county league. He was picked for the championship the following May and, within months he had won All Ireland and Railway Cup medals. He was to win two more Railway Cup medals in 1948 and 1949 and a second All Ireland medal in the latter year. His selection on three Railway Cup teams is an indication of his outstanding ability. 1949 was also the end of his inter-county career, even though he was only twenty seven years of age. Ill health was the reason. 

Jim's club days continued for another thirteen years until he called it a day in 1962 when he finished playing junior hurling at full forward for Boherlahan. He also played in goal. While he played corner and wing for the county, his usual position for the club was centreback or centre field. From 1953 onwards when he bought a house in Boherlahan, Jim played with the club. While he was with Cashel he won two : West medals in 1945 and 1948. He believes that the club should have won more at that time and reckons that the half back line of Mickey Murphy, Donal Ryan and himself was one of the best in the county. The split with the Abbey Rangers divided the hurling in the parish at the time. When one realises that four of the Abbey Ranges players, Mick Cody, Rodney Parsons, Paddy O'Brien and Billy Hickey, played county junior, one realises how great their loss was to Cashe1. 

One of the greatest games ever played by Devitt was in the Munster championship clash with Limerick in 1948. The wind played havoc with the game and Limerick, with its help, were well ahead at half time. Tipperary were unable to make up the leeway in the second-half. This wasn't because of want of trying on the part of one man. According to the 'TIpperary Star' reporter "Jim Devitt played the game of his life - he was the outstanding player on the field. Right from the throw-in he hurled magnificently and tirelessly. Threeof Tipperary's goals were direct results of his accuracy from seventies. Attacking and defending Devitt was superb and Tipperary supporters were sighing for half a dozen n of his calibre." 

The final word on Jim's ability rests with Raymond Smith. Writing about the 1945 All Ireland in the 1972 edition of 'The Clash of the Ash', Smith had this to say: 'I have always thought that if Devitt had come in a later era he would have been more widely acclaimed for his defensive qualities. But he was a delight to watch and if you looked for class in the corner or at wingback he had it certainly".

<span class="postTitle">Conal Bonnar, Cashel</span> West Tipperary G.A.A. by J.J. Kennedy. Pub. by West Tipp G.A.A. Board, 2001, pp 396-397

Conal Bonnar, Cashel

West Tipperary G.A.A. by J.J. Kennedy. Pub. by West Tipp G.A.A. Board, 2001, pp 396-397

One might be inclined to regard Conal as the Benjamin of the Bonnar boys but that would suggest someone :in need of care and protection. Such would, indeed, be furthest from the truth because Conal is very much his own man and has an impressive record of achievement. He was drafted into the Tipperary senior panel for the 1988 All-Ireland. He was then eighteen years age and his call-up at that stage was an indication of the potential of the player. 

That potential had been revealed at underage. He first hit the county headlines in 1986 when he was pick wing-back on the minors. With five of the previous year's panel Tipperary were expected to do well and fulfilled that expectation in defeating Clare. The Munster final was in Killarney and ended in a draw. Conal had to experience the pangs of defeat to Cork in the replay at Kilmallock eleven days later. Playing at centreback in 1987, Conal experienced similar agony at the ultimate stage. The Munster championship was won with victories over Limerick and Cork, the AI.Ireland semi-final impressively against Galway and hopes were high against Offaly in the All-Ireland. However, defeat was their lot by two points. 

Born in Cashel in 1969 Conal went to the National School on the Green and later to the C.B.S. He was introduced to competitive hurling in the school leagues. An under-12 west title came in 1981 but defeat by Holycross-Ballycahill in the county semi-final. Real success came in 1983 with the under-14 urban-rural county final, beating Toomevara in the final. Conal was one of four from Cashel, with Joe McGrath, Arthur Fitzell and Michael Perdue, to make the Tony Forrestal team, which beat Kilkenny in the final. There was less success at under-16 in 1985. Cashel got to the county final to be beaten by Toomevara. There was consolation in the interdivisional under-16 competition for the Garda Cup when Conal captained the west to their first success. 

Parallel with this club success came substantial school success with Cashel CBS. There was an impressive crop of young players there during these years. The Rice Cup final was lost to Mitchelstown in 1983 but the under-I5 Corn na Phadraig was won. Two Croke Cups followed and two Fitzgerald Cups as well as one McGabhann and Conal captained the Kinane Cup team to victory in 1986. 

He made his debut with the Cashel senior team in 1986 and won his first of four Crosco Cup medals, the others were in 1990, 1994 and 1996. The following year he captained Cashel to a minor hurling title but lost the county semi-final. In 1988 there was a west senior medal but defeat at the hands of Borrisoleigh in the county semi-final 

In the meantime Conal had gone to UCD. in 1987 to study for his B.Comm. Later he was to get an MBS in Organisational Behaviour. During his time there he played Fitzgibbon Cup for four years, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, without success. Finals were lost in 1989 and 1991, the most disappointing being the former of the two. Having beaten UCC, who had dominated the competition for years in the semi-final, UCD. expected to win the final but were surprisingly beaten by NIHE, Limerick. 

Conal played at under-21 level for three years. In 1988 he played at centreback when the county were defeated by Cork. Success came in 1989 with a glorious victory over Offaly at Portlaoise but disappointment was their lot when, in the 1990 final at the same venue, they were beaten by Kilkenny. 

Conal had been drafted into the panel for the All-Ireland senior final in 1988. He eventually made his debut on the team at comerback against Waterford in the league at Dungarvan in October. He dropped out of the league in the Spring in order to concentrate on the Fitzgibbon but was recalled for the semi-final. The final was lost against Galway. By this stage Conal had shown he was capable of holding down a position on the team and he made his championship debut against Limerick in the summer of 1989, as a replacement for the injured John Kennedy. By the time of the All-Ireland he had established himself as a fixture on the team. The winning of the All-Ireland medal was a high point and it was to be capped by an All-Star Award at the end of the year. It was to be the first of two, the second two years later. 

The year 1990 was in many ways forgettable for Conal. Tipperary were beaten by Cork in the championship. Conal lost the All-Ireland under-21 final. Cashel seniors were beaten by Holycross-Ballycahill in the county final. The under-21 team were beaten by Toomevara in the county semi-final. There was some consolation, mostly in football. Conal won an under-21 football medal when Cashel surprised Clonmel Commercials in the final at Kilsheelan. Also, in that year, as well as winning the west senior hurling championship, Cashel won their one and only west senior football championship. There was also an Oireachtas medal. 

In contrast 1991 was a wonderful year. Conal won his second All-Ireland, beating Kilkenny in the final. The second All-Star followed. Cashel senior hurlers won their first ever county senior championship and went on to claim the Munster club championship. It was a year to be savoured. 

At this stage of his career Conal was only twenty-one years of age and his achievements were impressive by any standard. Unfortunately, the graph of success wasn't to continue rising. During the remainder of the nineties disappointment and frustration were to be his lot. Two National League medals were to be won in 1994 and 1999 but by that stage these medals had become a kind of debased coinage. A Munster senior medal was won in 1993. The most frustrating year was 1997 when both the Munster and All-Ireland finals were lost. A minor consolation was a Railway Cup medal in the same year. 

At club level there were also disappointments. Three senior divisional medals were won in 1993, 1994 and 1995 but there was no further advancement. The most galling of these defeats was in the county semi-final of 1994 against Nenagh. As Conal looks back from the new Millennium his greatest regrets at club level were the loss to Kiltormer in March 1992 and the loss of the 1990 county final to Holycross-Ballycahill. His other major regrets were losing the 1989 Fitzgibbon final and the double defeat by Clare in 1997. 

Probably the most frustrating thing Conal had to contend with in the nineties was injury. From 1991 onwards injury was a constant factor in his sporting life. There wasn't a year in which he didn't miss a game through injury. He broke a bone in his back in a college game in 1991 and his back suffered after that. He had an operation in 1997. Before the operation he suffered from sciatica. Apart from this major injury there were many more. His nose was broken four times, his cheek bone twice, all the fingers on his left hand at least once and to these can be added hamstrings, groin strains, calf-muscles, thigh muscles and his Achilles tendon. 

On the question of his favourite position he believes it depended on his age. He started as a forward but up to 1989 he preferred the centreback position. After that he slotted into wingback. However, he has a hankering after the forward line but believes to play there needs a higher level of fitness than a back requires. 

Assessing Conal's ability as a hurler is less than easy. Many would say he was the most skilful hurler of all the Bonnars. His greatest strength on the field of play was his anticipation, his ability to be in the right place at the right time. He was also good at intercepting a ball and at picking up the breaking ball behind a line of play. Babs Keating remembers him for his athleticism and had him marked out for the Tipperary panel a year before he was selected. Anther quality remarked on is his leadership qualities. He was good at motivating people and through leading by example. Some of his former team mates recall that when the chips were down, when the challenge was greatest, Conal rose to the occasion. A fine example of such a display was against Clonoulty-Rossmore in the 1999 west championship. They particularly recall his display against Wexford and Clare in 1997. Much of his display against Jamesie O'Connor in the latter game was forgotten in the aftermath of defeat. It may come as a surprise to those who know Conal that he suffered from lack of confidence in his later years. This is the opinion of some of those who played with him and they attribute it to the difficulties he encountered with his back, which prevented him from giving the performance he would like to have given. Overall there is a high appreciation of his talent, skill and commitment among those who played with him and they have a high respect for his achievements.

<span class="postTitle">Jack Gleeson, Cashel</span> West Tipperary G.A.A. by J.J. Kennedy. Pub. by the West Tipp G.A.A. Board, 2001, pp 401-402

Jack Gleeson, Cashel

West Tipperary G.A.A. by J.J. Kennedy. Pub. by the West Tipp G.A.A. Board, 2001, pp 401-402

'He was a very strong hurler". "He had great courage was willing to face anything". "He never gave less than his best for the team". These are some of the statements that one hears of Jack Gleeson of Shanballa, the Cashel man who played for Rockwell Rovers. as well as his own parish, the hurler who left Cashel for Roscrea in his prime and won All Irelands with Tipperary and London Irish. 

Jack's father, Nicholas, played with the old Racecourse team and he was a fanatical follower of the game of hurling. Into the Second World War, Nicholas and his boon companion, John Mannion, used to cycle to matches in Thurles. Both were then into their seventies. As an acquaintance of theirs put it: "Everyone's character was safe in their company because they spoke of nothing but the hurley and the ball". Nicholas himself was a Drombane man, where his father, a school teacher lived. A brother of his, Timothy, who later taught in Cloneyharp N.S. hurled with the Thurles Blues and won two All Irelands. He also played at Fontenoy in 1910. 

In the same year Jack was born. His father, who worked at Rockwell College, married a girl from Carrick-on-Suir. As well as Jack they had two daughters, one of whom died in 1939. The second, Helena, still lives in the family home at Shanballa. 

Jack attended Templenoe N.5. and later Cashel C.B.S. He showed good hurling ability and was vice-captain of a very successful C.B.5. team in 1927 that won ten out of thirteen games. This success led them to enter the Harty Cup competition in 1928 but they were beaten by Carrick-on-Suir in the first round. 

When he finished school Jack went to Rockwell to work as a butcher. It seems that he began to play for Rockwell Rovers. at this stage of his career. He doen'st figure for Cashel until 1931 when the team was beaten by Knockavilla-Donaskeigh in the West final. In fact his name doesn't appear in the earlier games and he may have been drafted in for the final. This suggestion is borne out by the fact that he didn't play for Cashel in 1932 but, instead, turned out for Rockwell Rovers. He was definitely on the Cashel team that won a West final for the first time in 1933 in junior hurling. The team was beaten in the county semi-final by Bawnmore at Nenagh. 

In the following year Jack Gleeson played an important part in Cashel's first senior hurling victory. He played a dominant role in this victory at centre field over the Clonoulty Cusacks. He also played a major part in the county semi-final which Cashel lost to Moycarkey\Borris. According to one newspaper account: "Gleeson was the hero of the team and he certainly deserved all the praise he got. Jack also played on the county junior hurling team which was defeated in the Munster championship. 

His hurling career with Cashel came to an end the following year when the team was surprisingly beaten by Knockavilla-Donaskeigh. Either at the end of 1935 or the beginning of 1936 Jack moved,to Roscrea to take up employment with Roscrea Meat Products Ltd. He played with the local club that year and helped the team to win the North final of 1937. As luck would have it Cashel were West champions that year and the two sides played the county semi-final at Borrisoleigh. Cashel were behind by nine points at half time but came storming back to win by a goal. Gleeson got plenty of slagging from the Cashel supporters in Borrisoleigh that day. 

Jack Gleeson played in the county colours for one year and won a senior All Ireland medal. He had a short reign. He came on the team in 1937, played at centrefield with Jimmy Cooney, and was dropped after the All Ireland which was played at Killamey that year. 

Tipperary created a surprise in the Munster final when they defeated the famous Limerick team that was regarded as one of the greatest hurling combinations in the history of the G.A.A. The star of the victorious team was Tommy Doyle but, according to one newspaper report, Jack Gleeson vindicated his selection at centrefield: "Perhaps too much was expected of Cooney, but whatever it was, Gleeson stole most of his thunder and justified the confidence of the selectors. A rugged, rather than a spectacular worker, he revelled in the hard exchanges and staked a very strong claim to a permanent berth on the team". 

Tipperary had a rather facile win in the All Ireland final at Killamey over Kilkenny. The match was played outside Croke Park because of the construction of the Cusack Stand and the final score was 3-11 to 0-3 in Tipperary's favour. Jack Gleeson was again at midfield and forty two years later a fellow player on that day, Bill O'Donnell, in a get-together of some of the team reminisced thus: "We missed most of all the pair who provided the link between defence and attack, a partnership that seldom gave best to any two, the hardworking, never-give-up, Jack Gleeson, and one of Ireland's greatest midfielders ever, Jimmy Cooney". 

Not many followers of Gaelic Games realise that Jack Gleeson has a distinction which is possibly unique: he won two All Irelands in successive years with different counties and in different countries! He left Roscrea soon after winning the All Ireland in September 1937 and went to work at Clover Meats at Waterford. While there he fell in love with a girl who emigrated to London. Jack followed in 1938 and started work in Walls meat factories. He joined London-Irish and won on their team in the All Ireland junior hurling championship. They defeated Cork in the final, which was played in London that year and, thus, Jack won a second All Ireland medal. 

Jack Gleeson married and settled down in London. He had two sons. He did well at his job and when he died in 1970 he was a successful man. His remains were brought home for burial and he was interred in the family plot at Kilvalure, Drombane, in the company of his father and grandfather.

<span class="postTitle">Colm Bonnar, Cashel</span> West Tipperary G.A.A. by J.J. Kennedy. Pub. by West Tipp G.A.A. Board, 2001, pp 395-396

Colm Bonnar, Cashel

West Tipperary G.A.A. by J.J. Kennedy. Pub. by West Tipp G.A.A. Board, 2001, pp 395-396

Colm Bonnar's hurling record includes at least one rare distinction, that of having won All-Ireland honours in different grades, senior, intermediate, under-21 and minor. With a little luck this distinction might have been unique: in 1985 he played on the county junior team beaten in the All-Ireland by Wexford. When one one adds a Fitzgibbon Cup medal, a couple of All-Ireland colleges B medals the record becomes even more impressive. 

Born in Cashel in 1964 his first hurling was done in the Christian Brothers Primary School under the eye of Brother O'Grady. Also giving guidance at the time were Danny Morrissey and Roger Kennedy, the latter before he gave up teaching for the freedom of farming. Colm played in under-11 and under-13 competitions captained the county under-13 primary schools against Clare primary schools. 

Progressing to secondary school he was on the team in 1978 which was beaten in the Rice Cup final. He went on from there to win a Croke Cup, a Fitzgerald Cup, a MacGabhann Cup in football, and culminated a very successful period with All-Ireland colleges successes in 1980 and 1982, after victory in the Corn Phadraig in Munster. Playing at centreback in 1982 he captained the side. 

His successes at school level were paralleled at club level. In 1976 there was county success at under-12 in hurling but defeat in the football final. This was followed up by under-14 success in 1978, under-16 success in 1980 and county minor honours in 1980; In the same year there was victory in the west under-21 football championship. 

So much talent and ability spilled over into county recognition. In 1982 there was All-Ireland minor success at cornerback and this was followed by three years at under-21 level. The years brought him three Munster medals and one All-Ireland. In 1983 there was defeat by Galway at Tullamore and by Kilkenny the year after at Waterford. Victory finally came in 1985 against Kilkenny at Waterford. The winning margin was narrow, 1-10 to 2-6, but it was very sweet after defeat in the two previous years. Colm was again at cornerback and, according to one match report, 'maintained his consistently sound performances over the season: 

Colm almost won a second All-Ireland in 1985. He played on the junior side which qualified for the AllIreland but lost by a point to Wexford at Kilkenny. Colm qualified to play in this grade by virtue of being unavailable to play senior with Cashel the previous year. He impressed the county senior selectors sufficiently, with his performances at under-21 and junior levels, to be drafted into the senior panel for the league at the end of 1985. From then until 1998, fourteen years inclusive, he was to be a member of that panel. 

His first championship outing was against Clare at Ennis in the 1986 championship. Not a very auspicious opening. Nine points up early in the second half, Tipperary eventuaJly slumped to a 2-10 to 1-11 defeat. Many would regard this defeat as the nadir in the county's fortunes, which had given us little to shout about since 1971. It led to a think-in about where we were going, the appointment of Babs Keating as manager and the lowest point became the darkest hour before the dawn of a new era. 

The new management took over in September and started out on a campaign to end the famine in Tipperary senior hurling. Colm Bonnar was very much part of that campaign. Between then and September 1989, when All-Ireland success came, Tipperary played forty-two competitive games in league and championship. The extent of Colm's contribution can be measured by the number of these games he played. The player who played the most was Conor O'Donovan with thirty-eight but Colm was a clear second with thirty-six. Also, he had a record, uninterrupted sequence of thirty-one games until he was dropped, in favour of Declan Carr, for the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway. He returned for the All-Ireland. 

During this period he won three Munster finals, in 1987,1988 and 1999, and the first of his two All-Ireland senior medals in 1989. The previous year he was honoured with an All-Star, partnering George O'Connor at centrefield. Bobby Ryan, Declan Ryan and Nicky English were also in the side. He captained the side on the tour to the U.S., visiting New York and Florida. A National League title was won in 1988 against Offaly and one lost the following year against Galway. Prospects looked bright for Colm at this stage of his career and he was to continue playing for a further nine years but success was to be sparse. His second All-Ireland came in 1991 with victory over Kilkenny. There was an Oireachtas medal the previous year. Two Railway Cup medals were won in 1995 and 1996. There was a second National League medal in 1994. The third senior All-Ireland medal remained elusive and he had to make do with a fifth Munster medal in 1993. Everything might have come right in 1997 but instead there was defeat by Clare at both Munster and All-Ireland levels. 

Nevertheless there were consolations. There was some fine success at college level with the Waterford Institute of Technology. He captained the freshers footballers to a B All-Ireland. He won the division 1 hurling league in 1986 and 1987. WIT was the only IT in the competition. Institutes of Technology and such Third Level places were excluded from the Fitzgibbon Cup until 1987-88. When Colm went back to WIT for further study in the mid-nineties he helped it to its second Fitzgibbon victory in 1995. (They beat U.C.D., managed by brother, Conal, in the final.) He had trained the school to its first in 1992. 

As well as giving dedicated service to the county Colm has for years been the backbone of the Cashel King Cormac's team. He made his debut with the senior team in 1981 and helped the club to a Crosco Cup victory. Further Crosco Cup medals were won in 1983, 1986,1990,1994 and 1996. The eighties were not a very fruitful time for the club and he had to wait until 1988 for his first west senior hurling medal. Cashel were defeated by Borrisoleigh in the county semi-final. There were further divisional titles won in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994. The highlight of club achievement was the winning of the county final for the first time in 1991, after losing to Holycross-Ballycahill the previous year. Colm was captain of that victorious side which went on to take Munster club honours before going down to Kiltormer after a three-game classic in the All-Ireland semi-final. On a lesser note he helped the club to their first ever west senior football title in 1990, making it a senior double. He is also the proud possessor of a county junior football medal from 1984. 

Because of his domestic and work commitments Colm transferred to Dunhill, Co. Waterford in 1997 and played with the club for a number of years. He won two divisional intermediate championships with the club, football in 1997 and hurling in 1999. Unfortunately they were beaten in both county finals. 

Colm has an impressive list of honours to his credit but even more impressive is the complete commitment he has given to club and county over a quarter of a century. This made him the most valuable member of any. team. He never gave less than his all and his superior physical fitness ensured that most always he gave more than most. His solo runs and tackling were phenomenal. He was a player so full of courage that he never stood back from anything. On the other hand he was always the fairest of players who never had his name taken by a referee. He played centrefield quite a bit but was probably most at home in the centreback position. He liked nothing better than meeting the ball and taking it out of the air amid a flash of hurleys. His sense of position on the field of play was superb af:his anticipation was uncanny. His contribution Cashel and Tipperary can never be forgotten.

<span class="postTitle">Goalkeepers Galore</span> County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, March 20, 2001

Goalkeepers Galore

County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, March 20, 2001

One of the many fascinating topics dealt with by J.J. Kennedy in his forthcoming history of the West G.A.A. Board, is the succession of goalkeepers from the division who gave sterling service to Tipperary from the late fifties onwards. They included Terry Moloney from Solohead and Arravale Rovers, Donal O'Brien from Kickhams, John O'Donoghue from Arravale Rovers, Peter O'Sullivan from Cashel King Cormac's, John Farrell from Kickhams and John Leamy from Golden-Kilfeacle.

Terry Moloney made his debut in 1959 at the tender age of nineteen. He graduated from minor ranks, having played in goals for the county in 1957 and 1958, winning an All-Ireland in the former year. He was also sub-goalie to John O'Grady on the senior team in 1958. His first senior championship outing wasn't an auspicious one as Tipperary went down to Waterford in the Munster semi-final at the old Athletic Grounds in Cork. It wasn't so much the defeat as the size of it, 9-3 to 3-4! One of the newspaper reports of the game said that 'Poor goalkeeping, allied to weak covering by the fullback line, contributed greatly to the concession of so many goals.'
Moloney, however, retained his position and made amends in the 1960 championship. In the first round against Limerick he was reported as fit, eager and able. For the semi-final against Waterford he conceded two goals but brought off some fine saves. In the famous Munster final against Cork at Limerick, before a record crowd, he gave a sound, at times brilliant display in goal. In the All-Ireland defeat by Wexford he had a capital hour with several spectacular saves to his credit. He continued to play in the Oireachtas and league but he was dropped for the 1961 championship.

His successor, Donal O'Brien, got his chance in the league final against Waterford in May 1961. The reason for the replacement was that Moloney had suffered a knee injury. O'Brien, who was twenty-two years old, had been showing his prowess as a goalkeeper during 1960 with some fine displays for Kickhams. He had been understudy to Moloney all through the 1960 championship and he was now to relegate Moloney to the substitute's bench. O'Brien holds the perfect record of never losing an intercounty championship match. In 1961 he played against Galway in the Munster semi-final, (Galway having won their one and only senior championship game in Munster that year by beating Clare). This was probably the worse game O'Brien played for Tipperary, conceding five goals. According to one report he 'looked a bit leisurely1 on the day. It was a rare off-day for the player. He came back with a bang against Cork in the Munster final, erected a 'closed door' sign for the hour and made a few superb saves from Ring to keep a clean slate. He also played soundly in Tipperary's 'skin of their teeth' victory over Dublin in the All-Ireland.
At the end of the year the G.A.A. columnist, Culbaire, had this to say of his year: 'O'Brien's part in this title win has been no small one and he should fill his responsible berth for the foreseeable future.'

He had an equally successful year in 1962. He played three championship games, against Limerick, Waterford and Wexford. The first two were easy victories. The All-Ireland final was a difficult one and Tipperary eventually won by two points. After one error from a long-distance shot by his Wexford namesake, Jimmy, O'Brien gave a very sound performance, saving raspers and so, after six championship games, O'Brien had two All-Ireland medals. Soon after his second All-Ireland he emigrated to England and later to the U.S. His place was taken for one year by Roger Mounsey of Toomevara.

This year was but a short break before another West goalkeeper came on the scene, John O'Donoghue. He had succeeded Terry Moloney as county minor goalkeeper and had guarded the posts in 1959 and 1960, having the bad luck of losing two All-lrelands. He won a Harty Cup medal with the Abbey School in 1959 and played with U.C.C. By the time he came on the senior team in 1964 he was an experienced player and he was to remain there for seven seasons, 1964-1970. (Interestingly, as he finished with the small ball he started a new career with the big ball and kept goal for the county footballers for six seasons, 1970-75.) He was part of what is regarded as the greatest team ever put out by Tipperary, the 1964-65 All-Ireland side, O'Donoghue was to win two All-Irelands, lose two in 1967 and 1968 and win a third as a sub in 1971.

He was eventually replaced by fellow-West man, Peter O'Sullivan, his understudy for a couple of years, in the second half of the Munster final against Cork at Limerick in 1970. Peter made some spectacular saves that day and established himself in the position. O'Sullivan had come through the minor ranks, playing on goals for the team that lost the 1961 All-Ireland. The following year he was on goal for the county intermediate side beaten by Cork in the championship. He won the All-Ireland in the grade the following year and won the first under-21 All-Ireland in 1964. So, he had plenty of experience when he took over as senior goalkeeper. After winning the All-Ireland in 1971 it seemed as if a long innings stretched into the future for him. However, an unfortunate work accident, in which he was engulfed in flamable, line painting fluid, in 1972 brought his county goal-keeping career to an untimely end.

He wasn't the last of the goalkeepers from the west. There were a number from the north division, Tadgh Murphy, Seamus Shinnors and Pat McLoughney, before the western interest came to the fore again in the person of Kickhams, John Farrell. He had a brief innings, playing on the side defeated by Cork in the first round of the 1982 senior championship at Cork. Earlier he had played on goals for the minors in 1979 and the under-21 side in 1981 and 1982. He had also a U.C.C. dimension winning a couple of Fitzgibbon medals under Fr. O'Brien. After the 1982 championship he continued to play during the league but constantly changing fullback lines during the period undermined his confidence and John Sheedy was the selectors' choice when the 1983 championship came around. Farrell ended up in England, whereto his work with Larry Goodman took him, and he later played with London.

John Leamy was the last goalkeeper from the west to feature in despatches. He was the substitute keeper on the successful 1989 and 1991 teams, serving as understudy to Ken Hogan. Earlier, he won a minor All-Ireland as keeper on the successful 1982 team, and also on the successful under-21 team three years later. He completed the 'grand slam' when he won a junior All-Ireland in 1991, an achievement not many more in the county can claim.

Any treatment of goalkeepers from the West division, who gave service to the county, has to include Cappawhite player, Willie Barry, who was sub to Tony Reddin on the victorious 1949 team. The tradition of goalkeeping in the family lived on in Willie's son, Mike, who played on goals on the Cappawhite minor and under-21 teams, which won county finals in 1965, and in Willie's grandson, Richie, who guarded the net on the Cappawhite under-21 team, which won the county title in 2000.

<span class="postTitle">The Foot and Mouth Outbreak in Tipperary in 1941</span> County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, March 13, 2001

The Foot and Mouth Outbreak in Tipperary in 1941

County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, March 13, 2001

The following letter, which appeared in The Tipperary Star' on May 31, 1941 gives some insight into the deeply distressing experience the outbreak of Foot and Mouth had on the people of Ballingarry in that year. 'If I live to be very old it will never leave my mind, the horror of this infection in our parish, to see beautiful cows going out in all their health, giving us bucketfuls of milk and then - I used to cry morning and evening the week they were shot. You have no idea how attached people are to cows and little calves. Dry stock and pigs do not appeal so much to our feelings. To make it harder for us we never had better yearlings. There are people worse off than us, poor farmers starting the world with young families.' There was more in that vein.
The outbreak reached its peak in South Tipperary in May. On the 24th of the month it was reported that there were forty-one cases in the seven-day period. John Vaughan of Mullinahone remembers how they were wiped out. All their thirty-six stock, plus some pigs and four sheep were put down. The army came in with picks and shovels and dug a trench at the side of a field. They made a ramp down into it and the larger cattle were driven down, where they were shot. The smaller animals were shot beside the trench and thrown in. All were covered with lime and the trench filled in.

In the letter mentioned above the writer continues: The soldiers are very considerate. They hate the job but know that it is for the country's good, and they have got to do it. Some of them are very affected when they are shooting the cattle.'

The first outbreak was reported in Derry in January and the disease quickly spread across the border into Donegal. The next report was Abbeyleix and then Dublin was hit. In early February two cattle delivered to the fair in Birkenhead were found to have it and, when traced, were found to have been purchased in the fair at Birr. In the middle of February the Government issued an order forbidding fairs and markets in ten counties, including North and South Tipperary because of their proximity to Birr.

Although no outbreaks were confirmed in the county, the Government issued a standstill order in North Tipperary towards the end of the month. It prohibited the movement of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and forbade the movement along the public highways of milch cows even for the purpose of milking. This was to create great difficulties and much non-compliance.

The first outbreak in Tipperary was announced about the middle of March and a second, on the farm of Thomas L. Vincent, Riverstown, was reported a week later. No more outbreaks were reported and there was a rumour of the easing of restrictions early in April. In fact it was reported on April 12 that the North Tipperary Agriculture Committee complained they were not getting a fair crack of the whip in the movement of cattle. A licence scheme had been introduced but it forbade the sending of cattle to Limerick, Cork and Kerry, which were the regular outlets for stock from Tipperary.

The main news during April was the issuing of summonses for breaches of the regulations. A number of cases were heard at Templemore, Urlingford and Borrisileigh. Most of then concerned people driving their cows home to be milked. More were summoned for allowing their cattle to wander. On April 26 it was reported there were many cases up for consideration in Roscrea and as many as eighty-five in Nenagh court.

Racing and the public sale of horses had been banned as early as March. The North Tipperary County Council wrote a letter to the Minister for Agriculture in April calling for greater restrictions on many sporting events which hadn't been cancelled. The Minister replied that he didn't want to interfere with people's enjoyment but it was up to the council to make representations to the promoters of events.

After the lull came the storm. The arrival of May brought disaster to the county. In the second week there were eleven outbreaks, ten in Ballingarry and one in Mullinahone. Creameries and schools were closed. We get the first mention of the cancellation of G.A.A. matches. All games schedules for Littleton, Moyne and Carrick-on-Suir for May 18 were called off. Interestingly, the first editorial on the disease in the Tipperary Star appeared the same week. Between May 17 and 24 Ballingarry was stricken with forty-one outbreaks. Many of the animals had been fed infected milk. There was a possibility that one hundred and seventy-four farms would be infected and over two thousand cattle destroyed.

There was a meeting of the county board of the G.A.A. on May 20 and it was decided to stop all county matches. No teams were to leave the county. There was a request to the Munster Council to postpone the Waterford-Tipperary senior hurling championship game. On May 31 fourteen more cases were reported.

The game, a first round tie, scheduled for Thurles on June 1, was postponed and eventually played on the last Sunday in July. Tipperary won by 4-7 to 3-4. They were to play Cork in the Munster semi-final at Limerick on August 17 but the match was called off the previous Monday by order of the Department of Agriculture. Tipperary, and other counties affected by the disease, wanted the G.A.A. to put back the All-Ireland hurling final, but Central Council would not agree. The council ruled that teams be nominated and if a nominated team won the All-Ireland that team would be awarded the 1941 championship.

The Munster Council decided that Cork and Limerick should play off for the right to represent the province in the All-Ireland. It was also agreed that the winners would play Tipperary later in the Munster final. Limerick had already qualified for the final as a result of victory over Clare. Cork easily won and qualified for the All-Ireland final. In Leinster Dublin were nominated because Kilkenny, their opponents in the Leinster final, were also barred because of the extent of the disease in the county. Dublin defeated Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final at Roscrea on September 14 by two points.

The All-Ireland was played at Croke Park on September 28, As the date suggests the final was already four weeks late. Cork had an easy victory, winning by 5-11 to 0-6. The delayed Munster final was eventually played at Limerick on October 26 and Tipperary had a convincing victory over the All-Ireland champions by 5-4 to 2-5. Dublin won the delayed Leinster final against Kilkenny by 2-8 to 1-8 on the first Sunday of October.

In minor hurling Cork and Tipperary qualified for the Munster final but Cork were nominated for the All-Ireland semi­final because Tipperary couldn't travel because of the travel ban. Cork went on to win the All-Ireland and they won the delayed Munster final when they defeated Tipperary by 4-6 to 3-3 on the same day as the delayed senior final. In senior football Tipperary were forced to withdraw after defeating Waterford in the first round.

The county championships were also delayed by the outbreak of the disease. Castleiney-Loughmore won the mid football final on November 23 and Arravale Rovers won the south on December 7. In the county semi-final on March 29, 1942 Arravale Rovers defeated a West Selection by 5-5 to 0-4. The final was played on April 12, 1942 and Arravale Rovers beat Castleiney-Loughmore by 3-4 to 1-0 at Golden.

The senior hurling championship wasn't as badly delayed. In fact the north final was played at Borrisokane on August 24 with Roscrea victorious over Kilruane. Killenaule automatically became south champions because their opponents failed to field teams. Boherlahan won the mid on October 5 and Eire Og won the west two weeks later. Boherlahan defeated Roscrea in the county semi-final on October 19 and Eire Og defeated Killenaule on November 16. The final was played at Thurles on November 30 with victory going to Boherlahan by 2-2 to 0-6 for Eire Og. It was Boherlahan's last county senior hurling title until 1996.

In all there were an estimated five-hundred and sixty cases of the disease in ten counties over eight months. Foot and Mouth resulted in the enforced slaughter of over nineteen thousand cattle and five thousand sheep during the outbreak.

<span class="postTitle">Tomas O'Laoi (1905-2001) - A Major Figure</span> County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, March 6, 2001

Tomas O'Laoi (1905-2001) - A Major Figure

County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, March 6, 2001

There's a story told about Tom Lee from the sixties. It was the period of the NFA marches to Dublin, about the time that Charlie Haughey was Minister for Agriculture. A number of farmers were picketing in Kildare Street, Dublin when one of them noticed a man walking the footpath on the other side of the street. He shouted to the others: There's the man who beat us in 1928!'

The speaker was none other than John Joe Sheehy, the former Kerry footballer. The man he was pointing to was Tom Lee, then an inspector in the Department of Education. The match he was referring to was played in Tipperary Town on July 8, 1928, the last time a Tipperary senior football team defeated Kerry in a Munster championship game. Tom Lee, playing at centrefield, contributed significantly to Tipperary's victory on that day.

Born in Lisvernane in the Glen of Aherlow in 1905, Tom Lee was the second last of a family of nine. (The last, Monsignor Christopher Lee, Cashel is still alive and will be ninety years on March 26.) He went to Lisvernane National School, where his father, Chris Lee, was principal. Before him the grandfather, Tom Christ Lee, held the position and the young boy had taken his name from the grandfather.

After national school Tom spent five years as a boarder in Rockwell College, 1917-1922. His arrival there coincided with a dramatic change in the outlook of the college. Fr. Johnny Byrne became President of Rockwell in 1916. He was inbued with things Irish and under his guidance rugby and cricket gave way to football and hurling. No rugby was played between October 1917 and September 1925. Tom once related how an old rugby ball was placed on a tree stump with the inscription: 'We refuse to kick this.' The boys played gaelic football from September to Christmas and hurling from Christmas to summer. Rockwell won the Munster schools' senior football cup (Corn Ui Mhuiri) and the senior hurling cup (Harty Cup) in 1918.

Tom Lee, coming from the Glen of Aherlow, was firstly a footballer. But he showed his prowess in other areas as well. In his last year he captained the hurling and football teams but also the athletics team. The college didn't win in hurling or football but they sent a team of six athletes to Croke Park and brought back the College of Science trophy. This was the last year that athletics were organised by the G.A.A. and Tom's contribution to Rockwell's victory was a personal tally of four gold and two silver medals.

But if he excelled on the field of play, Tom Lee was also outstanding academically. After completing his secondary education he went on to U.C.C. on a scholarship, where he completed his B.A. and an M.A. in history. He was the first student to do his thesis through Irish. While in UCC he played football, winning Sigerson Cup medals in 1922, 1924 and 1925. He also played hurling, captaining the college team to victory in the Fitzgibbon Cup in 1925. In 1926 he played for St. Finbarr's and won a Cork senior hurling championship when the team sensationally defeated Blackrock in the final after scoring four goals in the last six minutes to turn a deficit of eleven points into a single point victory. He played with Cork also until he was persuaded by Johnny Leahy to declare for his native Tipperary.

Tipperary's victory over Kerry in the 1928 Munster semi-final was a bit of a sensation. Hopes weren't too bright beforehand. Tipperary football had been decimated by emigration for a number of years beforehand. In a preview of the game the Tipperary Star1 admitted that Kerry would be favourites but it detected a few hopeful signs in Tipp's chances. One was the addition of Tom McCarthy, a robust member of the Garda Siochana, who captained Dublin the previous year. Con Keane of Cashel, better know as a hurler, was also a good footballer. The preview continued: Further powerful aid to the Tipp side will be lent by the services of Tom Lee, that brilliant footballer from 'the Glen'. During his time in U.C.C. he played consistently good football and he has already done wonderful work in inter-county games for the old county. Tipperary can regard itself as being lucky to have him to-morrow.' Tipperary won by 1-7 to 2-3. A number of factors contributed to the victory. The selection committee had made a good choice. The team stuck to its task with determination for a gruelling sixty minutes. There was also the fact that Kerry had approached the game in a casual way and only woke up to the fact of having a fight on their hands in the second half. Finally there was the magnificent defence of the home backs who held out against desperate onslaughts from the visitors in the second half.

However, it was a kind of pyrrhic victory. Although the game could not be described as dirty, Tipperary had four injured players. Two of them, Jim Davey and Tom McCarthy, never played again. Tipperary went into the final against Cork at Dungarvan on August 5 a bit over-confident. But they didn't perform on the day, showed none of the fighting qualities they displayed against Kerry and were well-beaten by 4-3 to 0-2.

Tom Lee recalled the game in an interview some years ago: 'I have very unhappy memories of that match. I was very tired (having stayed in Ring on Saturday night and walked with Micheal O Cionnghaola across the Coinigear on Sunday morning.) Also, an unbelievable thing happened during the match, a few minutes before the end. I was about forty yards from our goal. The ball had been kicked in high from midfield and, as it passed over my head, I heard a whistling sound from it. Dick Heffernan, our full-back ran towards it, caught it, only to find it flatten in his hands, with the air still whistling out of it. It fell to the ground and did not hop. Dick picked it up again and held it up in one hand, shouting at the referee that the ball was punctured. He, of course didn't know what was going on and didn't blow his whistle. A Cork forward ran in and fisted the deflated ball to the net. We remonstrated but to no avail. The flag was put us and the goal stood. We lost the match.'

Lee's prowess as a footballer was recognised the following year when he was picked on the Munster Railway Cup team. He had to play in the half-forward line because Kerry wanted their own centrefield. He kept passing the ball but the Kerry forwards didn't make much use of it and Munster were beaten. He continued to play for Tipperary for a number of years.

Meanwhile, Tom Lee, having completed his studies in Cork decided to go to St. Patrick's Teacher Training College in Dublin to train as a primary teacher. His father was intending to retire in 1930 and desired Tom to take his place. Because of his degrees he had to spend only one year in St. Pat's. He returned in 1928 as assistant to his father in Lisvemane and, when the father retired in 1930, was appointed to succeed him by the Parish Priest. However, the Department of Education wouldn't sanction it because he hadn't the required five years experience for the job. But, the P.P. persisted and he eventually got departmental approval.

But, he didn't remain long in the position. In 1932 he was requested by St. Patrick's to take up the position of Professor of History and Geography in the college as the authorities were introducing the study of subjects through Irish and Tom was admirably qualified. He remained there for a number of years before he was appointed a departmental inspector, based in Cork, in which job he remained until he retired. And, even after that he took up another job in oral Irish in U.C.C.!

When he returned to St. Patrick's in 1932 he played football with the college team, Erin's Hope, and they won a Dublin county championship in that year. What is significant about this victory is that it was only the second time the team had won the championship. The first time was in 1887, the first year it was played. There was an interesting family connection with that team. Tom Lee's father, Chris, was a founder of that team, was responsible for its name and had played in the championship!

Tom Lee was a major figure. As well as a scholar and academic, he had a great love of the Irish language and an intense devotion to it. He was strongly devoted to the Catholic Church and emphasised that devotion in his life. He had a love of Gaelic culture and games and promoted them through his playing and support of them. He was quite a musician, an accomplished flute player and he moved easily from the traditional to the classical. He sang a song well and composed ballads and poems. He was also the outdoor type and enjoyed many an hour catching trout or shooting game. He was an all-round man in the mould of a Renaissance figure.

Tom Lee was laid to rest in St. Oliver's Cemetery, Model Farm Road, near Ballincollig on February 23, 2001. The Tipperary county board was represented by chairman, Con Hogan. His contribution to Tipperary football was recognised by the presence of Michael Frawley, chairman of the football board, Michael Power, treasurer, Hugh Kennedy, past chairman, Pat Moroney, county coaching officer, Tom and declan Ryan, Clonoulty, and Dick Cummins, Fethard. They came to say goodbye to a major figure and to the last surviving member of the team that conquered Kerry in the 1928 Munster senior football championship.

<span class="postTitle">Rockwell College 1919-1920</span> Rockwell College Annual 2001-2002, pp 153-157

Rockwell College 1919-1920

Rockwell College Annual 2001-2002, pp 153-157

When the boys returned on September 4th, they were greeted with major re-construction on the bathrooms. They had been "cleaned up, wainscotted and cemented." The old system of steam-heating had been replaced by a tap that supplied hot water direct to the baths. There were now only two bathrooms for the boys instead of three but the new hot water supply ensured that the two baths worked "more expeditiously than three did heretofore." Gas had been laid on in the bathrooms. The third bath was to be installed in one of the dormitories. Later, on November 28th, there is a related entry in the Journal: "Our plumbers were busy setting up a second hot water tank. This one is for the parlour bathrooms." 

The Superior of the Community and the President of the College was FatherJohn Byrne with Father John Kingston as Bursar. The Director of the Juniorate was Father P. Walsh, the Dean of Studies Father J. McGrath and his counterpart in Discipline, Father D. Leen. Fr. J. N. Muller was in charge of music and Father P. McAllister took charge of Liturgy or, to use the term in use at that time, was "Prefect of Worship." Father J. O'Neill looked after the Journal. The position of Librarian was vacant due to the departure of Father M. Meagher and the position was not filled until October 24th, 1920 by Fr. J. McCarthy. 

The other members of the Community were Fathers Cotter, Schmidt, Colgan, Peter Meagher, Egan and Meyer. Two other priests, Fathers Gogarty and Cleary, spent some time in the Community during the course of the year while they were home on vacation from overseas missions. The prefects were Messrs. Heelan, McCarthy, Egan, Finnegan, Mansfield, White, Liston, Neville, Maguire and Butler. It is interesting to note that the latter group numbered a future College President and two Bishops among their number - Father Andrew Egan, Bishop Daniel Liston (Mauritius) and Bishop Eugene Butler (Mombasa). 

There were changes among the lay teachers. Messrs. Curran and Friel "have had their services dispensed with. We are not given any reason." In contrast, Mr. O'Neill, who was suspended the previous year for republican activity had returned. The others were Messrs Ryan, Harte and Gallagher. Later a Mr. McGinnity came as a Science Professor. His predecessor in that post, Father John English, had gone to Trinidad where he spent the rest of his life, apart from a three-year period (1939-1942) as President of Blackrock College. He was from New Inn and died in 1959. 

According to the Journal, "the Brother are as last year, except that Brother Eusebius is with them and helps to clean the Chapel and Sacristy. For the moment, Brother Canice is acting as mason repairing some walls, his place in the Fathers' Refectory being taken by a servant." It is reported on October 4th that Brother Canice had finished the badly-needed repairs to the wall bounding the CashelCahir road. 

The boys returned in dribs and drabs. Initially, there were 140 boarders and 35 Scholastics but the number of boarders had climbed to 1902 by September 12th. They were gradually introduced to classes. On the first day back, there were six 10-minute classes and full class did not resume until Monday, September 8th. 

The Junior Grade Pass lists arrived on September 12th. "Very good. Rockwell's percentage is 80 as against all Ireland's 51." A week later, the Prize List arrived. Rockwell won 13 distinctions which included 3 exhibitions, 2 composition prizes and 8 book prizes, 'an advance on last year's", according to the writer of the Journal but not as good as they used to be and he refers back to 1911 when a total of 39 Distinctions was achieved. The boys' Retreat was given by Fr. Sylvester. It started on September 17th and continued to September 21st. When Fr. Sylvester departed on that day, the boys gave him a "parting cheer." 

After the rigours of the Retreat and the success in the exams, the boys were given a free day on September 22nd. It was rather cold and showery. "The boys after lunch went for a picnic to the Rock where they dined. They went to the cinema pictures 4 till 6 and came home for tea. There was a soiree later." 

A matter of concern at the end of September was the great Railway strike in England over the standardisation question. There was fear that it might extend to Ireland and with public transport so dependent on the railways this would have been disastrous. In fact, there a was a spin-off. We read on October 6th: "Mr. Heelan left to take up duty in Blackrock but missed his train at Goulds Cross. There was none in Cashel, as train service was curtailed owing to coal shortage resulting from strike." Fortunately, the strike came to an end the previous day. 

There was a death in the community towards the end of October. Brother Gontran Meehan, a Donegal man, was 70 years of age and had spent most of his life in the various communities of the Irish Province. He was declining for some time and eventually expired on October 24th. There was a Solemn Requiem Mass offered the following day for the repose of his soul and he was buried in the Community Cemetery a day later. 

October was a dry month. On October 21st, we read that the lake was almost dry. A week later, the entry reads: "Fr. Colgan has been taking advantage of the lake's being almost dry and has been busy scooping out the alluvial deposit of years." The job was left unfinished. An entry for March 2nd reads: "Piles of alluvium dug up from the lake bed during the drought have been lying on the bank ever since. They have begun carting it away now." 

There are not many references to the farm but on November 12th, the Journal records that "an Inspector from the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction came to watch the threshing of some of our grain which had been grovn in demonstration plots, ie., for which the Department had supplied seed." Towards the end of the year, we are informed tha Fr. Kingston, the Bursar, went to Cork to secure the services of a dairy-maid. She arrived on June 4th and "she is to be housed in Keogh's". The entry for May 11th tells us that a new fowl-house and hen-run were completed and good stock of white Leghorns "put in possession". 

The Christmas exams began on December 15th and finished at 11 a.m. on Wednesday but there was no rushing home. The boys packed their trunks that afternoon and had tea at 6 p.m. Then they assembled in the study for the results, which were read out at 7 p.m. A soiree in study followed until 8.30. Then bed." The following morning the boys left for the holidays. 

The Community prepared for Christmas. The crib was completed on December 22nd but did not please everyone. 'It is very artistic, except for the falling snow effect,  and "Fr. McAllister departed for the North, leaving word that the crib snow storm was be put an end to." There was High Mass at 9 a.m. on Christmas morning. Following dinner, there was Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 3 p.m. "The evening was spent in pleasant homely fashion around the parlour fire, with songs galore, an with de Valera's health to wind up the proceedings." 

The writer of the Journal changes to Irish from December 27th until January 11th. One the entries refers to a Church Door collection on January, 4th for the starving childern of Europe. It realised £7 2s 6d. 

There was news of a disaster on January 16th. Information came of the foundering of "L'Afrique" in the Bay of Biscay. The community's worst fears were confirmed a few days later with the news that seventeen members of the Congregation, a bishop (Msgr. Hyacinthe Jalabert, ten Fathers and six Brothers) as well as an agrege had perished in the tragedy. The Journal said that "it recalls the tragedy of  the eruption of Mount Pele, Martinique. R.I.P.' - a reference to the volcanic eruption on the Caribbean island in 1902 when many members of the Congregation lost their lives. 

On Father Libermann's Day, February 2nd, there was a conference of Fathers, Brothers, Prefects and Scholastics in the Billiard Room. The main speaker was Dr. Edward Leen (brother of Father Dan Leen, Dean of Discipline in Rockwell and Archbishop James Leen). In his paper, he drew a parallel between St. Paul and Fr. Libermann. "A fine conference, though perhaps in parts too much charged with metaphysics and ascetic theology to suit the grasp of all the audience." 

There was an unusual development in early February - a strike by the boys. The entry in the Journal for February 4th reads: 'The boys, in protest against the cutting down of their allowance of sauce ('jollybowl') at dinner, went on a hunger-strike at tea-time. There was no disorder, however, and study went on as usual 8-10." The boys' protest did not last long. The entry for the following day is curious: "The boys took breakfast as usual and after it stated they were content. One boy, W. Ryan, publicly announcing that he was discontented, was there and then expelled." However, the strike must have had an effect. The final entry reads: "The allowance of sauce was increased." 

On February 7th, Fr. Leen, the Dean of Discipline, went to Mallow, to arrange the Harty Cup hurling ties. Rockwell was drawn against Thurles. This game was played at Cashel on March 21st. Rockwell won a good match by 5-7 to 4-4. The semifinal, against Christians of Limerick, was played at Thurles on April 25th. "They had hard luck in being defeated by 4 goals 1 point to 2 goals 4 points. Seemingly quickness and intelligence in play stood to the victors." The entry for the following day is "The boys were rather depressed over yesterday's defeat." 

There was a lot of tree-felling in February. It began in the front of the kitchen and refectories. It continued for a couple of weeks and finished with a bang on March 4th. "The last of the trees to be felled in the front came down today, smashing the cross-cut and a fine ornamental shrub in its downfall." 

A new Education Bill, which did not find favour with the Church, was published in March. Cardinal Logue directed that a Novena be offered. The Novena began in Rockwell on March 8th with Rosary, Litany of the Saints and Benediction. The prayers continued with an hour's Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass on Passion Sunday, March 21st. After the Mass, the parents signed the following resolution: "We, the undersigned parents of the parish, emphatically deny the right of the British Government to foist upon an unwilling people an irreligious Education Act which is manifestly opposed to all Catholic Irish ideals." The prayers worked as an entry of March 28th testifies: 'News came that the Education Bill is dead. The Novena then was not in vain." 

This was the time of payment by results in Irish education. As a consequence of the Intermediate Certificate results, the Capitation Fees were paid out. The amount of £460 arrived on December 19th and was much less than would have been the case "in old times". According to the writer of the Journal, "The scale of Capitation Grant is being whittled down steadily year by year." Another entry on March 27th, gives us further information on contemporary grants to Irish education. "The Duke and Birrell Grant came and brings our total grant from Intermediate sources up to £1,500." 

The supply of sugar, was precarious. In the middle of March, the supply ran out for the first time since the war began "but only for a day and a half." Another entry for March 30th reads "Sugar supplies again ran out." 

In April the Transport Union declared a general strike in support of the Mounjoy prisoners. The latter, to the number of 104, went on hunger strike on April 8th to protest against their being imprisoned without trial and being treated, not as political prisoners, but as criminals. The Government declared they would not yield and that the strikers might kill themselves if they wished. The entry in the Journal for April 13th is as follows : "No second post nor papers. The Rockwell labourers did not go out." Matters had changed by the following day "No mails today. The Rockwell labourers had to join the strikers." 

The strike made an impact. The entry on April 15th is as follows: "The Government surrendered last evening, seemingly through dread of the strikes spreading to England. The prisoners were released unconditionally. Postal delivery resumed in the afternoon." 

One strike was no sooner ended when another commenced. The entry for April 19th is as follows: "Owing to a Creamery labourers' grievance our hands were called out on strike today. An arrangement was come to at midday on the basis of outdoor labourers getting 40 shillings a week an indoor 21 shillings. The men returned: work at 12. They had arranged to milk the cows and fodder the cattle in the mornings even if the strike continues.'

There was still another strike that had an impact on the College. Early in May notice was given of a general strike by lay Secondary teachers to enforce their demand of 140% advance on pre-war salaries. The entry for May 8th reads: "Our lay-professors are perfectly satisfied but they must act with their Union. Mr. McGinnity is the only non-Union lay-professor." 

The strike was averted by a compromise arrived at in Dublin between the Catholic Headmasters' Association an' the Assistant Lay Teachers' Association. "As regards our staff, it amounts to an increase of 340: viz. £75 of gross increase but keep is reckoned at £65 instead of £30 per annum. Christian Brothers did not consent so their lay-teachers went on strike." 

There were many entries relating to bad weather during the year but it eventually came good towards the end of May. The entry for May 25th is encouraging. "The weather was superb. The boys had their first swim yesterday. One of them, E. Delaney, got into difficulties and had to be fished out. The Galaxy of ten boys, with Dr. E. Leen and Fr. M. Meagher, went in two motors to Melleray." The Galaxy was to have gone a week before but the plans fell through owing to the motor cars' failing to turn up. 

The end of the year arrived. On June 14th, the non-Intermediate boys to the number of 115, of whom 15 were scholastics, departed leaving behind 86 boarders and 19 scholastics. One of the lay-professors, Mr. Ryan, left to take up superintending in Wesley College. There were two examination centres in the College, as against three the previous year. "We are not having a Matriculation Centre here this year. The boys will sit their Matric at Dublin, Cork, Limerick etc." The Matric. Scholastics went to Blackrock. 

A few other entries to round off the picture of the year:

September 13th: "Mr. Harte had a nasty haemorrhage from the lung. luckily it proved neither obdurate nor recurrent. September 14th: "Fr. Schmidt gets word that he is no longer an enemy alien, but simply an alien and is free to go where he likes for any period not exceeding 3 months. For some months back, Co. Tipp for a radius of 15 miles from Tipperary town has been a military area. The whole county is now under martial law and all fairs, markets and assemblies are prohibited." September 28th: "Summer time ends tonight. The whole country is now keeping standard Greenwich time." February 9th: We began to read in the Refectory : "Two Centuries of Irish History" by R. Barry O'Brien. May 23rd: "News came that a past student, John McCormick, was mortally wounded in a duel in the Argentine. He had been expelled in connection with the strike in 1911."

<span class="postTitle">Jim Stapleton, Solohead (1930-2001)</span> County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, June 27, 2001

Jim Stapleton, Solohead (1930-2001)

County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, June 27, 2001

The death took place recently of one of the major figures in the G.A.A. in Solohead, Jim Stapleton. he ws a father figure in the club, was well thought of and was a kind of ambassador to the West division and to the wider Assiciation in the county and beyond.

He came from a distinguished family. His father, Sean Stapleton, who hailed from Oola and inherited an uncle's farm in Solohead, was a founder member of the West Board in 1930. He was also a referee of note. Another claim to fame is that he turned his adopted club to hurling. Taditionally a football stronghold Solohead adapted to hurling under his influence and won a number of South championships before the West Board was founded. 

Jim Stapleton was both a hurler and a footballer. His first success came in 1949 when he won a west junior hurling title with Solohead. Two more hurling titles followed during the fifties, in 1955 and 1959. In the latter year the county championship was also won. A big man, Jim played at full-back or cornerback in these successes. 

He also enjoyed football success. Junior football titles were won in 1954 and 1955. After winning in 1954 Solohead made an impassioned plea at the West convention that Solohead was a small club and couldn't possibly be promoted. Their pleadings were listened to and they were allowed to stay junior. When they won again in 1955 other clubs were none too pleased and they were forced to go senior. They joined Lattin in a combination team and enjoyed senior football divisional success in 1956 and 1957. 

Before his playing career was finished he had already taken up refereeing and refereed widely in West Tipperary and Limerick. He was an effective referee, commanding respect and exuding authority. He was likely to get any match that seemed likely to blow up and could effectively control it. In the course of time his remit ran to county games. He was also recognised at intercounty level, taking charge of National Hurling League games, and he refereed at least one senior championship game, between Limerick and Waterford. 

He was a county senior hurling selector during the great years of the late fifties and sixties. According to report there was no West selector until 1958. In that year the West convention made its choice and this fell to Tony Brennan, who wasn't in attendance at convention. Their second choice was Jim and when Tony declined the position, Jim got it and was selector during the glory years of 1958 to 1968. Tipperary played in eight AII-Irelands during these eleven years, winning five of them. Oh! that such decades would come again! 

Jim's involvement with the G.A.A. outside never curtailed his involvement with Solohead. He was very much involved in the purchase of the field in 1980. He was a trustee of the field. He was a man that people turned to for advice. A man of gentle disposition, he didn't make enemies. 

Married to Mary Kennedy of Tipperary Town, the couple had five children, four boys and a girl.

Jim worked for the Department of Agriculture, initially in Mullingar, later in Dovea and West Limerick, and latterly in Tipperary Town. A patriotic man, like his father, Jim was a long time member of the FCA, where he achieved a high rank. His death was sudden. He was driving his car two days beforehand. One of the last G.A.A. functions he attended was the launch of the West Board history at Dundrum on May 25. It was fitting that he was present because he contributed in no small way to that history. 

<span class="postTitle">A Conjunction of Dated Irish Cliches</span> County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, April 17, 2001

A Conjunction of Dated Irish Cliches

County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, April 17, 2001

Where would you find the following? "After the hurlers left the field yesterday, Gaelic football teams named after County Kerry and County Tyrone immediately took the field. The game includes elements of soccer, rugby and barroom brawling. As the two teams battled, the long-time Kerry team chaplain, the Rev. George McGowan, sat inside at the end of he bar, his cane hanging on the bar top. Told that Kerry was winning, he smiled. His locker room prayer session was working.'

Answer: The New York Times, April 9, 2001 ! It's a report of a visit to Gaelic Park by their reporter the previous Sunday. It made me cringe. It was so cliched, so out of date, so sickening. I read the same kind of crap in American newspapers in the 1920s and here it was all repeated. I immediately sent a letter of protest to the newspaper. At this moment I don't know if they will publish it.

Perhaps I may have been over-reacting, but I wasn't. I met Ian Conroy, and his brother Niall, on Tuesday and they were equally disgusted. 'Who does he think we are?, a reference to the writer, Corey Kilgallon. 'It's the same old rubbish that you get about the Irish in this country." Ian, who gave fine service to Tipperary hurling during the first half of the eighties, emigrated to New York about 1986 and has made a success in business in the city. Since he arrived he played hurling with Tipperary and won three New York championships before he retired in 1997. Also a footballer of note, he won a number of championships with Donegal in that code during the same period.

But, another sample from Kilgallon's article: 'Muddy, bloody players hacked furiously with crude wood sticks at a whizzing ball. Technically, this was only a scrimmage between two New York hurling teams but, in fact, coaches were watching closely to select the best players to form a New York squad to compete next month against a team visiting from Ireland's County Down in the All-Ireland hurling championship'.
 

All-Ireland Championship

This is an interesting development for New York hurling, the chance of participating in the All-Ireland championship. Ian Conroy told me his last outing as a hurler was on the New York team, beaten badly by Galway in a 1997 All-Ireland quarter-final. He does not believe that New York have enough talent at the moment to upset Down. There are at least four Tipperary players on the panel. They include Owen Cummins of Fethard, who won an All-Ireland junior medal with his native county in 1991 , John Madden of Lorrha, who has given long and distinguished service to the game in New York for a long number of years, and Michael and Kevin Kennedy of Toomevara.
Gaelic games are going through something of a renaissance in New York in the last couple of years. The difficulties with Gaelic Park have been sorted out. In the early nineties as a result of a dispute between the G.A.A. and the John Kerry O'Donnell family in the Park, the lease was lost to Manhattan College. The G.A.A. tried a couple of options but they didn't work out. In the end they came back to Gaelic Park as leasers from Manhattan College. This means that the Association have the use of it for so many Sundays during the year. The franchise for the bars remains with the O'Donnell family. Under Manhattan College certain improvements have been made to the field but it remains poorly developed. The most important thing is that the G.A.A. has a home, albeit a leased one.
 

A Permanent G.A.A. Home?

Having said that it is important to report that some of the powers that be are thinking in terms of the idea of a permanent G.A.A. home in the New York area. Ian Conroy told me of an interesting development which brought together five hundred people of Irish extraction who were willing to put up $10,000 each in a golfing development. The question many are posing at the moment is as follows: if five hundred people are willing to put up so much money to develop a golf course, surely there are more people than that to put up money for the development of a proper G.A.A. facility! There is hope, but we have to wait and see. A major development has been the attraction of sponsorship. Budweiser rowed in last year with substantial sponsorship, $134,000. The stipulation is that only their beer can be sold in the bar in Gaelic Park. This was an important breakthrough. However, the number of people attending matches in the place is on the small side and something will have to be done to swell attendances before other sponsors will be attracted.
 

More Cliches

'One Tipperary native, a star hurler named Owen Cummins, snatched a piece of dirt from the field and waved it in the sign of the cross as he sprinted on. 20/04/01 'Now you're hurlin' lads,' yelled John McHugh, an assistant coach on the sidelines.' Did you ever see a player taking the field, signing himself with a bit of dirt? I wasn't able to contact Cummins, but I feel it's most unlikely. Perhaps a piece of colour exaggeration.

And the next paragraph from Kilgallon: 'After the game, Cummins wiped the blood off his face to pose for a photograph. There is nothing gentle about hurling, where most of the action involves jarring contact with other players and their hurleys, the three-foot playing sticks used to hit the game's hard ball, called a sliotair, into an oppenent's goal.' I thought we had new rules for blood injuries, that the player had to be removed to the sideline and the wound treated before he could resume play? Obviously not, according to Corey Kilgallon!

There is plenty of blood in this report. Sometimes it sounds like a war. 'Outside the locker room, a woman in a tan raincoat over a white nurse's uniform examined and fussed over players as they hobbled out of the game. The woman, Theresa Crowe, has worked in many of Manhatten's best hospitals, but for twenty-five years she has been the unofficial on-field surgeon for the players at Gaelic Park, stitching up players quickly enough for them to dash back on the field. Most players refuse pain killers, she explained, but they cannot stand watching her sew. 'As tough as they are, Irishmen hate needles,' explained Ms.Crowe, who is from Tipperary.'

I telephoned Theresa Crowe, who hails from Thurles and is a first cousin of Paddy Crowe of Cashel, lately deceased. She thought the piece over the moon. She didn't recall saying that Irishmen hate needles. She is a registered nurse from Cornell School of Nursing, with specialisation in oncology and orthopaedics.

Theresa Crowe

'How did you get involved in Gaelic Park?' I asked her. She went to New York in 1962 and with many other Irish in the city, went to Gaelic Park every Sunday. One day during a match a player went down injured. He was about to be moved but she realised he was in a dangerous position. She shouted to leave him be and went in and strapped his leg with a couple a hurleys. John Kerry O'Donnell, who was present, was impressed and, in the course of time, she was appointed first medical officer in Gaelic Park. Still later she was appointed auditor and she is currently a trustee. She was also the first woman to attend G.A.A. Congress as a delegate. At the moment she is vice-president of the New York Tipperary Hurling Club. The president is Michael Ryan from Upperchurch.

The fortunes of Tipperary teams have improved in the last few years. The club won the junior and senior New York championships last year. It's probably the best club at the moment. Theresa herself got further recognition this year when she won the G.A.A. Guest of Honour Award, the first woman to receive the award.

We'll leave the final word to Corey Kilgallon: 'For the last 75 years, this (Gaelic Park) humble bit of turf on Broadway at 240th Street in Riverdale, the Bronx, has been the home field to New York's main Irish sports league, the Gaelic Athletic Association, and a fixture for New York's Irish
population.'

He concluded by saying: 'Go Kerry!', yelled a fan through the rain. Then another shouted: 'Go,
Ireland!'

According to Ian Conroy he never heard an Irishman speak like that: 'It's pure American!', he
added. And, I'd agree.

<span class="postTitle">Eileen Shine - Camas Park & Cashel</span> The Nationalist 2001

Eileen Shine - Camas Park & Cashel

The Nationalist 2001

Recuperating at her home in Boherclough Street, Cashel at the moment is eighty-nine year old Eileen Shine. She returned home about three weeks ago after ten months of care in a nursing home.

Her ordeal began nearly twelve months ago when returning from Clonmel by car. Driving too close to the side of the road in order to avoid an oncoming car, her vehicle toppled into a dyke and she was well and truly shook up. However, she insisted on coming home, being the independent spirit she is.

One of the effects of her accident was an occasional blackout. Her only surviving relation, a cousin from Northern Ireland, came down to see her and took her out to the Cashel Palace Hotel for lunch. After the meal she had a blackout coming down the steps of the hotel, fell heavily, was unconscious for about eight hours and ended up in hospital. After coming to she was sent home.
However, all wasn’t right. She had hurt her back, her ribs were sore and Dr. Ryan sent her for an X-ray, which revealed they were broken. She ended up in Acorn Lodge and, after ten months there, was thoroughly fed up and insisted on coming home. She is happier now, even if she hasn’t full use of herself and moves about with a walking aid.

Camas Park
 

Most of her long life has been spent in Cashel. Born at Camas Park in 1912, she was the only daughter of Major David and Helen (nee Sayers) Shine. Her father fought in the Boer War. She had two brothers, both of whom joined the Royal Airforce, and both of whom were killed in World War II.

Eileen had a happy childhood at Camas Park. She went to the Deanery School, which was then located on the left side of the Cashel Palace Hotel gates. There were about thirty children in the school and she remained there until she was eleven.

She was sent to boarding school at Celbridge – the school is now a hotel – and she hated it. She played hockey, basketball and tennis. She got home for holidays at Christmas and summer, travelling by train to Gouldscross and changing for Cashel. The students didn’t get home as Easter as the headmistress claimed students always returned at that time of the year with infections and diseases. The food was good but monotonous. She spent six years there and her stay was interrupted with an infected appendix.

Her father wanted her to return to Camas but she wanted to be a nurse. Being still a bit young she went to a finishing school in Dublin for a year and then to France, where she taught hockey and basketball in a school. She has very happy memories of this year in France.

Trained as a Nurse

When she returned to Camas Park on holidays she enjoyed a good social life. Her 21st was celebrated with a dance in Camas. Most activities were organised by themselves, games in summer, fetes organised by friends and neighbours. Relations with Catholics were cool, with both Catholics and Protestants organising their own activities and going their separate ways.

At twenty she went to train as a nurse at Sheffield Royal Hospital, the choice of hospital was made on the basis of having relations there. She did five years training and stayed on a further year trying to make up her mind what to do.

In 1938 she joined the army, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Nursing Corps. She did a training course in military basic, how to march, salute, attend funerals, etc

After training at York and Aldershot, she was chosen as one of four to go to the North African Desert to staff a casualty clearance station.

Her work took her along the route of Montgomery’s campaign and the places she mentions are a roll call of names made famous by the campaign. She enjoyed the army life, worked very hard and there was little time for anything else. She recalls getting a week’s holiday in Tripoli and going to bed for much needed rest on the first night, only to be wakened with the information to  be ready for a tank landing in Sicily.

She made her way with the army through Sicily and on to Italy. Moving with the war she ended up in Turin. Eventually she was sent back to England, only to be ordered to the Middle East soon after. She worked in an Italian hospital in Palestine, where jackals and hyenas scurried through the place at night.

He next stop was Greece and from there to the beautiful Dodocanese Islands. Again it was hospital work under a very funny matron. Every night two or three babies were left on the doorstep. She didn’t really get back home for seven years. She was given two days holidays for every one spent in the desert.

After the War

The holiday was much appreciated but then it was back to army life. She went on a military course during 1948 and was posted to Hong Kong the following year for three and a half years. The location got a bit monotonous as there as no place to go. The communists had taken over mainland China in 1949.

When she came back on leave she was posted to Cyprus, where she spent the rest of her army life until she returned to Ireland in 1962. She retired with the rank of Major and would probably have achieved higher rank had she remained.

Sale of Camas Park

There was good reason to retire and return home as her mother was in need of care. Her father had died in 1936 and her mother held on at Camas Park until 1941, when the burden of compulsory tillage and other Emergency measures became too much for her and she sold out to Tim Hyde.

She remained in residence for some time and eventually rented a house at Castlelake. This she occupied until 1956, when she moved to a new bungalow in Boherclough Street. The house is recessed from the street front and originally five houses  occupied the frontage. They were long gone before she arrived and the land on which her house was built was used for allotments during the War.

Eileen was sad to see Camas Park and its many memories go but there was no way her mother could hold on. Eileen looked after her from 1962 until she died in 1977. Her mother had played golf in the early part of the century on the Cashel course, which was located on the Clonmel Road. Eileen recalls caddying for her.

Eileen Shine has spent the last forty years on Boherlough Street. She has led a relaxed life and hasn’t involved herself in much. ‘I came home to rest after a very busy life,’ she says.

The late Ethel Corby tried to involve her in organisations and societies but she resisted. She used to read a lot, mostly about sport, horses and adventure. She is also fond of T.V. Her holidays were spent at Tramore and Dunmore.

She may be feeling sore at the moment but the chances are she will recover sufficiently to lead a full life. There is great longevity in her family. All of her side lived into the nineties. Her mother was 94, when she passed on, and her grandmother 101. She is wished a speedy recovery.

<span class="postTitle">Jovita Delaney - Cashel Person of the Year</span> County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, April 9, 2001

Jovita Delaney - Cashel Person of the Year

County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, April 9, 2001

Jovita Delaney, who captained the Tipperary senior camogie team to All-Ireland victory in 2000, has won the Cashel Person of the Year award. The award, organised by the Cashel Lions Club, has been in existence for fifteen years and Jovita is the youngest winner to date. The presentation of the award will be made in Halla na Feile, Cashel, on Sunday night, May 6. 

Jovita was extremely pleased to be chosen. Since winning the All-Ireland last year, she has been the recipient of many awards. These include the Player of the Match for her display in the All-Ireland, when she saved Tipperary again and again with brilliant saves, the Eircell All-Star award. the Manchester Tipperary Association's Sports Person of the Year award, the Canon Hayes Recreation Centre County Award, the Cidona Award and the Kilkenny Slievenamon Association's Sportsperson of the Year award. She is very proud of all these awards and of the many presentations made to her and her team mates by many clubs. But she has a very special place for the Cashel Person of the Year award because it's the highest recognition her home town could give her. 

Of course she's not really a Cashel person but very much a Boherlahan woman, who was born in that parish, a little over a mile from the town. All her camogie has been played in Cashel or with Cashel. While she was a student in the Presentation Convent she came under the influence of Martin Quirke, who did so much to develop camogie in the school. 'I would have got nowhere without the dedication and commitment he gave to camogie in the school,' she said. 

Another person she mentions as important in her early formation is Kirsty McCluskey, who did so much for the promotion of juvenile camogie in the town. 'Without this work and effort with juveniles, there can be no camogie players,' she believes. She also praised the work of Tom Devitt for his encouragement of camogie.

Presentation Covent, Cashel

Jovita didn't enjoy much success at Presentation Convent. 'We got to a number of junior and senior All-Ireland semifinals and finals but won none of them. We seemed to be always beaten by Loughrea'. There was one success in the All-Ireland Schools seven-a-side in 1989. 

After secondary school Jovita went to Strawberry Hill College in the U.K. where she studied for a degree in Physical Education, Science and Biology. There was no camogie there and she mostly played basketball. There were a lot of Irish students in the college at the time, especially from the North. 

Having completed the four-year course she came back to a job in Dublin, where she spent four years. Three years ago she got a job in Tarbert Comprehensive School, where there are about 700 pupils. She doesn't get any chance of camogie there as football is the game and she is in charge of that, plus basketball and badminton. 

During these years of training and teaching she has been making a name for herself in camogie. She has progressed up the ranks from a minor All-Ireland with Tipperary in 1990, 'to a junior in 1992, after losing two AII-Irelands in that grade in 1990 and 1991, an intermediate in 1997 and two seniors in 1999 and 2000. So she has the complete All-Ireland set and understandably proud of her achievement. She has also had success at club level, winning county finals in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Earlier she had won two more, in 1990 and 1991. What has eluded her is success in the club championship. Grannagh, Ballingarry have been their stumbling block in this area, having beaten Cashel a number of times, especially in the Munster final in 1999. 

With so much involvement in the game of camogie, Jovita has little time for other interests. The training schedule and the games take up a lot of time. Her work distance from the county is another problem. She won't have the burden of captaincy this year as that has gone to Emily Hayden. 'It's only fair that someone else has the honour.' she adds. 

She is reasonably happy with the national profile of camogie, even though it is not as high as she should like to see it. The televising of the All-Ireland finals has worked wonders to improve the image. The newspaper coverage of the game has expanded out of all proportion. She recalls that when they won the All-Ireland junior in 1992 it hardly got a mention in the paper. 

She is looking forward with a keeness and expectation to the coming year. One need hardly mention that a third senior All-Ireland is a top priority. It will be difficult but the dedication and commitment are there and there is absolutely no doubt that when the crunch comes, Jovita Delaney will not be found wanting.

<span class="postTitle">North Tipperary G.A.A. History</span> County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, April 9, 2001

North Tipperary G.A.A. History

County Tipperary Supplement, The Examiner, April 9, 2001 

The recent publication of the History of the GAA. in North Tipperary brings to mind two interesting episodes in the history of the division. One is the Silvermines Silver Cup and the second is about Tony Courtney of Nenagh, who won a County Tipperary senior football medal with Nenagh in 1915 and went on to be capped for Ireland in 1920-21. 

But first the Silver Cup, which is to be found today in the presbytery of the Silvermines parish. This cup was first played for in an intercounty hurling match between Tipperary and South Galway, played in the Phoenix Park in February 1886. Tipperary won and the cup came back to the county. 

Later the same year it was put up as the prize 'for the championship of North Tipperary'. (It would take too long to explain a 'championship of North Tipperary' fifteen years before the division came into existence but the history goes a long way to doing so!). 

At any rate Silvermines and Holycross qualified for the final and, as was the wont in those days, the final wasn't played until April 19, 1887. Silvermines won. 

The man who was regarded as being responsible for training the victorious side was Fr. John Cunningham, a native of Kilrush, who was curate there at the time. Soon after he was transferred to Roscrea and eventually became Parish Priest of Templederry, where he spent the last twenty-one years of his life. He died in 1935. 

Apparently, when he left Silvermines after the 1887 win he took the Silver Cup with him because we read that in the year of his death he returned it to the parish of Silvermines. On St. Patrick's Day 1935 the then Canon Cunningham returned to the parish from neighbouring Templederry to place the cup in the safe keeping of the parish. Five members of the team that won it were present on the occasion as part of the reception committee. The cup was placed in the presbytery, where it has lain since. 

Perhaps it may go on display in Lar na Pairce at some stage! 

Tony Courtney

The second interesting item is the career of Tony Courtney. Nenagh Institute dominated football in North Tipperary in the second decade of the twentieth century. They won two county finals during the period, in 1911 and 1915. In the latter year they beat Castleiney by 1-2 to 1-1 in the final at Thurles, not played until July 31, 1916. Courtney was one of their stalwarts. 

Courtney became a medical student and took an interest in rugby. He was obviously good at the game because he was capped for Ireland seven times in 1920-21, whiIe sti II a young man. He was born in 1899. 

He received his first cap on February 28, 1920, when Ireland were defeated, 19-0, by Scotland at Inverleith. There was another defeat by Wales, 28-4 at Cardiff Arms Park on March 13, and a further defeat by France, 15 to 7 at Landsdowne Road two weeks later. 

There was one success in 1921 but first there was defeat by England, 15 to 0, at Twickenham on February 12. Success came against Scotland by 9-8 at Landsdowne Road on February 26. Two weeks later there was defeat by Wales, 6-0, at Balmoral and Courtney's final game was against France, when Ireland were defeated, 20-10, at Stade Columbes on April 9. 

Courtney played tight-head prop in all his games and his place was taken by McVicker the following season. There was very little mention of the honour of a Nenagh man representing his country in the Nenagh Guardian of the time. In fact it is rather scathing of the game. In a comment on the defeat by Wales in March 1920, it has this to say: 'Of course Rugby football is merely the game of the few. It is not played by the large number who would develop a spirit of rivalry and offer a wider field of selection.' 

There is a little increased mention in 1921. For the first game against England it mentions the two Tipperary men on the team, A. Courtney and Dr. P. Stokes of Fethard. It reported that Stokes was the outstanding forward against France but also mentions the contribution of Courtney. 

Funeral of Tom Ashe

There is an interesting mention of Courtney in Ulick O'Connor's book, 'The Troubles'. In a footnote to his account of the funeral of Thomas Ashe in September 1917, he has this to say: 'Along the North Quays, Dick McKee was in charge of the procession. A despatch rider from Dublin Castle on a motorbike rode past full tilt, skimming the edge of the march. McKee jumped out as he flew by and managed to dislodge him from his cycle. The bike skidded around on the footpath. It finished up at the feet of one of the Volunteer stewards, Tony Courtney, a medical student. 'Dump that bike in the river,' McKee ordered Courtney. The student was reluctant to dispose of something as valuable as a motor cycle then was, and remembers being torn between the instinct to preserve it and the sheer authority that McKee exuded. However, he heaved the bike into the Liffey and the despatch rider had to return to Dublin Castle on foot. Four years later, Courtney would be capped at Rugby for Ireland against England at Twickenham. When the Irish team were received by King George V before the match, Courtney found hinself in a dilemma because of his republican views. But as the King approached, Courtney stooped to tie his bootlace, thus avoiding having to press Royal flesh and at the same time maintaining the semblance of courtesy.' 

Tony Courtney qualified as a medical doctor, married and had four children, two boys and two girls. He died in January 1970 at the age of seventy years. He must hold a unique place in the annals of Tipperary sport with a county senior football medal won with Nenagh and nine rugby caps won playing for Ireland. He must also be the only player in the world to have put tying his bootlace before shaking the hand of the King of England!

<span class="postTitle">Previous West Senior Hurling Finals at Cashel</span> West Tipperary S.H. Final Program, Cashel, Oct. 7, 2001

Previous West Senior Hurling Finals at Cashel

West Tipperary S.H. Final Program, Cashel, Oct. 7, 2001

Today’s final is the seventy-second to the played since the West division was founded. It’s the fifteenth to be played at Cashel and the twelfth to be played at Leahy Park. Prior to then the Cashel Sportsfield was located on the Ardmayle Road and before that on the Dualla Road.

Leahy Park was new in 1951 when the first final, between Clonoulty-Rossmore and Kickhams, was played. Originally fixed for September 9, it was postponed and the delegates heard why at a special meeting of the West board the following night. Board secretary, Jerry O’Dwyer, informed the meeting that the game had been postponed as a result of representations made to him by Canon Fogarty, P. P., Clonoulty and one of the honorary presidents of the board. The Canon pointed out that the game was clashing with a Pioneer Rally at Thurles and the secretary had postponed the match as a result of the representations. After much discussion the final was fixed for the following Sunday.

There was also some controversy over the 1945 final at Cashel, between Cashel and Eire 0g. Originally fixed for Dundrum, Cashel wouldn’t play at the venue. A special board meeting was called and the delegates were informed that Cashel’s objections were to the size of the Dundrum field and its proximity to Eire 0g. They wanted a neutral venue and a neutral referee. The chairman pointed out that the field was in Knockavilla parish and the referee was from Clonoulty. (Timmy Hammersley). Mick Davem, the Cashel delegate replied: ‘The ball was lost three times in the grass in Dundrum, when we played Golden there.’ The Dundrum delegate denied this. It was pointed out to Cashel that they had already won championship matches in the field. Then Jim Devitt, Cashel, came up with another reason for not playing Eire Og there:

‘We were butchered previously in Dundrum by Eire 0g.’ After a lot of discussion Cashel and Eire Og agreed to toss for venue and Cashel won. The match was played on October 7. (I can’t be sure if that was the nearest Eire Og got to hosting a West final: they don’t appear on the list of venues.)

The 1931 final between Clonoulty and Newport was played at Cashel. It was the only time Newport played in the West division and it wasn’t a very happy one. The final was a tense, tough game. Newport accused Clonoulty of adopting over-robust and questionable tactics. They also complained of the leniency of the referee, Jack Hennessy of Emly. It was reported that one of the linesmen, Jack Raleigh, a former Toomevara player then playing with Emly, pleaded with Hennessy at half-time to either referee the game or call it off. In spite of these difficulties Newport’s prospects looked bright when they forged ahead by 3-4 to 3-3 with ten minutes remaining. At that stage a hostile section of the crowd pelted the Newport players with clods of earth, leaving them in no doubt as to their intentions of keeping the title in their own backyard. In the remaining minutes of the game Clonoulty forced through two goals to put the issue beyond the realm of doubt.

There was a sequel. Newport objected on a number of grounds including the legality of Pake Mahony and the fact that Dan English in the Clonoulty goal was wearing his trousers. The latter part led to some humorous exchanges at county board where Killenaule’s, Bob Hall, wanted to know ‘where does knickers end and breeches begin’.

During their great run of success between 1946 and 1960, Kickhams played a number of finals at Cashel. They lost there to Clonoulty in 1951 but were successful in 1953, 1954, 1956, 1958 and 1959. In the 1958 final they recorded their highest score when they defeated Golden/Kilfeacle by 8-8 to 2-2.

Leahy Park was the venue for one of Cappawhite’s finest hours, in the 1987 final. Clonoulty led by 3-7 to 1-4 at half-time and seemed set to dump Cappa, who had been champions in 1983, 1984 and 1985, out of the championship. But there was a remarkable turnaround in the second half as Cappa went from nine points down to an eight-point win — a swing of seventeen points. A Ger O’Neill goal sparked the resurgence. O’Neill also had their third goal and John O’Neill added a fourth as Cappa were rampant. It was a truly dazzling second-half performance from Cappawhite who, in the process, ended Clonoulty’s championship bid for the fifth consecutive year. The winning captain, John O’Neill, accepted the cup from board chairman, Michael Maguire.

Ten years later the venue was the setting for a memorable occasion for Kickhams, when they bridged a thirty-seven year gap to win their first senior title since 1960. Kevin Farrell was team captain and Aidan Butler got the man-of-the-match award. The winners were slight favourites going into the game and by the call of time had justified the tag with a 0-19 to 2-10 success. They came back to win after been rocked by two Cappawhite goals midway through the first half.

<span class="postTitle">Anthony 'Brickey' O'Neill</span> West Tipperary S.H. Final Program, Cashel, Oct. 7, 2001

Anthony 'Brickey' O'Neill

West Tipperary S.H. Final Program, Cashel, Oct. 7, 2001

One of the stalwarts of the Cappawhite defence in Sunday’s West senior hurling final will be Anthony O’Neill. There are so many O'Neills in Cappawhite that they all need a nickname to distinguish them from one another. Anthony O'Neill is known far and wide as Brickey and is probably more recognisable by it than by his real name. He doesn't know the origin of it or its significance. He recalls having it as far back as primary school. He believes he may have been so christened by one of his brothers.

And there are a lot of brothers. The best known is probably Pa, who was reported is the past couple of weeks to be in a secret hideout getting restorative physio in order to be sprung on the unsuspecting opposition sometime on Sunday. As well, there's Mickey, Danny and Seanie. They never all played together for Cappa but Brickey thinks four of them did.

Whether Pa turns out or not today, Brickey will have other relations on the team. The extended family includes his nephew, Thomas Costello, and his second cousin, Eugene. Brickey and Eugene's father are first cousins.

Although living today in Anacarty, where he is married with three children - a son plays with Eire Og - Brickey was born in Clonganhue, a great place for hurlers. The year was 1960, which makes him a fairly ancient forty-one years at the moment. This age qualified him to play for the county masters team, which has resulted in two All-Irelands, this year and last year.

It's belated recognition for a fine player because Brickey never played for the county until now. A close observer of him and his contribution to the Cappa club told me he was probably the best O'Neill who never made the county. He did get a trial at the under-21 level but didn't make it. Perhaps the county's loss was Cappa's gain as Brickey devoted all his time and energy to his club.

He has achievements to show. The highlight has to be the county senior hurling final in 1987 and the qualification for the Munster final against Midleton at Kilmallock. Defeat was his lot that day as John Fenton drilled a 65 between the posts to snatch a one point victory. He has another county medal in intermediate football, which was won in 1990. His other successes include West senior hurling titles in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2000. He was on a successful junior 2 side in 1978 after which he played senior, and has been playing it since. He also has under-14 West titles and divisional titles in hurling and football at minor and under-21 levels.

Today we associate Brickey with the corner-back position but he started his senior career at wing-forward. He went from there to wingback, then centreback and finally back to his present position. What is the secret of his success there? He is noted for playing from the front and his motto against more fleet-footed opponents could be summed up in the words of Johnny Ryan Cusack, when questioned how he beat Cork's, Joe Kelly, the 100 yard champion of Ireland, to the ball in the 1945 Munster semi-final at Thurles, said:

'I started in time.' And Brickey does that again and again in spite of his aging limbs.

There must be some secret to his hurling longevity. Not really, he answers. He loves the game of hurling with a great passion. He has played football and soccer but hurling is his first love. If you want to play strongly enough you will get fit enough to play. He puts great emphasis on training and never misses a session. He also looks after himself. He never smoked, takes a few pints but in moderation. He can see himself going forward for another few years. He has been reasonably free from injury and this has been a major help. He has a niggling injury at the moment that's preventing him from giving a hundred percent. If he can overcome that and avoid others, his hurling future is still there.

Brickey has played many fine games. Anyone who was at last year's West final will remember his display as one of the finest he ever gave. He himself looks back through rose-tinted glasses to his contribution to Cappa's victory over Cashel in the 1983 final at Golden. Another display that is remembered with satisfaction was against Patrickswell in the Munster club semi-final in 1987. Playing at centreback, his position at that time, he gave an outstanding display against Gary Kirby.

Brickey can be proud of his achievements and the contribution he has made to his club’s successes. He is a role model not only for his own club mates but for players anywhere. The love of hurling and the success of his club come foremost in his priorities and he gives constant and unswerving expression to these through his dedication to training and preparation for games.

<span class="postTitle">The Effin Ref and All That</span> West Tipperary S.H. Final Program, Cashel, Oct. 7, 2001

The Effin Ref and All That

West Tipperary S.H. Final Program, Cashel, Oct. 7, 2001

On the day of the All-Ireland football final, as we made our way towards the Cusack Stand we came across a pub I hadn’t seen before. What caught my fancy was the name over the entrance, The Blind Referee! It’s situated on Ballybough Road and it must have been newly christened or I would have noted it before.

It immediately sparked off thoughts on the lot of the referee and the kind of language he has to put up with on the playing pitch. ‘You’re blind, ref,’ is a mild form. ‘You’re effin blind.’ is a stronger form. Mostly the language used is much more vicious and insinuating. He is variously an illegitimate person, an effing illegitimate person, a part of the female anatomy, an effing part of the female anatomy, a masturbater, - Paddy Russell, and he was only a linesman on the day, was called one by a notable Meath footballer in last year’s football league final - an effin masturbater.

It’s amazing how a crowd of supporters can focus in on a referee and get high on abuse. In such a situation normally sane people become totally unreasonable. The level of invective rises to a crescendo and if people were to hear themselves the following day the’d be thoroughly ashamed.

John Moloney remembers being called a ‘black curlew’ on one occasion. One would love to know the significance of the term. ‘You long effer,’ was a regular term of abuse. But the abuse occasionally spilled over to physical contact. He recalls getting his hair pulled after a Connacht under-21 football final. There was some problem about the score. On another occasion he was clattered with an umbrella. He even recalls a young lad, presumably from the losing side, pinching him in the leg as he left the field after an underage game! And we all recall the poor referee from Wicklow who was locked into the boot of his car in County Wicklow!

The referee is the focus of attention in a game and the more important the game the greater his position. He is a most important individual. Not only does he implement the rules, he punishes any infringement of them. His word is sacred. The referee’s report is the equivalent of a legal document in that it is unalterable and the last word. When I was chairman of the West board, I stood by these reports rigidly. The board had to back its referees but following the report made life easy for a chairman: if he said it was rough play it was automatically two weeks. If it was worse the penalty was greater and the Treorai Oifigiuil spells out the penalty for every offence. In fact the chairman has little or no leeway. That is why I believe the rule of giving the player the right to appear before the board to defend himself is outdated: regardless of what he says it does not influence the decision of the board. So, why invite the offender along on a vain mission?

The only way matters can be changed is when the referee decides to do so. One recalls the case of the replay of the drawn All-Ireland semi-final between Offaly and Clare in 1998. Offaly objected on the grounds that short time was played and got a refixture only because the referee admitted he had called the game up short. If he had stuck to his guns and said full time was played, nobody could have done a damn thing about it.

The case of Brian O’Meara this year emphasises the point. Regardless of all the bluff and bluster, the representations and appeals, the newspaper columns of support and the backing of players for his reinstatement, the simple fact was that the referee’s report was sacrosanct and until he chose to change it, there was nothing the Association could do about it. In the event Pat Horan did not relent and Brian O’Meara missed the All-Ireland.

While on this particular match, I want to refer to a column by Liam Griffin in the Sunday Tribune around this time. In the course of it he referred to the choice of referees for the All-Ireland quarter- and semi-finals in which Wexford were involved. The two referees, Michael Wadding of Waterford and Pat O’Connor of Limerick, according to Griffin could, by virtue of being Munster men, be biased in favour of Limerick and Tipperary. Ironically Wexford got a Leinster referee, Pat Horan of Offaly, for the replay and we all know what happened! I’m disinclined to believe that referees at this level, or at any level for that matter, follow a partisan line on the field of play.

But there’s also a lighter side to refereeing. A larger-than-life character, Philly Ryan of Borrisileigh, used to referee in the fifties of the last century. There are many stories told about him, many of them more than likely apocryphal. He was a serious referee, who claimed never to have read the rule book! For him the job was a matter of using your head and commonsense. One of the many stories told is alleged to have happened in a game between Knockshegowna and Kildangan. A Knochshie player complained to Philly about the attentions of his opponent. Philly told him he had something in his hand to defend himself. Later in the game the player clobbered his opponent and was sent off. ‘But,’ he protested to Philly as he left the field, ‘you told me to defend myself.’ ‘Yes! replied Philly, ‘I’m sending you off for your own protection! You didn’t hit him hard enough. He’s going to get up and kill you!’

John Moloney was in charge of the Munster football final between Cork and Kerry in the newly reconstructed Pairc Ui Chaoimh in 1976. The game ended in a draw and in the replay, at the same venue, Cork, leading by seven points, looked likely winners with twelve minutes to go. Then Kerry got a goal Cork claimed they didn’t deserve and Cork were disallowed one at the other end. The match ended in a draw and Kerry won in extra time. The Cork supporters blamed the referee for the defeat. It was the time Bishop Casey had been promoted to Galway and the Kerry see hadn’t yet been filled. John Moloney got a series of letters and cards from irate Cork supporters telling him he should become the next Bishop of Kerry! He still treasures some of the communications.

I suppose one of the great stories of refereeing is quite recent. It happened during a West championship game. The referee, who is well-known in the division, got a call on his mobile phone during the game. He duly stopped the game, as car drivers are recommended to do on the road, and took his call. When he was finished he re-started the game and took a blind bit of notice of nobody! I suppose you could call it keeping up with the times and an indication that referees are capable of adapting to the latest technology!

Poets or songwriters have hardly touched on the subject of refereeing but I recall the words of a song that did include a reference. Billy Cotton and his band used to play it back in the fifties of the last century:

Oh! oh, what a referee!

And his little wooden whistle

Wouldn’t whistle

<span class="postTitle">Credit Unions County Senior Hurling Championship 2000</span> Tipperary GAA YearBook 2001 pp 93-95

Credit Unions County Senior Hurling Championship 2000

Tipperary GAA YearBook 2001 pp 93-95

Toomevara won their second hattrick of county senior hurling titles in eight years when they defeated Thurles Sarsfields in the final at Semple Stadium by 2-10 to 0-11 on October 15. In doing so they added the first title of the new century to the last one of the old to emulate the achievement of the parish of Moycarkey-Borris, who did the sameone hundred years earlier albeit with two different clubs, Horse and Jockey in 1899 and Two-Mile-Borris in 1900.

Toomevara's victory was richly deserved and their superiority on the day was much greater than a margin of five points. They played with tremendous composure, went about the task in hand with a cool competence and were never at any time significantly threatened.

Thurles Sarsfields did not really perform to their potential on the day and came no way near the impressive performance they produced against Cappawhite in the replayed semi-final.

In fact Sarsfields had played spectacular hurling during the year and none more so than in the mid final. In a very impressive display, especially from a forward line which got vintage performances from Ger O'Grady, Eddie Enright and Lar Corbett, the Blues defeated Loughmore-Castleiney by 1-20 to 3-11 in an exciting final at Semple Stadium on August 27.

On the same day at Clonmel Carrick Swans broke a ten year barren spell when defeating Ballingarry by 1-11 to 1-10 in the south final. Down four points eight minutes into the second half they received a heavy blow with the dismissal of defender, John Brophy. However, they regrouped, rose magnificently to the challenge and had a point to spare when the final whistle sounded. 

A week earlier the west final between Cappawhite and Kickhams was played at Golden. Kickhams were defending their title and Cappawhite were looking for their first since 1987. They gave a brilliant display in the first half and led by ten points at the interval. In the second half they withstood the best efforts of Kickhams and ended their thirteen year famine by the convincing margin of ten points on a scoreline of 3-17 to 1-13.

The north final, between Toomevara and Moneygall, was the last of the four divisional finals and was played at Nenagh on September 9. In a game that failed to live up to its promise, the vastly experienced county champions proved too good for the young emerging hurlers of Moneygall. In the end the margin of victory was nine points on a scoreline of 3-13 to 1-10.

QUARTER-FINALS

Two quarter-finals were played at Semple Stadium on September 9. The Kickhams-Carrick Swans encounter produced a deluge of goals. Kickhams got four of these in a period of eight minutes between the eleventh and the eighteenth minutes . Before this onslaught Carrick led by four points to one against the wind. However, they recovered well and the sides were level,
4-3 to 2-9 at the interval. The game was won and lost in the third quarter. During this period Kickhams scored seven unanswered points from which Carrick never recovered and that was the margin of victory , 5-11 to 2-13, at the final whistle.

On their performance in the second game Cappawhite just about deserved to beat Ballingarry. They dominated the first quarter, leading by 1-7 to 0-2 at the end of it and although Ballingarry recovered somewhat, were still in front by 1-11 to 0-7 at the interval. Cappawhite then fell asleep for the opening twenty minutes of the second half. During this time Ballingarry drew level and went ahead by a point. In danger of defeat Cappawhite recovered with a goal by substitute, Sean ONeill, in the twenty second minute. They followed up with a point to put a goal between the sides. In the remaining minutes Ballingarry scored twice and Cappawhite once to give the relieved west team a two-points margin of victory on a scoreline of 2-15 to 1-16 .

The remaining two quarter-finals were played on the weekend of September 16/17. Toomevara and Loughmore- Castleiney clashed in the Ragg on Saturday. The mid runners-up tore into the game and had they got the breaks the result might have been close to scoring goals. Toomevara recovered and a goal by Paddy O'Brien in the twenty sixth minute set them up for a half-time lead of 1-6 to 0-3. They copper-fastened their lead with a Michael O'Meara goal three minutes into the second-half and by the end of the third quarter they led by 2-8 to 0-5. Loughmore-Castleiney recovered with a Ned Ryan goal followed by two points to reduce the deficit to four points. But then, as if sensing danger, Paddy O'Brien collected about fifty yards out, raced through a static Loughmore-Castleiney defence to score his second goal and set Toomevara up for victory. In the end they won by 3-12 to 2-7.

The last of the quarter-finals was played at Templemore on Sunday., September 17th. Thurles Sarsfields continued to impress with a vigorous performance against Moneygall. The mid champions got off to a flying start and had 1-3 on the board after seven minutes.

Moneygall recovered in the second quarter and were only a goal in arrears at the interval. In very wet conditions Thurles dominated the third quarter and left no doubt as to the eventual outcome. Any time Moneygall scored Thurles responded and at the final whistle they had a six-point margin on a scoreline of 1-19 to 0-16.

SEMI-FINALS

The two semi-finals were played at Thurles on October 1. First into the fray were Toomevara and Kickhams. Toomevara got off to a smooth start against the breeze and were three points in the lead after five minutes. It seemed as if predictions were on their way to fulfilment. But then Kickhams blasted these predictions out the window with a barrage of three goals. The first by Vincent Kelly was disallowed but two by Richard Horgan and Paul Morrissey put Kickhams into a 2-1 to 0-3 lead after twelve minutes. Unfortunately for Kickhams they didn't build on the scores and Paddy O'Brien's accuracy from frees ensured that Toomevara recovered to lead by 0-11 to 2-4 at the interval. The third quarter was crucial. During this period Toomevara scored 1-6 while Kickhams failed to raise a flag. In the final quarter Kickhams tried hard for the goal that never came and Toomevara were comfortably in front by 1-17 to 2-7 at the final whistle.

The second semi-final was a game that Cappawhite should have won but were lucky to draw in the end. It tooka Eugene O'Neill point from a free six minutes into injury time to level the match and give them a second chance against Thurles Sarsfields. But, they should never have found themselves in that situation. Playing with a strong breeze in the first half they opened up a 0-10 to 0-4 lead at the interval which seemed substantial enough in poor scoring conditions. The game remained close during the third quarter during which Sarsfields reduced their deficit to four points. The decisive score came in the eighteenth minute when Matty Dowd scored a fortuitous goal as the ball skidded into the Cappawhite net. The goal gave a mighty lift to Thurles and Cappawhite were put very much on the defensive. In the closing minutes Thurles drew level and went a point ahead before O'Neill got the equalizer for Cappawhite. The final score was 1 -10 to 0- 1 3.

The replay was a week later at the same venue. While Cappawhite had played out of their skins in the drawn game it was Sarsfields who turned on the style in the replay. In fact they were such a transformed side they made Cappawhite look pedestrian. They weren't in the same class as the Thurles men and struggled all over the field to find any kind of fluency. Sarsfields raced into the lead in the opening half and were twelve points to three in front after twenty-seven minutes. Cappawhite rallied during the remaining minutes to score four points to Sarsfields' one and  leave the half-time score 0-13 to 0-7.

Sarsfields started the second half with three points. Then Cappawhite had a goal from John Ryan after four minutes and there was hope that it might spark a revival. Such was not to be the case. Cappawhite could make no inroads into Sarsfields lead and as the game progressed the chances of a recovery looked less and less possible. In the end Sarsfields went home impressive winners by 1-24 to 1-13 and raised their hopes for the encounter with Toomevara.

CREDIT UNIONS COUNTY FINAL

The final was a very attractive fixture. The sides hadn't met in a final since 1992 when they drew and Toomevara won the replay. In fact during the years 1992 to 1996 Toomevara had won five encounters between the sides. The 1992 victory had set Toomevara on their way to dominating the county championship during the nineties. They were going for their third-in-a -row, their second such achievement during the period. The odds seemed stacked in their favour. In their games to the final, they showed a zest and a freshness which indicated that winning hadn't interfered with their hunger for victory.

Their side had been strengthened by the introduction of a few fast and skillful forwards like the O'Briens , Bevans, McGrath and Cummins. At the other end they had a very skillful player in
Brendan Dunne.

On the Sarsfields side there was hope. Their great performance against Cappawhite in the replayed semi-final was enough to foster such hope. Some of their players, like Gary Mernagh and Brendan Carroll, had stepped up their performances. In the forward line they had players like Larry Corbett, Ger O'Grady and Matty Dowd to match the best of Toomevara. They also had the experience and commitment of Tommy Maher, Catha! McIntyre and the two Enrights. They had a good blend , some fine performances to prove their credentials and a great hunger to break a barren spell stretching back to 1974. On top of everything they had a manager of experience and achievement in Paddy Doyle.

However, it's the day that counts and all the predictions cannot forecast how players and teams perform on the day. In this case Sarsfields did not perform. They struggled during the hour to get the rhythm going. The smart performances they gave on the way to the final were somehow left behind. The individual performances which had been a highlight of their previous games were not delivered. Anything they achieved on the day was done with too much effort and energy. They scored eleven points in the hour, five of these in the last ten minutes when Toomevara were a man short, which contrasted with an average of almost twenty points for the seven championship games to the final.

In contrast Toomevara were calm, cool and collected, above all efficient. They came into the game without Eoin Brislane, who was hospitalised on the morning of the match, and Paul McGrath, who was sidelined with a broken thumb. They lost Rory Brislane and Tommy Dunne in the course of the second half. And yet they had five points to spare at the final whistle. They were, above all else, composed. They were there to do a task and didn't allow the occasion to get to them. They set about winning as they had done in their previous games, doing everything simply, quickly and well. They had all the answers and their victory sets them off at a standard above the rest in the county.

An attendance of 8,500 at Semple Stadium on October 15 were treated to a game which fell far short of expectations.  Toomevara opened the scoring with a point but Thurles had a great chance of a goal in the seventh minute. Three minutes later John O'Brien scored a goal for Toomevara from a pass from his brother, Paddy. At the end of the first quarter Toomevara were ahead by 1-3 to 0-2. They continued to dominate the second quarter and were in front by 1-6 to 0-2 after twenty-two minutes.  Sarsfields were doing a lot of attacking but getting nowhere against a superb Toomevara defence, especially the inner line of George Frend, Rory Brislane and Brendan Dunne. However, in the remaining minutes they came more into the game, scoring three points to one from Toomevara, to leave the half-time score 1-7 to 0-5.

The score did not adequately reflect Toomevara 's superiority. They were playing the better hurling, making the more effective moves. They were very good at touching the ball away from their opponents, advancing it twenty or third yards with deft touches, when they couldn't get in a full stroke. Overall, they were the more skillful combination.

Whereas the first half was incident free, the second half saw no less than three players get red cards. Referee, Willie Barrett, saw fit to give Tommy Dunne his marching orders ten minutes into the second half as a result of a melee. Five minutes later Sarsfields' Tom Ryan got his red card as a result of a charge on his opponent. And, in the twenty-first minute, Rory Brislane, the Toomevara full-back, got his marching orders as a result of a second yellow card. Three sending-offs might suggest a dirty game but that would be far from the truth. Whereas the game was niggling in spots, the sending-off offences were isolated incidents.

Sarsfields did not continue their revival in the second half. John O'Brien almost had a Toomevara goal in the third minute but was foiled by an alert Ciaran Carroll. Three minutes later O'Brien scored on his second chance to put Toomevara 2-7 to 0-6 in front. The next ten minutes were scrappy as three players got their marching orders. Sarsfields came more into the game and began to run at the Toomevara backs. With five minutes to go they had reduced the deficit to four points. Try as they might they couldn't get the goal they required. During these final minutes Paddy O'Brien scored a point to give Toomevara their 2-10 to 0-11 victory.

And so Toomevara proved once again that they were the strongest club in the county, with a fine blend of youth and age. They were very well prepared and completely focused on what they were doing. On the other hand Thurles Sarsfields were left to regret their failure to do justice to themselves or to deliver the kind of performance they showed themselves capable of in earlier games.

Scored for Toomevara: John O' Brien 2-1; Paddy O'Brien 0-7; Ken Dunne, Tommy Dunne , 0-1 each. 

Scorers for ThurLes Sarsfields: J. Enright 0-4; E. Enright 0-2; Brendan Carroll, Connie Maher, Ger O'Grady, Larry Corbett, Stephen Mason 0-1 each.

Toomevara: John Cottrell, George Frend, Rory Brislane, Brendan Dunne, Philip Shanahan, Tony Delaney, Brian Duff, Terry Dunne (captain ), Padraig Hackett, Ken Dunne, Kevin Cummins, Paddy O'Brien, Mark Bevans, Tommy Dunne, John O'Brien. Sub: Michael O'Meara for Kevin Cummins.

Thurles Sarsfields: Ciaran Carroll, Brian O'Grady , Tommy Maher, Gary Mernagh, Pat Treacy, Seamus O'Shea, Cathal McIntyre , Brendan Carroll (captain), Tom Ryan, Larry Corbett, Eddie Enright, Matthew O'Dowd, Ger O'Grady, Johnny Enright , Connie Maher. Subs: Stephen Mason for Connie Maher, Tony Ruth for Matty O'Dowd.

Man of the Match Award: John O'Brien (Toomevara).
Referee: Willie Barrett (Ardfinnan).

Results at a glance:

County final: Semple Stadium, October 15, 2000.
Toomevara 2-10 Thurles Sarsfields  0-11
Referee: Willie Barrett (Ardfinnan).

County semi-final replay: Oct. 8, 2000.
Thurles Sarsfields 1-24 Cappawhite 1-13
Referee : Michael Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs).

County semi-finals: Semple Stadium, October 1, 2000.
Toomevara  1-17  Kickhams 2-7
Referee: Tom Lonergan (Kilsheelan).

Thurles Sarsfields  1-10 Cappawhite 0-13
Referee: Michael Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs).

County quarter-final: Templemore , September 17, 2000.
Thurles Sarsfields 1-19 Moneygall 0-16
Referee: John Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs).

County quarter-final: The Ragg, September 16, 2000.
Toomevara 3-12 Loughmore-Castleiney 2-7
Referee: Willie Barrett (Ardfinnan ).

County quarter-finals: Semple Stadium, September 9, 2000.
Cappawhite 2-15 Ballingarry  1-16
Referee: Willie Clohessy (Drom Inch).
Kickhams 5-11 Carrick Swans 2-13
Referee: John Collins (Templederry).

<span class="postTitle">Recent G.A.A. Publications - 2000</span> Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2001, pp 127-128

Recent G.A.A. Publications - 2000

Tipperary G.A.A. Yearbook 2001, pp 127-128

Quite a number of books on G.A.A. matters appeared during the year or will be appearing in the near future. Two of the latter, which are scheduled to appear in the Spring, are divisional histories. J.J. Kennedy has been working for some years on the history of the west division and the book is near set to go to the printers. 

It will include about 600 pages and there's a preview of it elsewhere in this book. I am completing the history of the north division and it is hoped to have it published next March. It will also be an extensive work. These will be very valuable works and fill a niche in the county collection of G.A.A. books. The other divisions are partly catered for. Michael Dundon brought out a short history of the mid division in 1984 and Michael O'Meara's south convention handbook last December included an extensive list of previous board officers, scór winners, gate receipts and championship results. Both are important reference sources. 

Three Club Histories

On the club front the past year saw the publication of three club histories. In July the history of the G.A.A. in Drangan and Cloneen, 1885-2000 was launched in the Community Hall, Cloneen. Produced by a history committee and written by Eamon Hall, it is an invaluable reference work on the history of the club. Attractively produced in A4 size and containing 240 pages, it is written on good quality paper, has a fine selection of photographs and is great value for £10. 

Early in November Emly brought out their club history called "Parish of Emly - History of Gaelic Games and Athletics" edited by Michael O'Dwyer, who published the "History of Emly" some years back. Emly was originally a hurling place and one of its early stalwarts was Jack Raleigh, who played with the famous Greyhounds. An early administrator was Johnny Hennessy, who is reputed to have scored a point from a puckout on one occasion. Another famous Emly man was Jim Mitchel, a great athlete, who held the world record in the hammer event. He remained in the U.S. after the 1888 "Invasion" and travelled to Athens for the Olympics. On his way he hurt his shoulder and couldn't perform so he reported the games for an American newspaper. For more, buy the book, which contains over 300 pages and is in hardback, for £15. 

The third club history is called "Inane Rovers Gaelic Football Club - 50th Anniversary" and it was launched by Michael Frawley, Chairman of Football Board at Grant's Hotel, Roscrea on December 1. For half a century Inane have been ploughing a lone football furrow in the north division and this book celebrates their achievements. The book contains 124 pages, includes over 80 photographs, sells at the giveaway price of £5 and is written as a labour of love by Ciaran MacNicolas. 

Two-Mile-Borris celebrated the All-Ireland hurling winners of 1900 during the year. The club erected a monument to the men in the heart of the village and G.A.A. President, Sean McCague, came to unveil it. In conjunction with the celebrations Jimmy Fogarty produced a souvenir history which gives an account of the lives and times of these heroes from 1885-1920. Containing 76 pages it's available for £5 and is an important complement to the Moycarkey-Borris club history, which was published in 1984. 

Tipperary's G.A.A. Ballads

In a totally different field is a book called "Tipperary's G.A.A. Ballads" which was launched in the Sarsfields Social Centre, Thurles, on November 25. Containing over 700 pages it includes the ballads, poems and recitations of the G.A.A. in the county since the Association was founded in 1884 and even some from before that date. It was produced by the Millennium Committee as a Millennium project and is chiefly the work of Liam Ó Donnchu, Jimmy Smith, who did the same a few years ago for Clare with "Ballads of the Banner", and myself. I cannot emphasise too much the importance of this publication. Never before has this material been collected and it is now preserved for posterity. Published for £10 it's a steal at the price and should be in every home in Tipperary alongside Knocknagow and other bibles of the county. 

An interesting development in programme production this year was the inclusion of players' townslands and town areas in this year's county final program. 'No man will love his land or race, who has no pride in his native place'. 

Other Publications

Another major work launched during the year was "A History of Gaelic Football". Written by former Galway All-Ireland football star, Jack Mahon, it traces the history of the game from the beginning up to the present. Mahon has a large number of G.A.A. publications to his credit and this is his magnus opus. Published by Gill and MacMillan and retailing at £20, it will long be the main reference book on Gaelic football. 

Blackwater Press brought out "Hurling Heroes" by Eddie Keher at a launch in K'ilkenny in November. In this book Keher profiles fourteen hurling "greats". His choice is interesting and in some cases unusual. There's a strong Tipperary presence in the book with Jimmy Doyle, Pat Fox and Len Gaynor profiled. Another player and manager profiled with strong Tipperary connections is Michael O'Grady. The other "greats" included are Tom Cheasty, Joe Cooney, Ray Cummins, Tony Doran, Pat Hartigan, Fan Larkin, Ger Loughnane, Paddy Molloy, Noel Skehan and Tom Walsh. The book sells for £10. 

Also from Kilkenny is "The Kilkenny G.A.A. Bible", a comprehensive collection of Kilkenny and National G.A.A. records since 1887. It's a Millennium production of the Kilkenny GAA. Yearbook Committee. Almost 200 pages long it is a magnificent reference book and sells for £5. 

A similar kind of book but doing the same thing for the province of Leinster is "Comhairle Laighean 1900-2000 Cead Bliain de Chluichi Gaelacha". Published by the Leinster Council and printed by the Kilkenny People it sells for £10 and is the reference for anyone interested in Leinster Council records. 

Finally, the Munster G.AA History is being updated. First published in 1984, the updated volume will take the story up to 2000. It will include corrections to the first volume and new material on areas of G.A.A. activity not covered in 1984. It will also include a comprehensive bibliography of G.A.A. books published in Munster. It is due for publication in March and will probably retail at £10.

<span class="postTitle">Rockwell College 1920-1921</span> Rockwell College Annual 2000-2001, pp 148-151

Rockwell College 1920-1921

Rockwell College Annual 2000-2001, pp 148-151

The War of Independence impinged on life in Rockwell College in a major way during the period September 1920 to June 1921. The first entry in the College Journal to mention the subject appears on September 12th. According to it, one of the lay teachers, Seamus O'Neill, was arrested by the military near Blackcastle, Rosegreen. Reports varied as to what work was afoot there. One report stated it was an "Arbitration Court" of Sinn Fein. Another version was that it was a sort of Volunteers Manoeuvres. The writer goes on to give his own version: "The truth seems to be that it was a meeting of the Chief Volunteer officers of Munster." He adds a rider, "O'Neill, when taken on the staff after his previous imprisonment, had given the Superior in writing a pledge not to take part in any such proceedings." The teacher in question, known as the "Professor", was born in 1892 and was one of the Clonmel group involved in the Easter Rising of 1916. He was arrested in Rockwell in 1916 and on two later occasions because of his Sinn Fein involvement. He spent a term in Frongoch in Wales. He later joined the Garda Siochana and became a superintendent, serving in many places, including Galway. His son, Niall, was Principal of the Vocational School in Clonmel. He died in 1974. 

Eight days after, September 20th, the College was raided. A Flying Column of Lancers, numbering from 60 to 1OO, raided the College. The raid lasted' an hour. There were about half a dozen officers. The Commanding Officer, Captain de Burgh, was very courteous to the Superior, assuring him that his only objective was to searc;h Mr. O'Neill's room and that he had no intention of disturbing any of the Fathers. On their arrival, they put pickets along the main avenue and at the main principal entrances. There were three main search parties, one going to the Infirmary, another to the Rock and boat house and third to O'Neill's room and the Fathers' Corridor. A number of places were ransacked. The proceeds of the raids were two Irish Volunteer Drill Manuals which were found under 0'Neill's mattress, as well as Fr. Colgan's fowling piece and the farmyard gun, both found in Fr. Colgan's room and removed, although he had a permit for the former. 

On September 28th, the military broke into Carrigeen in the early hours of the morning and searched it. They also woke up the brothers Hennessy on Rockwell Hill but did not search their cottage. They were searching for a man "on the run". 

In the middle of October, it is reported that shooting was heard in the direction of New Inn. On the 17th of the month, a collection was made at the door of the Chapel during the People's Mass in aid of the fund for the Belfast expelled workers. £8 was realised. There are two interesting entries for October 25th. "The War in Wexford" by H. B. Wheeler and A. M. Broadley was begun as reading during dinner in the Community Refectory. Also the death of Terence McSwiney was recorded. 

The entry for October 28th reports on the ambush near Thomastown in which three soldiers were killed and five wounded. The writer adds, "That will bring reprisals fairly close to us. Some did take place in Golden and later on in Tipperary." The following day it is reported that there was Solemn Mass for the repose of the soul of Terence McSwiney. On November 3rd, five Rockwell priests went to New Inn for a Solemn Requiem for "young Murphy, a hunger striker, who died in Cork gaol." 

There is a lull in activities until December 19th when it is reported that a military lorry came a little way up the back avenue about 4.25 p.m. There was no Midnight Mass on December 24th owing to the disturbed state of the country. However, all was not gloom. The entry tells us that on Christmas Day after dinner, the Community had coffee vieux style in the parlour and some songs." 

The entry for December 30th informs us that on that morning, it was found that two double trenches had been cut on Rockwell Bridge. They were filled in during the course of the day. It was reported in the middle of January that a tree was felled near the front gate, "seemingly in connection with an attack on New Inn Barracks that night." Two days later there were sounds of firing and some loud explosions heard from the Golden side. There was no morning post on January 24th, "owing to the roads being trenched between Cashel and Goulds Cross." A week later, we are told that "two of our trees were found felled blocking the road near the front gates." 

On February 18th, Rockwell Bridge was again found trenched. "Mr. Folker, C. O. Cashel, called on the Superior and commandeered some of our workmen to fill in the trenches." The following day, the entry reads, "For some time past, owing to the state of the times, no mail car has been running between Cashel and Goulds Cross. This has led to the disorganising of our postal service." On March 5th news came of a Black and Tan having been shot in Cashel the previous night. "The town is in consternation, apprehending reprisals. The Officer, however, held his men well in hand." 

Cycling became a subversive activity as an entry on May 1st suggest. "A proclamation forbids cycling without a permit in the Cashel Inspectorate." Earlier it had been reported that Condon, the tailor Brother's assistant, had been arrested in Tipperary for riding a bicycle after 8 p.m. He had to pay £2 to redeem his machine. On May 5th very heavy firing was heard about 9.30 p.m. in the direction of New Inn. There was no post or papers on May 7th, owing to the blocking of the G.S.W.R. line by the destruction of the bridge spanning the line at Holy Cross. About a week later, it is reported that "Grogan, a neighbouring farmer, had his house at Shanballagh destroyed as an official reprisal." 

The College was the centre of activity once again in June. On June 8th, it was reported that during dinner time, some fifty of the Crown Forces came and made a perfunctory search of the College. They contented themselves with passing through the Boys' Dining Room, the parlour building and the Fathers' Corridor. Most of the troops remained outside. Two officers requested the Superior to sign a certificate that nothing in the house had been damaged or stolen. Later on, when the troops had gone, it transpired that at the Calvary under the Rock, the statues of the Blessed Virgin and St. John had been shattered. There was a Black and Tan picketed there and he seemed to be the worse for drink. The Superior wrote, reporting the matter to the C.O. Tipperary. The raid lasted about half an hour. 

A week later, a convoy of military lorries commandeered "some of our goal posts to help them get over the damaged Rockwell Bridge." They restored the posts. On June 21st, during the Annual Retreat for the Community, the Crown military forces encamped for the night on the Scholastics' playing field. That night, the LR.A. and the Crown Forces had an exchange of shorts at Garranlea. This is the last mention of the political disturbances. The Truce came into effect on July 11th. 

In spite of all the disturbances the College's academic year began on September 6th. The railway strike in the west made it hard for some of the boys to return. Some had to pay as much as £10 to motor over from neighbouring counties. The Staff was much the same as the previous year. The Community included Fathers Muller, Schmidt, Colgan, McGrath, Kingston, O'Neill, Meagher, Egan, Meyer, Leen, McAllister and McCarthy. 

There were three Fathers who were not on the teaching staff, the Superior, Fr. Byrne, and Fathers Cotter and Walshe. The Prefects (C.S.Sp.) included Rev. Messrs. McCarthy, Finnegan, Mansfield, Liston, Maguire, Neville, McGree and Foley. The lay teachers were Messrs. Ryan, Harte, O'Neill, Gallagher and Twomey. The Brothers were the same as the previous year with the exception of Brother Virgilius who had died. Brother Malachy's post as Parlour Brother was to be shared by Brother Canice and a servant. The total number of boys was 150 with the Junior Scholastics numbering 41. 

This was the year of the "Bleeding Statues" in Templemore. Fr. Leen went to the town to investigate. His conclusions are interesting. "While he was deeply impressed by the faith displayed by the people, and while testifying to the presence on the statues of what seemed to be dried blood, he reserved judgement as to the nature and origin of the phenomenon." He was correct in his reservations. An entry the following May reads, "In connection with the 'Bleeding Statues' of Templemore, the Archbishop got from the boy, Walsh, a signed confession, acknowledging that it had all been an imposture." 

Classes began on September 7th with six 10-minute classes between 2 and 3 p.m. There was a half-day on the following day. There was a free day for the Intermediate Prize List on September 13th. Because of the disturbed times, there was no walk. Rockwell won fourteen distinctions - three Exhibitions, 8 prizes, 1 Medal and 2 Composition Prizes." The Boys' Retreat began two days later and lasted four days. A free day followed and the boys went for a picnic to the Rock of Cashel. After tea that evening, they had a soiree. 

There is an unusual entry for September 26th. "At 9.30 twenty-eight boys ran away. Four of them returned in a few hours. The Dean, Fr. Leen, overtook them near Dundrum but failed to induce them to come back. Five leaders were definitely excluded while the others were back within a fortnight. Their flight seemed to be due to the idea that we should have a week's cessation of work to show our sympathy with the Lord Mayor of Cork, who is dying of hunger in Brixton gaol." There is a report on October 7th which has this to say. "Most of the runaways back. E. Hickey was sent to Blackrock. He was not a runaway, but seems to have incited the others to go." It is reported later that two boys ran away on January 30th. 

The Christmas exams ended at 11.30 a.m. on December 16th. The results were read to the boys at 8 p.m. that evening and they left for their vacation on the following day. On Ash Wednesday, which fell on February 9th, the boys went for a walk to Knockgraffon. The College was visited by an Inspector on May 2nd. A Mr. Ensor inspected the English, Classical and Modern Language classes. There were three cases of mumps among the Scholastics on May 6th. They were isolated in a new ward over the Bursar's Room. There was a fresh case on the 17th and three further cases on the 23rd. On June 7th, Mr. Nicholls of the Intermediate Board inspected the Irish and Mathematical Classes. A week later, we read that "the boys packed their trunks". The day after, about eighty boys went home, leaving a similar number behind for the Intermediate Examination. 

There is not a great amount about games during the year. On November 21st, the first team played and beat Cahir at Gaelic football. On December 8th, which was a free day, the Juniors beat the Dayboys at football. On January 30th, the Seniors beat the Scholastics at hurling. On April 13th, the boys began a· series of medal matches in hurling. There are a number of further references to medal matches but no mention of contests with other schools. The winners of the Competition had a special spread at dinner on June 12th, after which the Superior distributed the medals and addressed a few words to the players. The boys had their first swim on June 3rd. 

There were a number of celebrations during the year. On October 4th, there was coffee in the refectory after dinner to celebrate the new interim grant from the Intermediate Board. The grant worked out at some £37 per head for every qualified teacher, clerical and lay. They had more coffee the following day, in honour of a visitor. However, it was a mixed blessing "to have fifteen of us confined for an hour in our stuffy refectory." On November 18th, the sugar supply ran out owing to difficulties of railway transport. Gavin Duffy's "Life of Davis" was the reading at dinner in January. A supply of Wolfhill coal was received on February 7th. It was rather hard to kindle. Fr. Michael O'Shea's legacy of £500 for Masses was a welcome present on February 8th. On March 27th, there was coffee in the parlour after dinner and Fr. Egan upheld the thesis that "Ireland is not a nation." 

There was very bad weather in September and October. There are a number of references to gales and downpours. There was a stamp crisis in October. The old system was that all letters were given to the Bursar for stamping. According to the Journal entry, this was open to abuse by persons not belonging to the Community. Under the new system, the members of the Community had to apply to the Bursar for a supply of stamps and had to stamp their own letters. During the same month, an attempt was being made to have the prayers said in Irish. On October 9th, it is reported that a vaporised petrol lamp, known as a Quick-Lite, was tried in the Quadrangle and was a great success. It had been in use in the Lake House for the previous month. On April 3rd, we read that Rockwell adheres to true Greenwich time, which is 25 minutes behind Greenwich. 

There is a fascinating entry for April 26th. "A postulant, Cummins, either sleepwalking or delirious, clambered out of the upper Infirmary windows, and fell on the concrete walk at the cellar door. Save for bruised heels, he was uninjured." We are given more information the following day. He was diagnosed as having scarlatina and was transferred to Cashel Hospital. "The infection seems to have come through Mrs. Quinn, one of our milkers, so she was ordered to cease milking for the present." 

<span class="postTitle">Jim 'Jumbo' Ryan</span> Program for Cashel King Cormac's Benefit Night at Thurles Greyhound Track, August 8, 2000.

Jim 'Jumbo' Ryan

Program for Cashel King Cormac's Benefit Night at Thurles Greyhound Track, August 8, 2000.

Jim, mostly known as Jumbo, Ryan is big, not only in stature but in the greyhound world as well. He believes he must have been a big baby because he’s been called Jumbo as long as he can remember. In fact, so used is he to the name that when he was in the U.S. and was occasionally called Jim, he wouldn’t answer to the name.

A native of the Commons, Cashel he was actually born in Hill House, Cashel which was a nursing home at the time, run by Nurse Rouse. Significantly, he is now living in Bohermore, virtually in the shadow of the house where he first saw the light of day in May 1934.

The family nickname was ‘Jilly’, to differentiate them from all the other Ryans and his father’s people came from Cloneyross, Drombane. The father’s name was Mattie, a farmer, with an interest in dogs. According to Jumbo he made good money out of them ‘when a £ was worth a £.’ He won the Irish Plate at Clounanna about 1943 with Cloneyross Lass.

Jumbo was the third of four boys. Tommy was the eldest and continues to farm the home place. Mickey also lives in the Commons. The fourth boy, Mattie, lives in Lagganstown. The boys played hurling with the Cashel King Cormac’s. Jumbo won west minor medals in 1949 and 1952 and was on the junior hurling team which won the 1953 county final. Mickey was also on the team and Mattie was on the panel. He also played senior football with Rockwell Rovers.

Jumbo grew up with greyhounds. He recalls a daily chore after school of walking the dogs three miles daily. Life was tough and he learned to work hard, which stood him good stead later. But there were relaxations. Pheasant and duck shooting and helping out the local coursing club for their two-day annual meet were enjoyed. ‘I found the hare drives very exciting. To be among sixty or more beaters was great. It was all good, healthy outdoor exercise and great fun.’

He remembers begging his parents for permission to see his first film in 1949 at the Rock Cinema in Cashel. Part of the show was a screen account of the Tipperary-Laois All-Ireland, which Tipperary won by 3-11 to 0-3. Prominent on the Tipperary panel was local hero and super star, Jim Devitt.

Minnesota

He decided to emigrate in 1959 and the place he chose was St. Paul, the twin city of Minneapolis in Minnesota. There was reason for his choice of destination. A shooting buddy, Joe Gould of Rosegreen, was going there and he went along. They later sponsored two friends to follow them.

His first job was in the Northland Ski Company that manufactured snow skis, toboggans, ice-hockey sticks, snow shoes, etc. He worked as a dispatcher. The skis from this place went all over the U.S. Most of the brand names in skis and toboggans originated here. People who bought expensive brands believed they were getting specially made skis whereas all they were getting was a conveyor-belt production with the brand name stuck on. Some of the skis he despatched were used in the winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, California in 1960 by the United States Olympic team.

His next job was also far-removed from farming and greyhounds. He got a job in a factory which made parts for aircraft and worked in this from 1960 to 1972. He made impellers for planes and the only greyhound he saw during this time was one being shipped through Minneapolis airport.

It wasn’t all work. While in Minnesota he started a hurling team. The Cashel King Cormac’s club presented him with a set of jerseys and socks, supplied by E.D. Ryan of Friar Street. When he was returning to Ireland he brought back the jerseys and presented them to Cashel C.B.S. He recalled a game he played in Chicago: ‘Can you imagine driving a 900 miles round trip, play a game in ninety degree heat and be back for a 6 am start at work on Monday morning.’

He also looked after other important matters. He had met Aggie Grant from Bank Place, Cashel, who worked as a nurse in the Miller Hospital, St. Paul, and they got married on Independence Day, 1964. The ‘Miller’ name was to have further significance.

The married couple retired back to Ireland in 1972 and it was to be the first of three retirements! Jumbo had done well in Minnesota but the cold was severe in the winter.

They bought Pine Lodge from Pat Dalton, a house with fifteen acres on the Old Road. It was called Pine Lodge after a horse which won money for Jumbo at 11/1. Here he went into breeding and training in what came to be known as the Minnesota Kennels.

His first bitch was Letesia, which he bought in Scotland for £40. He knew this bitch for some time as it had been owned by his brother, Mickey. It had made the top price of £525 at the Shelbourne sales. Jumbo had been on the lookout for her after he decided to come back to Ireland and go into breeding. She cost £40 as a brood bitch.

Waterloo Cup

The first litter of pups he ever produced was from Letesia and the sire was Bright Lad, which was owned by Mickey. One of the litter was called Minnesota Miller and it was to make Jumbo famous. Born in August 1973 the dog started racing during 1975 and coursing early in 1976. He won a few races on the track at Thurles but really made his name coursing. Between January 4 and February 13, 1976 Minnesota Miller won eighteen successive flags, including the Clarke Cup, the Blue Riband of Irish open coursing in Old Carton, Co. Meath, and the Waterloo Cup, the Blue Riband of English coursing.

He came back to win a 575 on the track at Thurles and then he featured in a triple dead heat for second place in a big stake at the same venue. Only three dogs could go forward and a draw was made for two of the three. Minnesota Miller was last out and Jumbo decided to retire him to stud. He was a good stud dog and produced, among others, an Irish Derby winner, Suir Miller, for his owners, Willie and Betty Flood of Laganstown.

A repeat mating of Letesia and Bright Lad produced, among others the equally famous, Minnesota Yank. It won the Waterloo Cup in 1977, the year after Minnesota Miller. It was the first Irish double to be registered in the event since Master McGrath achieved the feat in 1869. It was also the first time in the history of the classic that two full brothers had triumphed. Minnesota Yank was the first Waterloo winner to return and win a thirty-two all-age stake. In fact, he won two in succession.

Jumbo raced Minnesota Yank once after Waterloo and won at Mullingar. He then sold him to an English owner. At this time he was very busy, had too many dogs and was finding it difficult to carry on a training and a breeding program.

Jumbo hoped to win the Waterloo Cup for a third time in 1978. The dog he had in mind to achieve the treble was a litter brother of Yank, Minnesota Swank, who had been racing in the U.S. and was shipped back to Ireland for the cup. There was a great attraction in winning a treble in the classic. The cup was a very valuable gold trophy and would be won outright with the third victory. However, the Waterloo Cup wasn’t run in 1978 so he never got a chance. However, as he said ‘Two for two wasn’t too bad for a Rookie!’

He continued training and breeding in Pine Lodge for thirteen years. He was a very busy man, in great demand for breeding and training. He recalls having dogs racing at three different tracks on the same night. He had some faithful travelling companions to many meets, especially to Altcar for the Waterloo Cup. These were his brother, Mickey, Dick Walsh of Newinn and John Morrissey of Cashel. Older brother, Tommy, was a great help at local weekend meets. Life was good but he was on the go all the time and decided to retire for the second time, this time to Florida.

He sold out and went to Florida but he didn’t quite give up the dogs. He became an assistant to Pat Dalton, who kept two places with about seventy dogs in each. He prepared the dogs for races and continued to have a good eye for the right dog. One such was Spartan Sun, which he spotted in Pat Dalton’s kennel in Boston in 1985 and bought for $4,000 as a wedding anniversary present for his wife. Within two months he had won the $150,000 Wonderland Derby. Prior to that he had reached the final of the Wonderland Sprint Classic and, only for an error in the final, could have won that as well. It was a wonderful anniversary present even though Aggie had been a bit sceptical when he told her about it.

After thirteen years in Florida Jumbo and Aggie decided to retire again, this time to Ireland. Earlier they had bought a residence in Bohermore and came back there in 1997. It was about their fifteenth change of residence but he believes they are home to stay. As Jumbo reminisces on his years he can look back to major achievements, which include classic victories in three countries, and to a life full of incident and excitement. He can also be sure that wherever dogs are spoken of the names of Minnesota Miller and Minnesota Yank, as well as the bitch Letesia and the sire Bright Lad, not forgetting Spartan Sun, will be remembered.