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Himself a golfing enthusiast, Fr. Paddy Delaney was on duty hearing confessions in Thurles Cathedral, last week, when a tall, slim, middle aged man entered the confessional.
“Forgive me father, for I have sinned”, began the individual seeking atonement.
“What is your sin, my son?” the kindly priest enquires.
“Well,” the man begins, “First I used some unrepeatable language recently in front of work colleagues, while out golfing at Thurles Golf Club. Prior to my inappropriate behaviour, I had hit an incredible drive that looked like it was going to travel over 250 yards, but, alas, it struck a power line that was crossing the fairway and rebounded, landing only about 100 yards away.”
“Is that when you swore?” asked an understanding Fr. Delaney.
“Not at all Father.” said the sinner, “After the ball came to a standstill, a dirty great grey squirrel ran down out of a nearby tree and grabbed my ball in his mouth, mistaking it for a nut, before beginning his run for cover.”
“Is that when you swore?” asked the kindly Fr. Delaney.
“Well, not as I recall.” said the man, “Because as the squirrel was fleeing the scene, a hawk dived down out of the sky and grabbed the grey squirrel in his talons, before beginning to fly away in the general direction of Littleton village!”
“Is that when you swore?” asked the golfers confessor.
“No, not yet”, the man replied. “Father, as the hawk carried the grey squirrel away in his claws, it flew up towards the green, and as it passed over a group of beech trees near that same green, the squirrel dropped my ball.”
“Did you swear then?” asked the Priest now getting somewhat impatient.
“No Father, because as the ball fell it struck a tree trunk, before bouncing through some undergrowth. It then bounced off a big rock, and rolled right through a sand trap onto the green and stopped within six inches of the hole.”
“You missed the fu**king putt, didn’t you?” said Fr. Delaney, shaking his head.
The launch of the Thurles Sarsfields GAA story took place in the Thurles Sarsfields Social Centre, here in Co. Tipperary, on Friday last, November 10th, 2017.
The publication was launched, most appropriately, by former Tipperary hurling Manager and legendary Sarsfields and Tipperary defender from the 1950’s and 1960’s, Mr Tony Wall.
 Pictured above: Speakers at the launch of the Thurles Sarsfields GAA Story were: (L to R) Mr Michael Maher (Thurles Sarsfields Chairman), Mr Michael Bourke (Tipperary GAA Chairman), Mr Liam Ó Donnchú (Author), Mr Tony Wall (Special guest who launched the publication), His Grace Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, Mr Seamus Hanafin (Templemore / Thurles, Municipal District Chairperson). At just €25 (Hard-back / 500 pages); the Thurles Sarsfields GAA Story -Volume 1 is already the most popular and dare I say an essential Christmas gift in 2017, for all Tipp die-hard hurling fans.
Please Note: This exciting publication is now available in Thurles, through Bookworm, Lár na Páirce, Eason and Thurles Sarsfields Social Centre.
A ‘Signed Copy’ can also be ordered direct (Plus €10 extra for postage and packing) from the Author, Mr Liam Ó Donnchú, Ballymoreen, Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
 Thurles Greyhound Stadium A Tipperary greyhound owner has brought a legal challenge to the withholding of €36,500 in racing prize money, after he was fined for allegedly doping or contaminating three of his dogs with the prohibited substance’s Meloxicam and Hydrochlorothiazide.
Mr Owen Mckenna, New Inn, Cashel, Co Tipperary, has brought High Court judicial review proceedings against the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB).
An IGB Control Committee, last February imposed, five fines totalling €1,000 on Mr McKenna in relation to three of his dogs. The dogs, named as “Farloe Rumble”, “Offshore Bound” and “Farloe Blitz” had run at Shelbourne park on September 5th, 2015.
The committee also decided that the prize money of €36,500 should be forfeited and claimed that the owner engaged in a reckless feeding regime for which he must accept the full magnitude of consequences.
Mr Justice Seamus Noonan yesterday granted the owner permission to challenge the IGB Control Committee findings and the case is expected to comes before the court next January.
Thurles Sarsfields GAA Story-Volume 1 – by Author Liam Ó Donnchú
 Volume 1 of the Thurles Sarsfields GAA story will be launched on Friday next, November 10th, at 7.30 p.m. sharp, by former retired Tipperary, senior team centre-back, and hurling manager Mr Tony Wall, in the Thurles Sarsfields Social Centre, here in Co. Tipperary.
It was the same Tipperary legendary defender from the 1950’s and 1960’s; Mr Tony Wall, to whom is attributed the ‘tongue in cheek’ remark, quote, “Football is a game for those not good enough to play hurling.”
Mr Wall, a former Irish army Adjutant General (Military chief administrative officer), from Fianna Road in Thurles, joined the Tipperary team during the 1953/54 National League and became a regular member of the ‘starting fifteen’ until his retirement following the 1967 championship.
During that period, he won five All-Ireland medals, six Munster medals and six National Hurling League medals, and captained the team to the All-Ireland title in 1958. Mr Wall was himself a ten-time county club championship medallist with the legendary Thurles Sarsfields.
The Thurles Sarsfields GAA story-Volume 1; as we have previously stated does not confine itself purely to Thurles GAA affairs. Indeed, I would suggest that same can also be viewed as a social or community written commentary, with the many happenings down through the decades, affecting our rural town and surrounding parish of Thurles getting mentioned, and clearly put into date perspective; e.g. the arrival of Urban and Rural Electricity; the Thurles/Titanic connection; the official opening of Thurles Sugar Factory; the Korean War; Fair Days on Liberty Square (West Main Street) and Cathedral Street (East Main Street); The great Count John Mc Cormack’s Concert at Delahunty’s Cinema etc., etc., etc.
Please Note: All are most welcome to attend this official book launch, however if for one reason or another you cannot attend this event, remember this exciting publication will be available in Thurles, through Bookworm, Lár na Páirce, Eason and Thurles Sarsfields Social Centre. A ‘Signed Copy’ can also be ordered direct (Plus €10 extra for postage and packing) from the Author, Mr Liam Ó Donnchú, Ballymoreen, Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Former disgraced 2016 Rio de Janeiro Irish Olympic boxer Mr Michael O’Reilly (Jnr.), with an address at No. 20 New Line Close, Mountrath, Co. Laois, was handed down a sentence of 5 months imprisonment with recognizances of €500 set in the event of an appeal in Thurles District court today.
It was noted that Mr O’Reilly (Jnr.) had 37 previous convictions, relating to road traffic offences and theft. He had been earlier charged with criminal damage, public intoxication and with being threatening and abusive in public, following an incident in Ballybeg, Littleton, Thurles, on April 18th last year.
 Thurles Courthouse. The boxer, who tested positive for a banned substance back at the 2016 Olympics, was later charged, together with three others accused; namely Mr Michael O’Reilly (Snr.) with an address at Clonkeen, Portlaoise, Co. Laois; Mr Bernard O’Reilly, Main Road, Clonkeen, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, and Mr James O’Reilly, (then a 17-year-old juvenile) and residing at Clonkeen, Portlaoise, Co. Laois; with causing criminal damage, which involving the throwing of rocks at two cars (Models: Nissan Micra and Citroen Hatchback) and a caravan (Model: Bailey Regency 2001), following an engagement party.
Sentencing today, Judge Elizabeth MacGrath noted that of the €2,500 of damage brought about by the said incidents, only €250 had been offered to the Court, by way of compensation to the victims.
Judge MacGrath bound Mr James O’Reilly (Now aged 18 years old, with no previous convictions), over to keep the peace for 12 months, on his own bond of €250; while imposing a 3-month prison sentence on Mr O’Reilly (Snr.) with a fixed recognizances of €500 in the event that he, the latter, should appeal the current sentence. The forth other member accused, Mr Bernard O’Reilly, was not present in Thurles Court for the hearing.
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