O'Loughlin Gaels GAA Club, Kilkenny: Hope you all enjoyed the first week of Summer Camp! Thanks to all our coaches and assistants last week. A special thank you to the inter-county players who visited the camp - Hurlers Eoin Larkin, Colin Fennelly and Paul Murphy, Footballers Padraig Fogarty, Sean Campbell and Rory Finn and Camogie players Jacqui Frisby and Miriam Walsh.
Under 10’s
Our Under 10’s squad had a great day in Dublin on Sunday last. Sean Hogan contacted this reporter to say the boys took a bus up to see their old pals in Kilmacud Crokes. They played four games and won them all! Then it was back on the bus in order to take their seats in Croker to see the ferocious battle between Kilkenny and Limerick. Our U10’s got to see their Club heroes Mark Kelly and Brian Hogan up close in what was an unforgettable match.
Semi-Final Sunday
O’Loughlin Gaels would like to congratulate four of its finest who took part in the All-Ireland semi-final double bill at headquarters on Sunday last. Ross Butler and Daniel O’Connor were on the minor panel that saw off Waterford after extra time in a titanic tussle. Mark Kelly and Brian Hogan lined out for the Black and Amber in the senior semi against Limerick. In years to come, this may go down in the annals as the “thunder and lightning” semi final. Conditions overhead though, were nothing compared to the ferocity on the ground meted out by both sides, in what truly was an epic semi-final, fought out in atrocious conditions.
Under 6’s Play Ballyragget
Our up-and-coming under-6’s were back in force last Thursday evening as they lined out against the maroon and white jerseys of St. Patrick’s Ballragget for three rousing matches alongside their U-8 comrades who also played hosts to the impressive Ballyragget visitors. An unwavering Ballyragget panel gave their all in what turned out to be an impressive exhibition of promising young hurling talent.
Thanks as always to our friends from St. Patrick’s of Ballyragget, team mentors; Ger Maher and Andy Hanrahan, Under-6 manager Stephen McCormack and all who turned out to cheer on the teams in the evening sunshine. U-6 OLG Panel: Cian Byrne, Luke McDonald, Ruairí Hanrahan, Conor Houlihan, T.J. Comerford, Harry Egan, Jaden Broaders, A.J. O’Keeffe, Eldon Sheridan, Christopher Hayes, Matthew Parsons, Jamie O’ Keeffe, Jamie Houlihan, Jack O’ Dwyer, Ruairí Bowden Mullen, Conor McDonald, Ryan Farrell, Cathal Grogan, Adam Quigley, Amin Ibraham
Club Lotto
There was no winner of this week’s club lotto double draw. The numbers drawn were: 1, 2, 10, 16 and the bonus number was 11. The numbers drawn in the second draw were: 15, 16, 24, 25 and the bonus number was 6. To be in with a chance to win €20,000 – please buy a ticket form any of our registered sellers or call to the clubhouse bar.
Club Golf Classic
O'Loughlin Gaels GAA Club holds its Annual Golf Classic in Kilkenny G.C. on Thursday 28th & Friday 29th August. €150 will get your team of three a tee time on the time-sheet and a chance to win some wonderful prizes. The sheet is filling up fast but Michael O'Reilly is on standby to take your call on 087/2554300. Or simply call into the Clubhouse bar any evening after 9:00 to book your time.
Social Night
O'Loughlin Gaels GAA Club held a social night on Saturday night last by way of saying a sincere thank you to a very special set of volunteers. We cordially invited the following: Programme Sellers, Car Park / Gate, Bar Staff, Ladies Committee, Website Team, Dog Night Volunteers, Champions Sunday Team and Field Committee to our social gathering. Chairman OLG Eddie Buckley was on hand to greet our helpers with a warm handshake and sincere thank you. The lifeblood of our Club is our volunteers. There are big and small tasks that the Club needs help with on an ongoing basis. If you would like to lend a hand – please feel free to make contact with this reporter at the e-mail address above.
It’s Our History
Our country commemorates a number of significant centenaries in the next few years. The first of these gets underway in earnest this month and marks one hundred years since the beginning of World War One 1914 - 1918. The Great War (as it was also known) was fought in mainland Europe (France and Flanders) and saw man pitted against man in horrific trench warfare conditions. It is estimated that almost two thousand men and women with Kilkenny connections served in WW1.
This reporter called to the Town Hall in Kilkenny on Saturday last and met with OLG stalwart Donal Croghan. Donal is Chairman of The Commemorating 1914 – 1918 Committee. He explained that his Great Grand-Uncle John Purcell fought and was killed in The Great War. John Purcell hailed originally from Maddoxtown, Co Kilkenny. Fellow OLG member John Joe Cullen also has connections with The Great War and he too is a member of the committee commemorating The Great War.
The Easter Rising of 1916 will have its Centenary commemorated in two years time. Both of these events have had a profound and lasting legacy on this island right up to the present day. If you have a relation from St John’s Parish who took part in either of these seismic conflicts (WW1 or Easter Rising 1916) and would like to share their story; please contact this reporter at the e-mail address above. We would be delighted to hear from you. We cannot change our history, so together – let’s share it.