Dermot recalls an era when Railway Cups were special

DERMOT KAVANAGH will be well known to readers around the New Ross area in particular, as he is a native of The Rower and is also an uncle of Wexford hurler Eanna Martin who has given dedicated service to the county despite being based in Cork and latterly Dublin for many years.

A prolific author and historian, Dermot has previously written books on his boyhood idol, Kilkenny goalkeeper Ollie Walsh, a full history of the Senior hurling championship on Noreside up to 2003, and ‘Kilkenny No 3’, biographies of the 14 men who have won All-Irelands with the black and amber on the edge of the square.

And his latest venture is sure to be appreciated by Gaelic games historians as ‘The Story of Interprovincial Hurling’ gives a complete outline of a competition which has sadly fast faded from public appreciation and is now very much on its last legs.

Some will wonder what’s the point in writing about one of the least-regarded events on the G.A.A. calendar, but that in itself is all the more reason why its story should be told in my view because its glittering history deserves to be outlined.

There was a time during its pomp in the 1950s when the Railway Cups as they were then called would routinely attract crowds in excess of 40,000 to Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day.

In that bygone era there was just one parade on this national day of celebration, long before the proliferation of events all over the country.

And it became part of the culture for rural families to travel to Dublin on March 17 and watch the marching bands and the floats in all their glory before walking up to G.A.A. headquarters and viewing the best hurlers and footballers in the country in action.

This in itself was a rare treat because in those days so many people had to rely on RTE radio to hear about the exploits of their hurling and football heroes. To see them in the flesh therefore made St. Patrick’s Day and the Railway Cups very special, particularly for the younger generation.

A lot of the magic around the competition was provided by the legendary Christy Ring of Cork who won an incredible 18 hurling medals with Munster from 22 attempts between 1942 and 1963. It’s a record that won’t even come close to being matched in future, let alone bettered.

There was a couple of forerunners to the Railway Cup featuring inter-provincial activity, namely the Railway Shield from 1905 to 1908 and the Tailteann Games in 1924. The Railway Cups started in 1927 and are hanging on by a thread at this stage, with this year’s event due to take place over the weekend of December 10-11.

The 2015 games were postponed due to poor weather around the same time of year and were never re-fixed, giving a clear indication of where the competition stands on the list of priorities.

It didn’t take place either in 1990, and in 2010 and 2011, and many administrators would be happy to see it fade into a distant memory.

That’s why Dermot Kavanagh’s book, which runs to 218 pages, is such a gem as it preserves the memory of an event that was once so important that medals were cherished every bit as much as provincial or National League honours.

The good news is that he has also got his teeth into researching an equivalent football version which should be on the shelves at the same time next year.

It is important that we remember the past, and this publication ensures that the Railway Cup will never be forgotten regardless of what its future may hold. The official book launch is in Langton’s Hotel, Kilkenny, this Thursday at 8 p.m. ALAN AHERNE Visit The Book Centre on Wexford’s Main Street for the very best selection of sports books.