Former Pupil & Hockey Player From Ursuline Convent Thurles, Sinks Germany.

Mr Tom Ryan reports:

A leading hockey player and native of Newport Co. Tipperary was on target to score the winning goal in the over 45s Euro Hockey Championship final, against Germany, in Valencia Spain, last week.

The player, Barrister Ms EJ Walsh, daughter of Ed and Stephanie Walsh, of Oakhampton, Newport, was a past pupil of the Ursuline Convent, here in Thurles. Back in 1996, Ms Walsh made history when she captained her team to win the very first All-Ireland schools Senior Hockey final, for her school.

Ms Walsh is presently married to Mr Ray Delahunt and both reside currently, with their two children, namely Hannah (aged 11) and Sam (aged 10), at their home in Donnybrook, Co. Dublin.

Ms EJ Walsh with her children holding a painting showing the moment of triumph after EJ scored the winning goal against Germany. The painting was conveyed to canvas by renowned Dublin based artist, Zanya Dahl.

The whole family were in Valencia for the Hockey final and stayed on, in that city after the tournament, to enjoy a short break.
“I was glad to meet my friend, Linda Caulfield who captained Ireland’s Senior team for many years. We had shared accommodation together for years. Linda holds 151 senior Caps” said Ms Walsh.

Ms Walsh, who specialises in Civil Litigation, now works mainly in Dublin, but still practices on the South East Circuit and will be back in Tipperary when the courts sit again in Nenagh and Thurles.

“Winning in Valencia was great, but not like winning the Kate Russell Trophy, with the Ursulines convent school back in 1996” said Ms Walsh, who still has a great ‘grá’ for her old alma mater, which she formerly attended in Thurles.

That great All-Ireland winning team of 1996, held a lovely re-union in the Ursuline Convent Thurles in 2006.