Sport - Thurles Information

GAA Matches Called Off Following Death Of Hurler In Semple Stadium Thurles.

All GAA games due to be played in Co. Tipperary, this weekend, have now been cancelled as a mark of respect, following the death of inter-county hurler Mr Dillon Quirke; who sadly collapsed during a club match at Semple Stadium here in Thurles on Friday evening last.

Mr Quirke’s club ‘Clonoulty-Rossmore’ were playing ‘Kilruane McDonaghs’ when the 24-year-old sportsman suddenly collapsed just before half-time. Mr Quirke was immediately treated by medics, before being rushed to Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel.

Tipperary GAA, in extending their sincere heartfelt sympathies to Dillon’s family, friends and clubmates, also wish to thank all those who attended to Mr Quirke, both in Semple Stadium and in Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Dúrlas Óg Win Féile Na nGael National Division 1, U15 Hurling Title.

**Dúrlas Óg U15** **Team**
*Picture Courtesy John O’Loughlin, Thurles*.

Thurles.info would like to congratulate Dúrlas Óg and their Captain Evan Nolan, on winning the Féile na nGael, National Division 1 U15 Hurling title today in Abbotstown; defeating Ahane GAA in today’s final.

Final score: Durlas Og 2–10 (16pts). Ahane 0–03 (3pts).

The famous Christy Ring trophy returns to Thurles for the first time in 32 years.

Congratulations to all involved.

American Actor & Comedian Bill Murray Visits Semple Stadium, Thurles.

While acclaimed American actor and comedian Mr Bill Murray’s American motherland is instinctively more basketball than sliotar; more baseball bat than hurl and more NFL than GAA, today’s all Ireland quarter final double header in Semple Stadium didn’t seem to get “Lost in Translation”.

Mr Murray appeared to take great interest in the Cork vs Galway/Clare vs Wexford, double-header, as a guest of businessman Mr JP McManus today, in Semple Stadium, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Note: Mr Murray’s grandfather hails from Co. Cork, while his mother’s family have origins in Co. Galway.

Death Of Legendary Jockey Lester Piggott, Aged 86.

Legendary jockey Mr Lester Piggott, sadly passed away today aged 86, while in hospital in Switzerland, following a recurrence of a previous heart problem. Mr Piggott had emigrated to Switzerland in 2012, where he had continued to reside in rented accommodation with his mistress Lady Barbara FitzGerald, latter more than 20 years his junior.

Born on November 5th, 1935 in Wantage, Berkshire, England; Mr Piggott is regarded as one of the greatest flat racing jockeys, and the finest of his generation.
Mr Piggott, who won the Derby nine times, began racing horses from his father’s stable when he was ten years old winning his first race in 1948, at the aged of twelve, on a horse called ‘The Chase’, at Haydock Park racecourse in Merseyside, North West England. His final victory was on the same course in 1994, a few weeks before his 59th birthday. He retired in 1995.

Believed to be one of his last visits to Co. Tipperary; on Thursday May 23rd, 2013, Mr Lester Piggott, accompanied by his daughter, RTE television presenter Tracy Piggott, was the guest of honour at the official launch of the newly redeveloped Tipperary Racecourse, at Ballykisteen, Limerick Junction, Co. Tipperary.

Tall for a jockey at 5 feet 8 inches, and known as “The Long Fellow”, Mr Piggott kept himself thirty pounds (14kg) under his natural weight to remain competitive. During a career lasting almost 50 years in all, he rode 4,493 winners and was crowned champion jockey 11 times between 1960 and 1982, and last year was inducted into the British Champions Series Hall of Fame.

In a low point in his career, he served 366 days of a three-year prison sentence handed down in 1987 for tax evasion and was stripped of his Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Piggott married Susan Armstrong, the daughter of trainer Sam Armstrong, in 1961 before moving to Newmarket, Suffolk. The couple would later separate, but remained married. They had two daughters, Maureen, married to Derby-winning trainer William Haggas and Tracy, latter a sports presenter on Irish television station RTÉ. He also had a son, Jamie, from his relationship with personal assistant Anna Ludlow.

In 2014 his Eve Lodge Stables training yard and complex, (which included four semi-detached, two-bedroomed bungalows) which could then house up to 100 horses, was put on the market for £1.25 million.

In ár gcroíthe go deo.

Irish Prison Service Mark Graduation Ceremony For 20 Prisoners.

The Irish Prison Service, in partnership with the FAI and St. Patrick’s Athletic Football Club, today marked the graduation ceremony for 20 prisoners who have recently completed the FAI Coach Education department’s Adult Amateur Licence course.

The course was led by St. Patrick’s Athletic Director of Football and UEFA Pro Licence holder Ger O’Brien and will enable all licence holders to coach in the Adult Amateur game and integrate into Irish football on their release.

Republic of Ireland Under 21 manager Jim Crawford in presenting each successful candidates with their coaching licence stated, “Football can be such a positive influence in so many lives and we have seen the power of football and the impact it can have on these graduates here today.
I look forward to the coaching journey they have now commenced on. There will be many opportunities for them in football in the future and I wish them well”.

St Patrick’s Athletic Director of Football Ger O’Brien led the course on behalf of the club and thanked the graduates for their commitment and willingness to learn through the medium of football and coaching.
Ger stated, “When we were approached by the Irish Prison Service and the FAI about delivering this programme, we were more than happy to oblige. This has been a fantastic initiative from all involved to help educate the participants of both courses.
Coaches from St. Patrick’s Athletic have been working closely with the groups to enhance not only their football knowledge, but also interpersonal skills. The development of the participants throughout the program has been clear to see”.

The FAI’s Head of Coach Education, Niall O’Regan stated: “The programme is a fabulous way to connect the participants to the game of football, providing them with an introduction to education through the medium of the game they all love, having the link to the prison and using the game of football to help develop the participants knowledge of the game, but also
their own interdisciplinary skills such planning, organisation, administration, writing sessions plans, completing assignments and presenting in front of their peers theoretically and practically.
“These are all huge characteristics of being an effective coach but also helping the participants with their future integration into their respective communities. The success of the programme has been down to the fabulous delivery style of Ger O’Brien and it is something himself and his club should be extremely proud.
We would like to thank Ger and St. Patrick’s Athletic for their contribution and the management and staff of Wheatfield for their collaboration on such a worthwhile project for all concerned”.

Assistance Governor of Wheatfield Prison, Amanda Sutton said, “This course is a fantastic gateway into adult education involving both practical and class room based modules. The Irish Prison Service is committed to managing custodial sentences in a way which encourages and supports prisoner’s resettlement and reintegration into their communities.
I believe that the skills learned through participation in this course provides prisoners with some of the core skills required for their successful reintegration. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with the FAI and St. Patrick’s Athletic, and working on future projects together.”