Club Notes.. - 2020-05-05 20:06:00
No Major Changes Expected Next Week.
The present restrictions on business, sport and travel are in force until next week when they are to be reviewed. Though there was some talk this week about inter-county players going back training it was without foundation. I reality there is little point in the resumption of such training unless definite dates for resumption of games are announced. With 'mass gatherings' banned until the end of August at least one cannot envisage any activity on sports-fields before then. It was good to hear GAA President John Horan announce this week that 'the club game will get priority when playing resumes'. He thought that by mid-July this may happen but that depends entirely on how the fight to beat this Covid Virus is going. Maybe some sporting activity 'behind closed doors' such as greyhound and horse racing could be reintroduced soon but as for field games it looks very doubtful. Of course it's very hard on all our people but public health is the most important thing.
With each passing week the daylight hours grow longer and it's harder to be without Gaelic games. Last weekend we were scheduled to play the first round of the 2020 SAHC and normally at this time of year we would have an average of a dozen games a week at least from under 6 upwards. Indeed this is so strange but we must stick with the rules which will benefit us all in the long run. As well as Bride Rovers Club games at this time of year we would be looking forward to Cork games and Bartlemy Races in a fortnight but they are all gone for this year, well for the moment at least.
The Bride Rovers Club is ready and willing to be of assistance to any of our parishioners especially those over 70 who are cocooning at home at present. If we can help you in any way please contact 087 2070100 or 086 7710766. Ni neart go cur le chéile.
Thanks.
On behalf of the Meade and Arnold families I want to express our heartfelt thanks to all those who sympathised with us on our bereavement last week. Mrs. Kitty Meade was a great Bride Rovers supporter. Her late husband Jimmy was both an Officer, selector and 'hurley minder' for many years and all the Meade family wore the Green, White and Gold of the Rovers. We are greatly appreciative of all the social media messages, texts, phone calls, letters and cards we have received. On Saturday we were deeply moved by the manner in which people stood on the roadside from Rathcormac to Bartlemy before the Funeral Mass. After the Mass as the funeral cortege made it's way through Bartlemy to Castlelyons cemetery the roadside tribute was again very impressive and emotional. A sincere 'Thank You' to everyone involved. Mrs. Meade was a Bantry native but living in Bartlemy with over seventy years she became part and parcel of our parish and GAA club. May she rest in peace.
Sympathy.
On behalf of the Bride Rovers Club deepest sympathy is extended to sisters Fiona O Callaghan and Breda Whitty of Ballinakilla, Bartlemy on the death of their beloved sister Sharon Condon. May she rest in peace. We also send condolences to the Kenneally family of Dungourney. In the space of a week Brian Kenneally, son of the late Dan, East Cork referee and one-time Bride Rovers player, suffered a double bereavement with the deaths of his wife Mary and mother Alice. May they rest in peace.
Bits and Pieces Down The Years.
1741.
Historians tell us that in 1740 in Ireland weather conditions were so cold that a Famine stalked the land. It is reckoned that hundreds of thousands died because of the extreme cold and crop failures which led to huge food shortages. By the autumn of 1741 things had improved greatly and a reasonable harvest was saved. No one can be certain but it is possible that towards the end of the year a share of festivities were held around the country to mark the end of the bad weather and hunger. A great hurling game was held in Glenagowl in Kildinan. Back then, nearly a century and a half before the GAA's founding, hurling was still flourishing in many parts of Ireland.
Local Landlords were 'patrons ' of hurling teams and tenant farmers and workers played on these teams. The landlord saw it as a sign of sporting prowess and importance to have a strong team. Teams back then were maybe twenty to thirty a side. The McAdam Barrys of Lisnagar were local landlords. Colonel McAdam Barry put together a crack team which included several Barry brothers from the townland of Ballinaglogh, Carrignavar. More than likely McAdam Barry challenged another Landlord and Denis McGrath from near Kilbeheny took up the challenge. From Tipperary McGrath brought his hurlers to Glenagowl in the autumn of 1741. In what was termed the first 'Cork v Tipperary' game a great game ensued but no one knows who won! A poet or bard from Tipperary composed a poem lauding the victory of his team. If he did Sean O Murchu the famous Gaelic poet from Carrignavar wrote a response. The first verse in Irish is as follows ;
'Twas improper of the Northern party
To boast it's feats in lasting poetry
Whatever result they bandied about
The Barrys won without a doubt.
(The poem was translated by the late Tom Barry BE, Garrynacole)
1908.
'The Cork Sportsman' a newspaper devoted to sport appeared on the scene and gave great coverage to local matches in North East Cork. A kind of a 'revival' in Gaelic games happened that year in and around Fermoy. A football game was arranged for the first Sunday of December between Rathcormac and St Colmans to be played at Springfield, Fermoy. . In The Sportsman the previous week a big write-up of the game was published. The writer looked forward to a great game and actually printed the names of those who were to line out with Rathcormac as follows; M.Baird Captain, 'Liver' Hannan vice -captain, F. Flynn, Ned Barry, Daveen Foley, Jem Maye, R. Cosgrove, W. Cotter, W. Brien, W. Maye, B. Maye, B Brien, J. Maye, Paddy Cotter, P. Foley, Dan Ryan, Dodra. Foley. Note; 'Liver' Hannan was so nicknamed on account of being a local butcher! The 'P. Foley' was Pat Foley who became Club Vice Chairman when Bride Rovers Club was formed 20 years later in 1928.
The writer in The Sportsman forecast a great and close match but such was not the case as St Colmans won easily by 2 8 to nil. . The following Sunday the teams met again, this time in the College pitch. For this game the Rathcormac side got some 'reinforcements' but Colmans still won by 1 4 to 0 1.
1926.
The first photograph we have of a hurling team from the parish was taken in 1926 when Rathcormac played Glanworth in a friendly game. From this team Ned Daly, Jack Leahy and Ned Barry would feature strongly in the Bride Rovers teams of the 1930's. On of the team mentors in 1926 was Tim O Regan of Main St, Rathcormac. A great man with the pen Tim could be regarded as the PRO of the time. He regularly sent very 'flowery' advertisements in to The Cork Examiner'. An add for the 1929 Rathcormac Sports published on Saturday June 29th included the following;
Rathcormac Sports to-morrow. The 1928 men who attended the Sports last year were so pleased with their visit that they have wired saying that the nineteen hundred and twenty hone men with their wives and families are leaving for Rathcormac this evening.
In 1938 an Add for Rathcormac Sports ran as follows;
Czecheslovakia Sports Are Over
Hitler has won a race
Rathcormac Sports are coming soon. !
1965.
On December 7th 1964 at a meeting in Bartlemy hall the Bride Rovers Club was reformed. Ned Hoskins was elected Chairman with paddy Mannix as Vice Chairman and Donal O Liathain NT as Secretary with Paddy O Regan as Treasurer. Tom Heskin, Tony Walsh, Dave Ryan, Willie Cotter and Tony O Brien were elected on the Club Committee. The Club took part in the Junior B Grade HC in East Cork in 1965. During that first season five league, seven challenge, five tournament and three championship games were played. In the JBHC Dungourney were defeated by 5 9 to 7 2 and then St Catherines were beaten by 4 11 to 5 4. These wins qualified us for the semi final v Castlelyons, a game that was played in Riverstown on September 12th. We were behind by 2 3 to 0 5 at half time and lost in the end by a goal, 5 6 to 3 9. Seanie Barry was on the Cork Intermediate team that won the All Ireland in 1965. The Rebels defeated Tipperary, Galway, Waterford, Wexford and London.
Bride Rovers Club Gear.
We might not be playing games at present but it's still important to wear the Green, White and Gold of the Club whenever possible. We have negotiated to have a full range of our Club Gear available to purchase from O Neills Sportswear. At present all sizes of jersies, t-shirts, shorts, jackets, polo shirts and tracksuits are in stock at reasonable prices. Go to Oneills.ie and then search in the list of club names for 'Bride Rovers' and you'll see the full range.
Parish Newsletter.
The Parish Newsletter can be emailed to anyone in the Parish who would like to get a copy. Each Saturday the latest edition will be sent out. If you wish to get a copy just forward your email address to rathcormacpp@gmail.com Until further notice Fr Joe O Keeffe will celebrate Mass each Sunday at 10.30. The Mass will be live-streamed on the Parish Facebook page and U Tube channel.
'Bride Rovers Abu'
Copies of the Club History published back in 1999 are still available. With no games on reading is one of the many ways to keep the mind focussed on Gaelic games. To order a copy of the history book just ring 097 9538077.
Pictures.
We contested the 1972 and 1973 East Cork Junior A Grade Hurling Finals. Unfortunately we lost in both years, to Dungourney in '72 and to Erins Own in a replay a year later. Does anyone have a team picture from either of these years? If you do please give me a ring at 087 9538077.
Best Wishes.
All in Bride Rovers wish former Club Treasurer Tommy Barry a speedy recovery from his recent illness. Tommy had been a Club stalwart since the 1960's.
BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres
