Thurles Information » Sport

Death Of Tipperary Hurling Legend Phil Shanahan

George — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:22:46 +0000

Tipperary Hurling Champions 1949

It is with regret we report that Phil Shanahan, who played hurling with both his native Tipperary and Dublin, has passed away.

Born in the parish of Toomevara North Tipperary in January 1928, Phil made his debut at senior level with his club in the 1945 Championship, at just seventeen years of age.

Phil played minor hurling with Tipperary in 1946 and won both All Ireland and Munster senior hurling medals with Tipperary in the famous three in a row victories of 1949, 1950 and 1951, one of only eight players who played in the same position for the three championships.

Phil retired from club hurling in 1966, after a successful career of twenty years. He later turned his attention to training and coaching, beginning with Portlaoise, where he lead the club to five senior football titles between 1966 and 1971. On retiring from Esso in 1982 Phil trained and coached Killenaule, to win three South Tipperary Intermediate Championships in hurling, in 1983, 1985 and 1986.

Phil will be remembered as one of hurling’s finest midfielders, winning four Railway Cup medals in 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953 and four National Hurling League medals in 1949, 1950, 1952 and 1957.

We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Joan (Power) and to his sons, Philip, Brian and David and to all his extended family.

Removal will take place from O’Donoghue’s Funeral Home, Kickham Street, Clonmel, at 7.30pm to St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church this evening. Burial will follow Requiem Mass at 1.00pm tomorrow, in St. Patrick’s Cemetery.

Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam dílis.

Lar Corbett Withdraws From Tipperary Panel

George — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:03:49 +0000

Three-time GAA All Star and Tipperary’s mainstay, since he made his Championship debut in 2001, Lar Corbett has decided to withdraw from the Tipperary Senior Hurling panel for the 2012 season.

A Tipperary County spokesman has confirmed that Corbett has informed his Tipperary manager, Declan Ryan, of this decision to withdraw from the panel, stating that he is unable to give a 100 % commitment to training, due to work and other business commitments.

While Tipperary management have left the door open for his potential return to the squad in the future, his decision is seen as a monumental blow to Tipperary hurling.

In an official statement released by the Tipperary County Board yesterday evening, the Board stated:-

“Tipperary Senior Hurling Management regrets that Lar Corbett has informed us of his withdrawal from the Tipperary Senior Hurling panel due to work and business commitments.
Lar’s importance and value to the Tipperary Senior Hurling team is immeasurable and the door will remain open to him for a return to the panel if those work pressures ease.”

Corbett, during his time with Tipperary, has won two All-Ireland SHC titles (2001, 2010), four Munster SHC titles (2001, 2008, 2009, 2011), two NHL titles (2001, 2008), three All Star accolades (2009, 2010, 2011), GAA, GPA and Texaco Hurler of the Year (2010) and three Tipperary SHC titles (2005, 2009, 2010).

Tipperary Sportmen Sidelined For Four Months

George — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:39:19 +0000

Munster rugby star Denis Leamy has now been ruled out of the Six Nations Championship, due to possibly having surgery for a troublesome hip injury. Denis is unlikely to feature again for the Munster side this season.

Munster coach, Tony McGahan, confirmed that the 30-year-old could be sidelined for up to four months, as he attempts to resolve an injury which has consistently caused problems for the last six months. The Tipperary man, has only featured seven times for Munster this season, and will be travelling to London on Thursday, to seek specialist advice.

Meanwhile Tipperary hurling forward, Seamus Callanan, looks most likely to miss the entire National Hurling League, following a serious ankle injury.

It is understood that the Drom and Inch champion underwent an operation in Dublin this week, to rectify his ankle problem and has been ruled out of action for possibly up to four months.

Callanan’s latest injury setback puts the 23-year-old hurling ace under pressure to be fit for the Tipperary Munster SHC quarter-final, to beheld here in Semple Stadium on May 27th, against Limerick.

GAA Should Acquire Hayes Hotel

George — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:40:24 +0000

Munster MEP Mr Sean Kelly

“The GAA should buy the famous Hayes Hotel here in Thurles.” So says former GAA President and current Fine Gael Munster MEP, Mr Sean Kelly, who has once again reiterated his proposal that the GAA should buy this historic home of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Mr Kelly stated; “Hayes Hotel is a major symbol of Irish cultural and sporting heritage and the location of the first GAA meeting in 1884. The GAA was founded at this hotel, so it is the perfect site for a museum to showcase GAA history and its continued growing success nationally and globally. A GAA museum would be an enormous tourist attraction for sports fans. The GAA is built on the dedication and success of local clubs and future EU sports policy will reinforce the need to support grassroots sports. Indeed, I have often cited the GAA as a leading example of how sport can boost the physical, social and economic health of regional towns, during my work at the European Parliament. Hayes Hotel could also be used as a regional GAA headquarters with staff tasked with supporting local clubs across the country. The creation of a GAA museum, at this time would be timely, as Thurles has been named the 2012 ‘European Town of Sport’.”

Picture courtesy G.Willoughby

Tipperary GAA Experience Decreasing Finances

George — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:35:44 +0000

Tipperary GAA’s financial situation “doesn’t make for pretty reading this year,” that’s according to outgoing chairman Mr Barry O’Brien, when he announced a deficit of €220,000, at Tipperary’s annual convention in Thurles last night..

A figure of €1,171,876 was spent on preparing inter-county teams in 2011, marking the fourth successive year in a row that the county had exceeded the €1m mark. This figure showed a reduction of €61,516, compared to the 2010 figure of €1,233,392, which was an all-time high.

This is now the second year in a row that a financial overrun has been incurred, despite cutting expenditure this year by 13%. This year the county’s incomes dropped across the board, with total gate receipts from local games down by almost 18%, from over €323,000 in 2010 to €263,605 in 2011, and coaching income dropped by €90,000 during the same period.

Mr Sean Nugent, the incoming new Board Chairman, admitted he now faced a difficult task during his term of office. However Mr Nugent stated, “The financial report to convention will cause concern to all present and a major challenge lies ahead to rectify this problem. Our income is decreasing and our costs are rising and we need to reverse that trend. While I am very concerned, I am not in anyway daunted by this challenge ahead and I believe we have the will, the capacity and the public support to turn the tide.”

Officials have warned that further major cuts are now necessary with income decreasing and costs rising. Ideas must now be examined on how to increase commercial income and generate further fundraising activities.

Tipperary County Board Convention

George — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 01:10:57 +0000

The annual Tipperary GAA County Board convention will take place on Monday evening next December 19th in the Dome, at Semple Stadium, Thurles, commencing at 8pm sharp.

The convention will be preceded by Mass for deceased all members, at 7.15pm also in the Dome .

Current County Chairman, Mr Barry O’Brien (Fr. Sheehys) will step down, having served the full 3 year term as Tipperary Chairman. Mr O’Brien is most likely to be replaced by the current Vice-Chairman, Sean Nugent (Kilsheelan-Kilcash).

There are 2 nominees for Vice-Chairman – outgoing Development Officer, Michael Bourke of Upperchurch Drombane and former Chairman of the South Tipperary Board, Micheál McCormack of Fethard.

There are 3 nominees for Development Officer, namely Michael Bourke, Micheál McCormack (Fethard) and former Chairman of the North Tipperary Board, Jimmy Minogue (Nenagh Éire Óg). All other positions are uncontested with the sole nominees in all cases being the outgoing office holders.

All county clubs are asked to make sure their full quota of delegates attend this Convention.

Thurles Awarded European Town of Sport In Brussels

George — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:12:24 +0000

The award from the European Capital of Sport Association is given annually to European towns that are both positive and ethical examples of social policy, so Thurles town take a well deserved bow on achieving the accolade of first European Town of Sport in Ireland and a fitting award for the birthplace of the GAA .

Special congratulations must go to the Mayor of Thurles, Councillor John Kennedy, who together with North Tipperary County Council, LIT and Shannon Development, put in all the hard work, resulting in the achieving of this deserved recognition for Thurles.

Thurles has a wealth of sporting infrastructure with Semple Stadium, Thurles Town FC, Thurles Rugby Club and Thurles Golf Club as just four examples of the numerous state of the art sporting facilities available in the our town. Town Manager, Mr Matt Shortt joined with Thurles Mayor John Kennedy in congratulating all of the groups involved in the project which, he said, “blew away the judging panel.”

Our picture above, taken at the European Capital of Sport Association Awards Ceremony in Brussels shows: Front (left to right) Sean Kelly MEP, Phil Prendergast MEP and Cllr John Kennedy, Mayor of Thurles.

Back (left to right) Michael Ryan Thurles Town Clerk, Brian Keating Regional Development Manager Shannon Development and Kevin O’ Connor New Business Development Manager at Shannon Development.

Speaking about the significance of the award for Thurles, Brian Keating, Shannon Development’s Regional Manager for Tipperary and Offaly stated: “We are delighted to be the first town in Ireland to be awarded the title of European Town of Sport for 2012, following a successful submission from Shannon Development, North Tipperary County Council, LIT Tipperary and North Tipperary Sports Partnership. This award comes at a time when Limerick’s reign as a European City of Sport 2011 draws to a close.”

A county steering group will now be put in place to construct a programme of events for the coming year to celebrate this European recognition. It is estimated that properly promoted, sports events in the Shannon Region could generate an estimated €70m in revenue this year.

LIT Thurles Campus Fundraising Soccer Match

George — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:27:39 +0000

LIT Thurles Campus

Chris Richards contacted us from 1st year Sports Strength and Conditioning at the LIT/Thurles Campus.

They are organising a fundraising soccer match, which will takes place on Thursday 8th December beginning sharp at 3.00pm in the Thurles Towns Pitch, latter situated, as you are all aware, in the Thurles Greyhound Stadium.

LIT/Thurles Campus will be competing against the Thurles and District Garda team and both are attempting to raise much needed funding for North Tipperary Hospice and also to raise money for some necessary equipment.

Entry price to this match is just €5, but will also includes you in an opportunity to win some really marvelous prizes on the day.

Prizes To Be Won: These will include a €300 “One for All Voucher,” a round of golf for 4 plus overnight B & B accommodation at the fabulous Dundrum House Hotel and Leisure Centre, plus much much more.

Students will be selling tickets over the coming week around the Thurles area, so please do support their efforts generously.

Thurles Awarded European Town Of Sport For 2012

George — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:35:03 +0000

Thurles, Co Tipperary has been awarded European Town of Sport for 2012. The news was conveyed to Thurles Mayor, Mr John Kennedy, in a communication received by him yesterday, from ACES: European Capital of Sport Association.

The communication reads as follows:-

My Dear Mayor Kennedy,

Firstly we would like to thank you for the warm welcome and hospitality that we received during our visit to Thurles.

Thurles Mayor Mr John Kennedy NT. CC

The inspection team were delighted to witness the huge range of sports offered to the people of Thurles, there truly is something for everyone to engage in and get active. We also noted the important role played by volunteers in the delivery of sport for the community and it is fair to say that the people of Thurles should be delighted that they have such active citizens delivering for them.

We also noted the excellent local sports partnership working, and the role it plays in promoting sport and participation by those who are unrepresented or marginalised and the promotion of the sport and physical activity at schools.

The facilities that we, the inspection team, saw were also very impressive, particularly for a small town and many a city would be proud to boast of such a portfolio.

The history and links with the Gaelic Athletic Association, in Thurles is tremendous and the fact that a 50,000 capacity stadium is here is testament to a long heritage of sporting tradition. To borrow an old sporting quote,” Thurles does indeed punch above its weight.”

To conclude, it therefore gives us great pleasure to award Thurles the European Town of Sport for 2012.

Signed: Blane Dodds (President ACES UK). John Swanson (Vice President ACES EUROPE). Jim Logue (Hon. President ACES UK).

Mayor Kennedy will now travel to an award ceremony in the European Parliament in Brussels on November 30th next, to receive the award on behalf of the people of Thurles.

Thurles.Info would like to congratulate and thank Mayor Kennedy for his tremendous work in supporting this achievement.

The Objective of the European Capital of Sports Award is an ethical commitment, conscious of the social function that sport has as linking factor between the physical well being of individuals, the general improvement in their quality of life and the harmonious integration of society.

The European Town of Sports Award is an incentive for local administrations and their sport departments to fulfil a fundamental and decisive role in the making of the fabric that contributes to improving the general level of health of the inhabitants in a country, through the culture of healthy and physical exercise.

Christmas Comes Early To Irish Guide Dogs

George — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:40:34 +0000

Golden Vale Hunt Guide Dog Presentation

Christmas came early to the national charity “Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind,” here in Thurles, when the organisation were presented with a cheque for €1,000 from members of the Golden Vale Hunt Club.

The money was raised by club members, following an organised charity ride, held recently, cross country from Drish to Moyne.

Presenting this funding, and picture here left are members of the Golden Vale Hunt Club named as follows:-
Front Row, L – R :- Pat Cantwell, Moyne; Eoin Mockler, (Whip) Upperchurch; Billy Shanahan, Thurles, (Irish Guide Dogs) Michael Shanahan, (Whip) Rahealty; and Jim Russell, Two Mile Borris.
Back Row, L – R :- Diarmuid Molumby, Loughtagalla; Tony Cantwell, Moyne; and Donie O’Connell, Holycross.

Presenting the cheque, Golden Vale Hunt Club’s Michael Shanahan expressed sincere gratitude, on behalf of his organisation, to the many members of the local farming community, who supported this charity ride, by granting access through their property.

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind are a national charity dedicated to helping persons who are blind or vision impaired and families of children with autism, to achieve improved mobility and independence.

Irish Guide Dogs receive over 85% of their income through voluntary donations and fundraising, through a network of volunteers across Ireland. The remaining 15% is provided through statutory bodies and government agencies. It will cost just over €4 million to run their organisation this year.
(Photo courtesy G.Willoughby)