Weekly News 2nd April 2018

01 April 2018

KILMOGANNY BRIDGE CLUB: The results of Wednesday 28th March were: 1st: Nicholas Flavin & Breda Butler’ 2nd: Philip Brennan & Nellie O’Shea; 3rd: Carmel O’Sullivan & Emer Wallace. Visitors are always welcome and partners will be provided on the night. Bridge is in St. Eoghan’s Centre, Kilmoganny at 8.00 p.m. each Wednesday evening.


 PARISH NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE!!!


KELLS HANDBALL CLUB: In the Juvenile Leinster B Championships in U 13 Boys Singles Adam O’Sullivan (Kells) won his group matches defeating Jake Bruton (Dublin) and Noah Swaine (Offaly) but lost out in the Final to Gareth Mulanif (Westmeath).


In the Open Senior Doubles Patrick Funchion/Peter Funchion (Kells) defeated Tadgh Carroll/Ryan Harkin (Cork) 21-20, 21-11. They went on to defeated Tom Sheridan/Brian Carroll in the quarter finals 17-21, 21-16, 21-16.  They then met the 11 times All Ireland Champions Paul Brady/Michael Finnegan Cavan in the semi-final and lost out 21-8, 21-13.  This was a great achievement to reach the Open Senior Doubles Semi Final Best of Luck to the Kells Players in their respective All Ireland Finals next weekend in Kingscourt in the Minor Doubles Eoin Brennan, in the Junior B Doubles Anthony Martin/Diarmuid Burke and in the Intermediate Doubles Brendan Burke.


 


THE PAT WALSH MEMORIAL PARADE was held as usual on Easter Sunday after 11.00 a.m. Mass in Dunamaggan. The Chairperson of the Committee, Canice Hickey, welcomed all who


Were present and had a special word of thanks to Ned Kirwan, the past Chairperson, for his dedication during many years in ensuring that the parade would take place. He also thanked the members of the committee for their dedication. He welcomed Cllr. David Fitzgerald, Chairperson of Kilkenny Co. Council and Cllr Matt Doran, Denis Ryan and the members of the Bishop Hurley Pipe banc from Clonmel, the O. N. E., members of the Reserve Defence Forces, the Local Kells Scouts and all others who were present. The Address of the day was given by Clare O’Neill. In it she said: “Tá an athas orm beith anseo inniu chun cáint libh. Titheann lá na Casca ar an cead Domhnach tar eís an cead LAN Gealach tar eís an fiche aon lá le mhí na Márta and thius is the day chosen by the Pat Walsh Memorial Committee to perpetuate the Memory of Pat Walsh and his comrades in Cumman na mBan and the old IRA. The committee also endeavors to promote and maintain an awareness of the History of the Locality. Today, I hope to give you a snapshot of life ion Dunamaggin at the turn of the 20th Century when pat Walsh was a young boy.


Firstly I am going to recall an event that happened in the parish in 1895. Pat Walsh would have been 8 years old at the time. The economic situation on Ireland was very bad and some say Ireland was on the cusp of another famine. Assistance was given in the form of @Outdoor Relief@ which consisted of money, food, clothing or goods. This was given to alleviate poverty with the requirement that the recipient did not enter the Workhouse. At the time Workhouses were full of fever and TB was prevalent. A local woman, Biddy McCarthy from Ballintee, was surviving on this relief money but sadly the Powers that Be decided to cut her Outdoor Relief from 2 shillings and 6 pence to just 2 shillings which was not sufficient for survival. Indeed locals Ray Cody and Biddy Horan can recall the house in Ballintee where Biddy McCarthy lived. At the same time there lived a poet, Patrick Peters, in  Castlehale. The story goes that one evening he was walking from Castlehale and he arrived in Ballintee where he encountered Biddy McCarthy who was standing outside her house in the spilling rain and crying.  He wrote a poem about the meeting.


At the same time Pat Walsh was enjoying his childhood. He was an only child and dearly loved. In fact he spent his childhood playing in the very place where we are today. His formative years were shaped by Ireland’s fight for Independence. He would have seen the Irish People oppressed, neglected and degraded by its Colonial Neighbour. He received first had knowledge of the Famine from his parents and noted that Ireland was the only country to have exported food while its people starved. He became a leader with the Irish Volunteers and drilled his men in Ballintee and Shortalstown. In August 1920 Members of the 8th Battalion, Kilkenny Brigade, led by Captain Pat Walsh, including, Denis Treacy, Pat Holden, Pat Mulrooney, Robert Cody, John Hickey and Ned Egan planned the demolition of the Courthouse in Kilmoganny. I  preparation  for the event the men gathered in Egan’s Pub at Baurscoob but the Black and Tans became aware of the planned attack and two lorry loads of Black & Tans from Woodstock surrounded the premises. The Tans cut the strings of Mrs Egan’s violin and tied the men thumb to thumb and back to back and produced a rein and tied the men’s heads together. They were left tied in this position from 11.00 p.m. until 8.00 a.m. the following morning. Then they were brought out side to Baurscoob Cross. When asked how they had behaved during the night Supt. White said that they were gentlemen and the prisoners felt that his kind remarks saved then from being shot.


Pat Walsh’s early death at the age of 34 years at Knocknagress from a bullet wound brought immense sorrow and despair. Full military honours were rendered to the dead hero despite the presence of British soldiers and their menacing machine guns which were mounted on the walls of the graveyard and trained on the people. His childhood friend Nellie Peters defied the bayonets of the British soldiers to place the Tri-Colour on his coffin in the graveyard. Leaba I measc na Naoimh go thug Aici.


We salute the brave Volunteers, Oglaigh na hEireann and the members of Cumman na mBan who thought beyond themselves and their own lives. A great combination that played an integral role in the events leading to the Foundation of the State. Go dtuga Dia suaimneas sioraí doibh.


Slán mo chaired agus is é mo thuairim “ go mbeimide go léir beo ar an am seo arís”.


Tom O’Shea laid a wreath at the monument.


Eilish Holden and her daughter then sang and Rev. Nicholas P. P. Flavin concluded with prayers for the deceased. The celebrations concluded with a cabaret I n Townsend’s on Easter Sunday night.


 


OPEN MIC NIGHT: The April Open Mic is on Thursday 12th April at 7.30 p.m. in St Eoghan's Centre, Kilmoganny. If you would like to sing a song play music recite /read a poem /story please contact Alva on 0858641378.