Archive News
Connacht camp ready for huge Amlin Cup test
Date Published: {J}
Dara Bradley
ABOUT two years ago, Connacht centre Niva Ta’auso hadn’t even heard of the province he now stars for. In fairness, there weren’t many in Connacht who had heard of Niva Ta’auso either. Connacht Manager, Tim Allnutt was one of the few.
The 30-years-old Samoan – who had moved to New Zealand aged 18 where he played rugby at Wesley College, which boasts alumni such as All-Black Jonah Lomu – was playing professionally for Super 14 side the Highlanders, when he was spotted by Kiwi Allnutt.
The former Junior All-Black arrived on these shores in October 2008 after several telephone conversations with fellow countrymen Ray Ofisa and Troy Nathan, who had already made the move to Connacht, convinced him of the career move.
The powerful running centre has become a regular in the Connacht side since his first appearance, a memorable and historic win over Munster at the Sportsground in December last season.
His parents, who christened him Manu O Niniva Ta’auso – although he uses the shortened version for the benefit of a former coach who couldn’t pronounce his name and for the benefit of radio and TV rugby commentators – had never heard of Connacht two years ago either but are now devoted fans of the province, too.
“It’s tough when they are on the other side of the world and it’s hard for them to see the games,” says Ta’auso, but adds he will be sending a video recording of Friday night’s semi-final clash with Toulon, one of Connacht’s most important ever games and Ta’auso’s biggest match with the Province.
Since his move, the crowd at the Sportsground has embraced Motootua-born Ta’auso as if he were reared in Monivea, something he appreciates and he feels the supporters will be a massive advantage when Connacht welcomes the French outfit to College Road for the province’s first European semi-final in five seasons.
“This year, nearly every game has been packed at the Sportsground so that’s good and a big crowd really helps the lads,” he says.
“We’ve come on well this year and the togetherness and hard work is paying dividends for us. We’re pretty confident and we’ve played good rugby in the last few weeks because of all the hard work we put in last year. We just want to continue with that.
“It’s about self-belief. We take every game as it comes and we have just believed that we’ll get the win every game, especially at home. It’s our home ground, which is a positive and I know Toulon have big players and a big squad but I’m confident with our team. It’s a massive game for us and we have to be confident and look at the positives. Our self-belief is strong and we believe we can win any game we play.”
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
People’s living conditions less than 100 years ago were frightening. We have come a long way. We talk about water charges today, but back then the local District Councils were erecting pumps for local communities and the lovely town of Mountbellew, according to Council minutes, had open sewers,” says Galway County Council archivist Patria McWalter.
Patria believes we “need to take pride in our history, and we should take the same pride in our historical records as we do in our built heritage”. When you see the wealth of material in her care, this belief makes sense.
She is in charge of caring for the rich collection of administrative records owned by Galway County Council and says “these records are as much part of our history as the Rock of Cashel is. They document our lives and our ancestors’ lives. And nobody can plan for the future unless you learn from the past, what worked and what didn’t”.
Archivists and librarians are often unfairly regarded as being dry, academic types, but that’s certainly not true of Patria. Her enthusiasm is infectious as she turns the pages of several minute books from Galway’s Rural District Councils, all of them at least 100 years old.
Part of her role involved cataloguing all the records of the Councils – Ballinasloe, Clifden, Galway, Gort, Loughrea, Mountbellew, Portumna and Tuam. These records mostly consisted of minutes of various meetings.
When she was cataloguing them she realised their worth to local historians and researchers, so she decided to compile a guide to their content. The result is For the Record: The Archives of Galway’s Rural District Councils, which will be a valuable asset to anybody with an interest in history.
Many representatives on these Councils were local personalities and several were arrested during the political upheaval of the era, she explains.
And, ushering in a new era in history, women were allowed to sit on these Rural District Councils – at the time they were not allowed to sit on County Councils.
All of this information is included in Patria’s introductory essay to the attractively produced A4 size guide, which gives a glimpse into how these Rural Councils operated and the way political thinking changed in Ireland during a short 26-year period. In the early 1900s, these Councils supported Home Rule, but by 1920, they were calling for full independence and refusing to recognise the British administration.
“I love the tone,” says Patria of the minutes from meetings. “The language was very emotive.”
That was certainly true of the Gort Rural District Council. At a meeting in 1907, following riots in Dublin at the premiere of JM Synge’s play, The Playboy of the Western World the councillors’ response was vehement. They recorded their decision to “protest most emphatically against the libellous comedy, The Playboy of the Western World, that was belched forth during the past week in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, under the fostering care of Lady Gregory and Mr Yeats. We congratulate the good people of Dublin in howling down the gross buffoonery and immoral suggestions that are scattered throughout this scandalous performance.
For more from the archives see this week’s Tribunes here
Date Published: 23-Jan-2013
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Date Published: 29-Jan-2013
Athenry FC 1
Kilbarrack United 2
(After extra time)
For the second year in succession Athenry were done in extra time in the FAI Junior Cup as last season’s beaten finalist’s came from behind to snatch an excellent game in Moanbawn on Sunday afternoon.
On a heavy pitch that was only playable following extensive groundwork by club officials all morning, the home side were by far the better side in the opening half, but failed to take advantage of a number of opportunities that came their way.
An Alan O’Donovan penalty gave them a merited advantage just after the restart, but thereafter were on the back foot as Kilbarrack took over, but for all their pressing, the home rearguard were dealing comfortably with their forays.
However they were struck a body blow just six minutes from time, as big striker Keith Kirwan was left all alone at the far post to head the equaliser and from that point on the Dubliners were the better side.
They started off the extra time in the ascendancy and enjoying all the momentum before striking for a good winning goal on 104 minutes. A strong bench allowed them to make some necessary changes and it was not a facility that was available to Athenry manager Gabriel Glavin.
With Gary Forde and Gary Delaney out through suspension following their sending off against OLBC in the previous round, and Seamie Crowe injured, it left their bench rather threadbare with just a number of young squad players available.
Playing with the aid of the slight incline and any wind advantage going, the home side had a Connor Cannon effort on target in the opening minute, while John Meleady was just over with a flick at the other end.
Meleady then tested Andrew Walsh who saved comfortably, before the goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant double save on 14 minutes.
Firstly he went full length to push away a Meleady shot and was then back on his feet to parry David Jackson’s close-range rebound.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.
Galway Community Circus one of five organisations to receive €100,000 in funding
Motorists warned of delays due to works at Baunemore Roundabout in Athenry
Steps taken for the addition of a Sensory Garden in Loughrea
ATU Galway lodges plans for new monument dedicated to deceased students
Galway Labour Councillor calls for Government to pass emergency legislation on the eviction ban
City seeks to annex Oranmore, Claregalway, Moycullen and Barna in boundary extension
Man awarded €142,000 over unprovoked attack in toilet of County Galway pub
Tech consultants open Galway hub
HSE accused of ‘environmental sabotage’ after felling 200 trees in Merlin Woods
Woman convicted of harassing social media guru
