With the Ryan Gathering beginning here in Thurles on the weekend of August 23rd -25th 2013, it is only right that we stop for a moment to remember those heroic Ryan’s scattered around the world in times of past wars.
Ryan’s Awarded The Victoria Cross.
There are at least four Ryan’s, that I am aware of, who were awarded the Victoria Cross, latter the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, that can be awarded to members of British and Commonwealth forces.
Private Edward John Francis Ryan VC
Edward John Francis Ryan VC(9th February 1890 – 3rd June 1941), a Catholic Labourer was better known as John Ryan. He was approximately twenty eight years old, and a private in the 55th Battalion, (N.S.W.), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
His citation reads:-
“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during an attack against the Hindenburg defences on 30th September 1918. In the initial assault on the enemy’s positions Private Ryan went forward with great dash and determination, and was one of the first to reach the enemy trench. His exceptional skill and daring inspired his comrades, and, despite heavy fire, the hostile garrison was soon overcome and the trench occupied. The enemy then counter attacked, and succeeded in establishing a bombing party in the rear of the position. Under fire from front and rear, the position was critical, and necessitated prompt action. Quickly appreciating the situation, he organized and led the men near him with bomb and bayonet against the enemy bombers, finally reaching the position with only three men. By skilful bayonet work, his small party succeeded in killing the first three Germans on the enemy’s flank, then, moving along the embarkment, Private Ryan alone rushed the remainder with bombs. He fell wounded after he had driven back the enemy, who suffered heavily as they retired across “No Man’s Land”. A particularly dangerous situation had been saved by this gallant soldier, whose example of determination bravery and initiative was an inspiration to all.”
His recorded character offers the impression that he was, as we say here in Tipperary “His own man.” He was regularly up on charges of overstaying leave passes, disobeying lawful commands, and using insubordinate language to superiors. Sadly and despite receiving, on the 22nd of May 1919, his V.C. from King George V at Buckingham Palace, after the war he was left to wander the roads of Australia, poverty stricken and alone for some 4 years seeking work. In May 1941, in poor health, he was again tramping the streets looking for work and was taken to hospital where he died of pneumonia in the Royal Melbourne Hospital on the 3rd June 1941. He was buried with military honours in the Catholic section of Springvale cemetery where eight other V.C. winners formed a guard of honour.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Australian War Memorial (Canberra, Australia).
John Ryan VC(1839 – 29th December 1864) was born in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross. Ryan was only 24 years old, and a Lance Corporal in the 65th Regiment of Foot British Army during the invasion of Waikato (one of the campaigns in the New Zealand Wars), when the following deed took place on the 7th September 1863, for which he was awarded his VC.
The Thurles Sarsfields Third International Hurling Festival 2013, held this weekend here in Thurles, is over for another year but not before being acclaimed a ‘rip roaring success,’ by the organising committee, under the chairmanship of John Enright. Hotels, B/B’s & other tourist services providers in the area are reporting a massive surge in tourism business over the past number of days.
The organising committee wish to thanks their sponsors, namely IBP Insurance, The Gathering Ireland 2013, Thurles Sarsfields and Thurles Town Council for their generous sponsorship of this ever growing annual Thurles festival event.
The now coveted Semple Cup this year went to the team of ‘Causeway,’ in Co Kerry and was presented by Ann Gunning, latter daughter of the late great Tom Semple.
‘Setanta,’ in Donegal were winners of the Culhane Cup presented by Paddy Kenny, while Dublin won the Carew Cup, latter presented by Michael Maher, Chairman of Thurles Sarsfield.
In the ‘Caman Abu,’ competition action, winners of the Plate were Thurles Post Office; with the Thurles branch of Tesco deserving winners of the Cup. Runners up of ‘Caman Abu,’ were Noal Ryan’s, Parnell Street, Thurles & ‘Larry’s,’ Dempsey Square, Thurles both licensed premises.
All in all this was a most successful and enjoyable sporting weekend for all in attendance and a welcome boost for a Thurles ailing economy.
Imitation; The Sincerest Form Of Flattery
That said, of course I would not like to be an employee of Aer Lingus or ETIHAD Airways respective PR teams going to work tomorrow. It will be disappointing for them to discover that they have been ‘Taken in,’ (as we say in Tipperary,) by the Galway International Hurling Festival, latter which claims to be “the first hurling competition of its kind, ” taking place in September.
As Lady Marguerite Blessington, Countess of Blessington is reported to have once stated: “Borrowed thoughts, like borrowed money, only shows the poverty of the borrower.”
A little comment also for GAA President Liam O’Neill; Pablo Picasso once stated “To copy others is necessary, but to copy oneself is pathetic.”
To the Galway organisers; Galway Supporters Club, Terry O’Flaherty (Mayor of Galway City,) and Terry Welby (Mayor of Galway County,) we wish you the best of luck with your weekend, but visitors do remember that Thurles is the real home of the GAA and any other hurling festival is just a cheap imitation, plagiarised from Thurles Sarsfields.
Seriously, what intrigues me is how two people over 141km or two hours driving time apart, can come up with almost the same catch phrase; “Camán Home for the Hurling,” & “Camán for the Craic.” Now if that is not proof of extrasensory perception (ESP) at work, tell me what is?
Next year Thurles will be running the first ever Tour de France & later in the year the first ever Glastonbury Festival, so do stay tuned for more details.
A new Visitor Information Point has opened, this week, providing all of the information visitors will need to make their stay in the Upperchurch and Drombane area of North Tipperary, a memorable one.
Upperchurch (Irish: an Teampall Uachtarach, meaning “The Upper Church”,) is a small village here in North Tipperary, Ireland and lies in the Slievefelin Hills, just off the R503 regional road between Thurles and Limerick city.
This new information point, situated close to one of Ireland’s most popular hill walking venues, will now provide maps on the areas three world famous Loop Walks, together with sequential up to date data on Homestead/Genealogy regarding the civil parishes of Upperchurch, Templebeg and Moyaliff, details on Gathering events and Walking Weekends taking place this November.
Here also expect to find full details and special offers on all local accommodation providers, bars, restaurants and where to avail of general “Ceol agus Craic,” (Irish: Music and Fun).
This Visitor Information Point can be now contacted; Tel: 00353 (0)87-6076838 or E-mail: upperrural@gmail.com
The Lough Derg Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) were launched, just after 6.00pm yesterday evening, by Valentia Coast Guard after an international flotilla of eighteen rowing boats got into extreme difficulty near Parker’s Point. Winds at the time were westerly, Force 4, gusting 5, with poor visibility caused by rain and low cloud.
The rowers, who had set out from Terryglass, at the northern end of Lough Derg lake, at 2.00pm, were en route to Killaloe when the weather deteriorated. One rowing boat with five crew members on board, for a time, remained unaccounted, resulting in a major search and rescue operation being launched. Services launched included the Shannon based Coast Guard Helicopter, Killaloe Coast Guard, Limerick Rescue and Mount Shannon rescue, Gardaí, the Ambulance service and three local boats.
The search, which lasted over 5 hours, eventually located one missing boat on Crow’s Island, north of Killaloe, however there was no immediate sign of the missing crew. Shortly afterwards however Gardaí confirmed that the five rowers had made it to safety, and the search operation was stood down.
In all 35 people on 18 vessels, which were racing on the Shannon from Dromineer to Killaloe were brought to safety, with 15 people needing treatment at the scene for shock and hypothermia. Three of the boats in the flotilla, who were part of a tour group from countries including Norway, Germany and the UK, managed to re-float their vessels.
Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat station, based at Dromineer, Nenagh, County Tipperary which has been operating since May 2004, regularly warn boat users to check the weather forecast before setting out, to let others know where they are going and when they anticipate arriving home, to always wear a life-jacket and to carry some means of communication in case of difficulties.
John Enright, Chairman of the Thurles Sarsfields Organising Committee reports:
The third Thurles Sarsfields International Hurling Festival, to be held on Munster hurling final week-end, July 12th and 13th, was officially launched by the Minister of State for Sport and Tourism, Alan Kelly TD at Sarsfields Social Centre, Thurles, on Friday night May 31st last.
Camogie Teams
Glamour has been added to the Tipperary International Hurling Festival with the addition of eight Camogie teams competing for the Helen O’Mara Cup donated by the Thurles Camogie Club in memory of Helen. Helen was a dedicated camogie player from Kilkenny who was club treasurer for many years and a long serving committee member. It is indeed fitting therefore, that our first ever camogie tournament is honoured by her name.
The competing teams are – Indianapolis USA, Na Piarsaig Cork, Kildangan and Roscrea Tipperary, Patrickswell Limerick, Lixnaw Kerry, Feakle/Broadford Clare, and Portlaw Waterford. All are very welcome.
The games will be played in the grounds of St Patrick’s Third level College of Education Thurles, by kind permission of Very Rev Tom Fogarty, College President.
The Cork Connection
There is nearly always a Cork presence in Thurles on Munster Final weekend. Combined with our festival there is great representation, hurling from Kilbrin, home of current Cork Senior star William Egan, and former Cork hurler Jack Field. It will be a Cork take over on Friday night with the road bowling. Saturday will see the biggest GAA club in the North city side, Na Piarsaig, playing Camogie, and as always expecting to win.
North Kerry Hurling
Hurling is endemic in North Kerry. We had Kilmoyley last year who were in hard luck not to take the title, this year we have Ballyduff and Causeway for the Tom Semple Cup and Lixnaw for the Camogie. A Kerry presence on Munster Final Weekend very much adds to the occasion.
Mayo In Force
Hurling Officer, Adrian Hessian, loves his hurling and is bringing two teams from Mayo, Tureen, current Carew Cup Holders, and Castlebar who are trained by Gerry Lane (Noel’s brother) who caused Tipp many headaches in the eighties. Westport are the Michael Cusack Cup Road Bowling holders. There is a strong Mayo presence in Thurles, John Moroney’s wife Maureen is a great Mayo woman and Ger O’Hagen is current Chairman of Thurles Sarsfields Ladies football. It was his home club that sold hurleys to Toureen in the fifties to start hurling in that parish.
The Dub’s Are Coming
Under Kevin Broderick, Raheeney Hurling Club are making history, they are coming to Thurles for the first time for our Munster Final weekend festival. They will join Setanta, the all Irish speaking team, for an assault on the Tom Semple Cup. They are both in serious training for the competition and both expect to win.
The Social Side
With twenty four hurling and Camogie teams from all over, the scene is set for a very pleasant weekend. We are also expecting Thurles people from home and abroad to gather in numbers to be part of the Thurles Sarsfields “Gathering weekend.” There will be a great mix of people from the four provinces, The USA, Great Brittan and our own Diaspora.
The Monks are playing in Sarsfield’s Social Centre on Friday night and Silver Dollar is centre stage on Saturday night. The Sarsfields pubs in town are putting on musical entertainment that will be appropriate for the occasion. A friendly mix of hurling, camogie, camán abú and road bowling will be on display. All are welcome to our Festival which promises great entertainment and above all a great sporting weekend.
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