Mullinahone.net

This year 2009, the GAA celebrates 125 years of existence. Next Sunday week, May 10th, has been designated La na gClub by the Croke Park authorities. This is to be a day when the paramount importance of the local Club will take precedence over all Championship fixtures and events. Club Officials all over the country have been requested to organise local events which will show the modern GAA in a positive light in every one of the GAA’s parishes all over the country. Since it’s inception in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, 125 years ago, the GAA through it’s Clubs has always been a bulwark of both parish pride and nationalism. It has been a cornerstone on which many parishes have been built.

In the absence of a local Club history, it is no harm to reflect on the GAA in Mullinahone in 25 year segments. The Mullinahone Club was founded in 1885 within a year of the birth of the association. The original Club was built around the “Ballycullen Footballers”, a group of locals who in the early days, spent hours playing football in the townland. They may indeed have spent time discussing tactics also around the Five Eye Bridge. Some of the players may have played with the Poulacapple Club which existed for a few years in the early days of the 20th Century. A number of these may have lined out with Grangemockler in what was their Golden age. When Cloneen won the County Senior Football Title in 1908, two of the members of the team were Paddy and Ned Egan of Poulacapple.

The second 25 years from 1909 to 1934 was the Golden Age of Mullinahone football. Originally organised by Frank O’Brien, at least four County Senior titles were won and possibly a fifth in 1916. Mullinahone players began to represent the County and the Mullinahone colour which was red (the colour of the British Empire) was replaced by “the Green above the red”, as the fight for freedom swept across the country. Mullinahone played a huge part in this struggle and also in the events of Bloody Sunday 1920.

The third era 1935 - 1959 was dominated by World War Two and emigration of the 1950’s. The strange game of hurling briefly flared up in 1940 while a Mullinahone 7 was the dominant force in seven aside tournaments during the 1940’s. No County Football title was won and emigration caused the Club to fade from Senior ranks. Mick Cahill won a cork Senior Football Medal with Lees in 1952 but who won an Ulster Senior Football Medal with Cavan in the 1940’s?

The 25 years 1959 - 1960 saw the games struggle on. In 1962, we won our first County Juvenile Football Title. It could have gone the way in the boardroom of the one won in 1956, but it didn’t. In 1966, we lost the 1965 Intermediate County Football Final to Newport, but in 1973, we won a County Junior Football Title. That team may not have been great footballers, but it gave us more club administrators than any previous bunch of players. Another hurling spark flared in 1979.

Centenary year 1984 began the final 25 years.
"La na gclub" 1984 may have been one of "our darkest days", but our Golden age was about to dawn. Underage football and hurling began to flourish and in 1988, we won the County U.21B football and hurling double. Our first county Hurling title. Next came 1989 the year of glory. The great days had arrived and were to culminate with a County Senior Hurling Title in 2002. Mullinahone became a household GAA name. As the sun seems to be setting on the days of glory it is well to be able to record that the highest office in the GAA in South Tipperary, is held by Mullinahone club man Dick Egan. On the other hand, our underage players now seem to show more promise than they did back in 1984. Perhaps a new dawn is not too far away.

Juno and the Paycock
The Fionn Mac Cumhaill Players present the great Sean O'Casey play "Juno and the Paycock" in Cloneen on May 15th, 16th and 17th. Set in 1922 Dublin, in the aftermath of the 1916 Rising and the fight for freedom this play caused uproar and riots in the streets when it first opened. It centres around the Boyle Family who live in a tenement Georgian building in Central Dublin when times were tough and people tougher. Juno Boyle is a hardworking mother who tries to keep her family together despite her layabout husbands allergic reaction to work and his constant drinking and yarn telling is a story which was common enough in Ireland. Although this play is classed as a tragedy, you cannot but laugh at the antics of the characters in this play. It is a show not to be missed. Remember Cloneen May 15th - 17th. Tickets only €10. Enquiries to 086 8871467 or 086 0834208.

Local Lotto
The last draw took place on Monday April 20th. The numbers drawn were: (9,19,21,25)

There was no Jackpot winner but five people shared the Match 3 prize of €150. Congratulations to kevin Fitzpatrick, B. Wilson, Ben Doran, Alice Burgess and Sharon Brennan. Next draw will be on Tuesday May 5th when the Jackpot could have reached €5,450. However you won't win it if you are not in it.

Roadside Spring Clean
Around this time last year, there was a major clean up of all roads leading in to the Village. This clean-up was spearheaded by local Fas and Local Authority workers. The clean up or late Spring clean was highly successful and left the roadsides quite clean and devoid of litter and rubbish. Alas, the situation has not continued and the approach roads to the village could again do with a good clean-up. I wonder if there is a chance of Clean-up 2008 being repeated in the near future. Of course, there should be an obligation on all property owners to help to keep the roadsides tidy outside their own property. There is an onus also on all passers by to avoid the dumping of litter or rubbish on the roadsides and all who do this should be reported to the Authorities.

It is all very well to teach a tidy village and a tidy countryside in our schools, but we seem to fall down when it comes to reporting "dumpers" to the Local Authoirty. What are the chances of immmediate improvement. This is a matter which affects everyone.

Parish News
First Communion Day in Mullinahone Parish will be on Saturday May 23rd. Previous to this, First Confession will take place in St. Michaels Church on Friday May 8th at 7.30pm. A months mind mass will take place on this Friday night for Fr. Stephen Kennedy, late of Poulacapple and Glasgow, Scotland. Mass is at 8pm.

Anniversary Mass this Saturday night May 2nd 8pm Mary and Bill Hennessy, Modeshill

Sunday May 3rd9.30am Mass will be for deceased members of the Noonan family, Ballycullen.

11.30am Anniversary Mass for Frank O'Brien, Kyleawilling.

For the duration of the month of May (the month of Our Lady), the rosary will be said at the local grotto each evening at 7.15pm from Monday to Friday.

Mobile Phones and Clothes
A collection of used mobile phones and clothes is being put together in St. Michaels N.S., Mullinahone. Please leave clothes and phones into the school for this fundraiser before this Friday May 1st.

Reflection
Gossip is the art of saying nothing in a way that leaves practically nothing unsaid.

Mullinahone GAA Club.125 year celebrations:
Sunday May10th has been set aside for clubs to celebrate its role since the Gaa was founded 125 years ago. Our club will be celebrating this occasion with a number of events on the day. This is an opportunity for every family to come together and remember your families contribution to our club over those years. The days events will start with mass for our deceased members at 11-30 in St.Michaels church. The mass will begin with a parade into the church of all our teams from U6 to adult dressed in their colours. It is hoped to have as many families as possible will attend. Following mass the teams will parade to the sports ground where a plaque will be unveiled to mark the occasion. This will be followed by a match between our U10 and U12 teams. Light refreshments will be served on the day. The success of the occasion will depend on the support of the public and all players in the club. You can also view the sports facilities available to the parish. Everybody is welcome.

Club news
Our senior hurlers started their season with a game against Killenaule last Sunday. Due to number of injuries many young players got a chance to play senior for the first time. Against a strong Killenaule team they certainly tried hard and never threw in the towel. The experience will benefit them in the future. Hopefully our injured players will now have some time to work their way back to full fitness.

Congratulations to Alan Curran on being part of the panel for Tipperary's great football league win.
Indeed well done to everybody in the Tipperary football set up.

Best of luck also to Sean Curran in Wednesdays minor hurling championship game against Limerick in Thurles.

Juvenile GAA
Coaching times for our underage hurling and football players are as follows:

Under 6On Saturday at 10am
Under 8On Saturday 6 - 7pm and St. 10am to 11am
Under 10On Saturday 9.45 to 10.45am and Tuesday 6 - 7pm
Under 12On Tuesday 6 - 7pm and Saturday 9.45 - 10.45am
Under 14On Mondays and Thursdays 6.30 - 7.30pm
Under 16Thursdays 7 - 8pm and Saturdays 11am to 12 noon.

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