Rhys Shelly, Moycarkey/Borris & Tipperary goalkeeper nominated as All Star Hurling Goalkeeper 2025.
Littleton & Two-Mile-Borris Correspondent Mr Gerry Bowe now reports:-
Rhys Shelly Tipperary Goalkeeper.
The Gaelic Athletic Association-Gaelic Players’ Association All Stars Awards (often known simply as the All Stars) are presented annually to the best player in each of the 15 playing positions in Gaelic football and hurling. We are happy to announce that Moycarkey-Borris player Rhys Shelly has been nominated for All Star Goalkeeper for the 2025 season, having contributed significantly to Tipperary winning the 2025 All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
In his third season with Liam Cahill’s squad, this was the 25 year old’s breakthrough year. Rhys was selected as ‘Cúlbaire’ for the critical Munster Round Robin game against Clare in Ennis and thereafter his selection was never in doubt. As Tipperary won successive games against Clare, Laois, Galway, Kilkenny and Cork; Rhys skilfully delivered a range and variety of puck outs that helped his teammates amass their winning scores.
In a memorable All Ireland Final, Rhys saved a penalty, became the first goalie to score from play, and performed excellently throughout. [Wouldn’t the former Moycarkey Borris and Tipperary ‘Cúlbaire’ John O’Grady RIP, have relished analysing his successors puck outs in his ‘Tipperary Star’ columns?]
Rhys is the first player from Moycarkey Borris to be nominated for an All Star Award and the entire parish community is delighted for him and his family on his nomination.
Rhys grew up next door to the hurling field in Littleton where his sisters, brother and his friends spent many hours of practice and fun. His Dad Larry is from Thurles town, but the family home was built on lands of his maternal grandparents.
Jimmy Shanahan and Margaret (nee Kennedy from the Ragg) were always strongly supportive of Moycarkey Borris GAA and the club’s second playing field was purchased from the family.
As Rhys progressed from the Under 8’s into the various under age team groups his mother Mary volunteered to do many of the most essential duties in the Juvenile club. Currently the club’s Senior ‘Runaí’, Mary, is Bord Na -Óg secretary, photographer, PRO etc. etc. and her family have not only provided invaluable support to Rhys, but to a whole generation of boys and girls in the parish. Mary’s mother Margaret (RIP) died a few days before the game against Clare and in the early spring Mary herself was hospitalised with a stroke from which she has thankfully gradually recovered.
Rhys was fortunate to develop, as a young player, in a very talented group of young players and great coaches in Moycarkey Borris GAA. His first experience of being played in goal began at Under 12 and within a couple of years he was established as the team’s regular number one. In this very strong Juvenile team Rhys won Mid and County A Championship medals at Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16. This team also excelled in football and Rhys got his first opportunity in a County panel, with the under 21 footballers. In 2018 Rhys played his first season in the Moycarkey Senior Hurling team as the team won promotion to the top tier of the County Hurling Championships. Also in 2018 he won Mid and County Minor A Hurling Championship medals playing on the half forward line. Having completed his primary and secondary education in Littleton, Moycarkey and Killenaule, Rhys graduated at the University of Limerick and his hurling progressed further in Fitzgibbon Cup winning panels. In 2021 Rhys Captained the Moycarkey Borris team to min the Mid and County Under 21 A Hurling championships. He has helped Moycarkey Borris progress in the County Senior Hurling Championships of 2024 and 2025 to Mid Finals and a County Semi Final
His dedication and achievements have made Rhys an inspiration for the young players in his parish. All Star nominated Rhys, now working with H&MV Engineering, is focused on further successes with Tipperary and bringing the Dan Breen Cup back to Moycarkey Borris.
We wish Rhys the best of luck in the All Star‘sawards on Friday nightnext.
Lyrics and Vocals: American country music singer, songwriter and short-story author, the late Tom T. Hall (1936 – 2021), informally nicknamed “The Storyteller”.
Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine.
“How old do you think I am?” he said. I said, “Well, I didn’t know”. He said, “I turned 65 about 11 months ago”. I was sittin’ in Miami pourin’ blended whiskey down, When this old gray black gentleman was cleanin’ up the lounge. There wasn’t anyone around, ‘cept this old man and me, The guy who ran the bar was watchin’ Ironsides on TV. Uninvited, he sat down and opened up his mind, On old dogs and children and watermelon wine. “Ever had a drink of watermelon wine?” he asked, He told me all about it, though I didn’t answer back. Ain’t but three things in this world that’s worth a solitary dime, But old dogs and children and watermelon wine. He said, “Women think about they-selves, when menfolk ain’t around, And friends are hard to find when they discover that you’re down”. He said, “I tried it all when I was young and in my natural prime, Now it’s old dogs and children and watermelon wine”. Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes, God bless little children while they’re still too young to hate. When he moved away, I found my pen and copied down that line, ‘Bout old dogs and children and watermelon wine. I had to catch a plane up to Atlanta that next day, As I left for my room, I saw him pickin’ up my change. That night I dreamed in peaceful sleep of shady summertime, Of old dogs and children and watermelon wine.
Lyrics: British pop music promoter, group manager and songwriter Ronnie Scott and producer, songwriter and guitar player Steve Wolfe.
Ms Bonnie Tyler
Vocals: Welsh singer Ms Sullivan (née Hopkins), known professionally as MsBonnie Tyler.
If I Sing You A Love Song.
If I Sing You A Love Song. If I sing you a love song, will you always remember? Will you hear it on lonely nights, when I’m not around? If I sing you a love song, will you hear it forever? To remind you how much I care and how I needed you. Love songs last longer than lovers ever do, So, baby, let me sing a love song for you. Love songs don’t leave you, but lovers often do, Oh, baby, I’m afraid it could happen to me and you. If I sing you a love song, let it always be with you, When the others have gone away, let it still be there.
Love songs last longer than lovers ever do, So, baby, let me sing a love song for you. Love songs don’t leave you, like lovers often do, Oh, baby, I’m afraid it could happen to me and you. Oh, oh, oh yea, Oh, lonely nights when I’m not around Baby, it’s a love song, so I’ll remember, On lonely nights. I’ll sing you a love song, To give your love for me. I’ll sing you a love song, I’ll sing you a love song.
Popular “Circling the Square” Festival Returns To Thurles, Co. Tipperary, With Stellar Line-Up of Poets and Musicians.
Thurles is set to celebrate poetry, music and creativity in style as the fourth annual Circling the Square Festival returns to The Source Arts Centre over the weekend of October 31st to November 2nd, 2025.
“Outside new antique pubs, young consultants — well-toned women, gel-slick men — drain long-necked bottles of imported beer. Lip-glossed cigarettes are poised at coy angles, a black bra strap slides strategically from a Rocha top”.
Aboveextract from the poem“The Celtic Tiger”by the late, acclaimed Thurles poet, Dennis O’Driscoll.
This year’s performances promise a vibrant mix of poetry, live music and discussion, with four main headline events across Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night concluding with a guided walk of Thurles, followed by Poetry readings and Open Mic Poetry on Sunday November 2nd.
The festival opens officially on Friday afternoon at 4:00pm with a reading by US former Poet Laureate and Novelist Joseph Bathanti in Bookworm No 1 Parnell Street in Thurles, followed by the first major performances at The Source Arts Centre, Cathedral Street, Thurles from 7:45pm. The evening, introduced by Jimmy Duggan, will feature music by Brendan Collins(Uilleann pipes), Gina Oberoi(Mezzo-Suprano) and Pat O’Callaghan(Saxophone), Hidden Highways, The Ed Dwan Trio and Leslie Dowdall & Hugh Buckley, alongside readings from poets Polina Cosgrave, Sean Lysaght, Moya Cannon, Joseph Bathanti, and Mary O’Donnell.
Saturday’s programme, November 1st, begins with a Poetry Workshop at 10:30am in the Community Rooms (above the Library) at The Source, presented by Professor Joseph Bathanti.
This event will be followed in the afternoon at 2:00pm by a panel discussion on the poetry of the late, great Irish poet Seamus Heaney. For this event Rosie Lavin & Bernard O’Donoghue, (latter editors of the newly published definitive edition of Seamus Heaney’s poetry) will join in conversation with Declan O’Driscoll.
Same will be followed by poetry readings from Amy Abdullah Barry, Michael Dooley, Charlotte Buckley, and Laoighseach Ni Choistealbha, accompanied by Classical Flautist Emma Roche from 2:30pm.
The Saturday evening showcase beginning sharp at 7:45pm, promises another standout event, featuring music from Classical Flautist Emma Roche, Hidden Pathways, Leslie Dowdall and Hugh Buckley, and the Ed Dwan Quartet, interwoven with poetry from Eleanor Hooker, Mark Roper, Bernard O’Donoghue, Grace Wilentz and Jane Clarke.
Again the night will round off at 10:30pm with the ever-popular Après Festival in The Monk’s licenced hostelry with a relaxed acoustic music session.
On the final day Sunday November 2nd at 11:30pm, commencing from the Anner Hotel, a guided heritage and history walk around Thurles will take place led by local historian Jimmy Duggan.
Finally, at 2:30pm, in The Monk’s, a Poetry Reading session, will take place, including an open Mic Session(For the latter those wishing to take part are invited to submit their names in advance). Those already taking part are D’or Seifer, Philip Lynch, John Noonan, Cathy Conlon, Trish Bennett, Linda Tavokali, Susan Miller Demars, Lauren Mc Namara, Cora Peters and Ron Carey.
Piseógs were the most common form of curse used in old Ireland, a Piseóg being a superstitious belief or practice, charm or spell.
Piseógs are traditional Irish curses often associated with rural communities and folklore. Same can be used to cause misfortune to others, steal their luck, or influence events, and are often cast with the intention of causing harm. The very fear of the piseóg itself was often considered a significant part of the curse, sometimes more damaging than the actual act itself.
Join Maura for Folk Magic of Piseógs in Cashel Library, onThursday 30th October at 2.30pm. Note: Adult Event.
This is just one of the many free eventsat Cashel Library each year. Do Remember booking is essential to Tel: 062-63825.
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