Glenbrien heroes honoured
Function held to mark centenary of hurling successes
A LARGE crowd attended Glenbrien Old School Centre recently to celebrate the one hundredth year commemoration of the victorious Glenbrien hurling team which won the Wexford Senior championship in 1915 and ’16.
A presentation of a scroll and a commemorative booklet was made to the family members and friends of the team, with all in attendance thoroughly enjoying a night steeped in local history and nostalgia.
The organising committee would like to thank their sponsors, those who served refreshments, and everybody who provided pictures and brought along medals.
Special thanks also goes to Margo Quirke, Patrick Nolan, Tommy Rowe, P.J. Daly, Dominic Williams, Myles, Áine, Michael and Joanne Heffernan, and especially Brigette Heffernan, for their help in compiling the booklet for the commemoration.
The following was the piece written for the booklet:
‘In 1915 and ’16 the Glenbrien hurlers won the Senior championship, no mean feat for a parish that didn’t even have a hurling club ten years earlier. But in 1906, with the arrival of John P. Leacy N.T., all that changed and titles were won in Minor in 1906, Junior in 1909, and Senior success soon followed.
A report from ‘The Free Press’ on May 31, 1913, read:
“But when the Glenbrien men in emerald green followed, it was evident from the cheers that they had the stronger following: the big Glenbrien men had the advantage in weight and blocking, and catching and length of stroke.
“Stafford, the goal man, was splendid, Jack Leary (Conigar), played his usual game, and other brilliant men on the Glenbrien team were Mernagh, Roche, Chas. Hyland and Gahan. The selection committee would make no mistake in putting three or four of them on the next county team.’’
The 1915 championship, run on a league system, got under way on July 25 when Glenbrien beat Crossabeg by 9-3 to 2-10, the scores coming from P. Nolan, M. Hyland, D. Doran, P. Roche, T. Devereux and W. Nolan.
On August 15, Glenbrien beat New Ross by 3-3 to 1-5 with scores again coming from P. Nolan and P. Roche, while J. Leary, C. Hyland, T. Wilson and W. Mernagh put up a splendid defence at the other end.
New Ross went on to beat Crossabeg and the Red Rapparees of Enniscorthy, while the Red Rapparees also accounted for Crossabeg.
Glenbrien and New Ross now shared leadership of the group on four points each with one game remaining, which wasn’t played until April 2 of the following year.
According to a report in ‘The Wexford People’ on April 8, 1916:
‘’A big crowd in Wexford Park on Sunday last witnessed what may be described as the best exhibition in hurling seen on the same pitch for a long time. The contestants were teams representing Glenbrien and Enniscorthy and the game was the final in the Senior League.
“The match was billed for decision at the same venue a couple of weeks ago on which occasion the Rapps failed to travel and a walkover was given to Glenbrien. Like the plucky Gaels they were, the Glenbrien men desirous of proving themselves worthy of the laurels, acceded to the county committee’s request and met the Rapps on Sunday.
“Both teams were in excellent form and all who anticipated a lively match were not in the least disappointed.
“The Glenbrien men, who in physique were superior to their opponents, showed their superiority in tactics, their long pucks telling in their favour throughout.’’
Scores for Glenbrien came from P. Nolan (2-1), D. Doran (2-0), K. Ryan (1-1) and P. Roche (0-2), with C. Hyland, W. Mernagh, P. Lambert, Nolan and Doran all being outstanding.
The starting 15 were: M. Stafford; A. Culleton, C. Hyland, T. Wilson; W. Mernagh (capt.), J. Leary, P. Lambert; J. Nolan, N. Redmond; W. Nolan, P. Nolan, P. Roche; M. Hyland, K. Ryan, D. Doran.
The format of the 1916 championship is not exactly clear, but we do know that it did not actually start until 1917, and there are also accounts of two games against Crossabeg and two games against New Ross and Rathgarogue United.
On March 24, Glenbrien lost their first game to Crossabeg on a scoreline of 4-0 to 3-2 with J. Somers the most reliable defender, C. Hyland magnificent in midfield, and M. Murphy the pick of the forwards, scoring two goals.
Their next engagement was with New Ross, and was reported in ‘The Free Press’ on May 5. The players on each side gave a display that was a pleasure to witness. A. Culleton and W. Nolan defended vigorously along with C. Hyland, a player of amazing resource, while M. Murphy was outstanding, scoring 4-2.
Another report from ‘The Free Press’ from July 28 details the game versus Crossabeg which Glenbrien won on a scoreline of 2-1 to 1-2:
“The old rivalry that has existed between the teams was reflected in the strenuous character of the play which, from start to finish was highly exciting.’’
Glenbrien were best served by A. Culleton, N. Redmond, the Hylands, M. Stafford, P. Nolan scoring two goals and J. Leary who was one of the outstanding figures on the team, also scoring a point.
A report from ‘The Echo’ on November 10, 1917, described how Glenbrien defeated New Ross in Enniscorthy in the final of the 1916 hurling championship, a game that had been long looked forward to. Glenbrien were short the services of Jack O’Leary.
Martin Murphy played a brilliant game all through and scored 2-2. Others who did well amongst the forwards were W. Mernagh (3-0), D. Doran (2-0) and P. Nolan (0-1), along with M. Stafford and Hyland, both of whom rendered a capital account of themselves in the Glenbrien rear line.
The 15 players who started were: W. Mernagh (capt.), M. Stafford (goal), P. Nolan, W. Nolan, J. Nolan, A. Culleton, P. Lambert, M. Murphy, K. Ryan, P. Roche, M. Hyland, C. Hyland, D. Doran, N. Redmond, J. Somers.
Sadly, about a year later Pat Roche fell victim to the ’flu epidemic of 1918 and died at the age of 33. Two more of the team also died young, Patrick Nolan aged 39 and Charlie Hyland at 46.
The full panel of players of this great side featured Mick and Pat Stafford, Patrick, Jimmy and Willie Nolan, Andy Culleton and Jimmy Somers who all hailed from Ballinastraw; Myles and Charlie Hyland, and Pat Roche from Borelia; Willie Mernagh and Tommy Devereux of Oulartleigh; Paddy Lambert, and Pat and Jack Whitty, Ballyrannell; Kearns Ryan from Ballyroe; Dan Doran, Kilcotty; Martin Murphy, Oylegate; Johnny Dunne, Knockrathkyle; J.P. Leacy, Glenbrien; Tom Wilson, Nick and Mick Redmond, Ned O’Connor, Lar O’Grady who were all from The Ballagh; Jack O’Leary from Screen and Jim Mythen from Oulart.
Eleven of these players represented Wexford at Senior championship level.
An interesting side note relates to the very first boarding house in Anchorage, Alaska. It was built and ran by Glenbrien hurler, Mylie Hyland, and his wife, Johanna. They later turned the boarding house into a successful hotel. The building still stands to this day and has since become a museum.
Incidentally, Hyland was one of six team members who won a Leinster title with Wexford in 1918, along with Mick Stafford, Willie Nolan, Paddy Lambert, Martin Murphy and Jack Leary. The three Nolan brothers on the Glenbrien team were uncles of Pat and John Nolan who went on to give distinguished service to club and county.