Archive News
High flying Killererin can put seal on great year
Date Published: {J}
KILLERERIN footballers may have been living dangerously in most of their championship matches this year, but the men from Barnaderg now stand just 60 minutes away from capturing the club’s third ever Connacht title. The team’s ability to grind out results in tight matches is almost legendary now and this admirable trait is bound to stand the Galway champions in good stead for Sunday’s provincial showdown.
They already have one big advantage with the final going ahead in their home patch of Tuam Stadium and though St. Brigid’s of Roscommon represent formidable opposition despite a less than convincing semi-final performance up in Leitrim, the 2006 Connacht champions face a major hurdle in trying to subdue what is clearly a rejuvenated Killererin outfit. With Padraic Joyce back on board after his nuptials, the Galway men are going to take some stopping.
Having already shown their mettle in wearing down Mountbellew/Moulough in a semi-final which went to a replay, Killererin went on to upset the odds with a comfortable victory over title holders Corofin in the county final at Pearse Stadium. Despite a difficult third quarter, they were clearly the better team, playing the more effective and tactically astute football. Of course, it was also a big help to them that Nicky Joyce was in such sparkling form up front.
That set Killererin up for a Connacht semi-final with new Mayo champions, Ballintubber, and the match certainly didn’t go to script in the opening-half. Playing with the wind, Tommie Joyce and company were rocked by the vibrancy and strong running of their opponents’, falling four points behind at one stage. Having rallied before the interval, it took a huge disciplined display of possession football in the second-half to swing the match in their favour. There was only a point in it at the end, but Killererin were worthy winners.
Without Padraic Joyce, Killererin proved that they had no shortage of other leaders in their ranks. Tomás Fahy was a hive of energy on the left flank of their defence while Tom Hughes delivered another outstanding performance in the middle of the park. With player/manager Tommie Joyce dictating the onfield tactics and his first cousin Nicky rolling up the sleeves, Killererin were not to be denied. That result should leave them in perfect spirits for Sunday’s showdown against a team that comfortably beat them in the 2007 championship.
St. Brigid’s have been the dominant force in Roscommon football in recent years and their big win over Eastern Harps of Sligo (0-21 to 0-4) in the opening round certainly caught the eye. Perhaps, the nature of that easy victory disarmed them heading up to Leitrim for the Connacht semi-final, but they were given a rough ride before emerging triumphant by 1-15 to 3-5 against Glencar-Manorhamilton. Their attack is regarded as the team’s strongest sector and they do possess proven scoregetters in the likes of ex-county man, Frankie Dolan, Senan Kilbride and Conor McHugh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City 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
images/files/images/x3_Courthouse.jpg
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.
Open farmer clinic to take place in Oranmore on new BISS scheme
O’ Cuiv calls for new Government strategy to tackle “scourge” of cocaine
Farmers should engage on Galway-Athlone greenway consultation
Action needed on rural GP crisis
County Galway hurling club offers beast of a prize!
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
Woman convicted of harassing social media guru
Galway family’s plea – help us save our home
Bono has finally found what’s he’s looking for!
