Cork should honour Inniscarra’s Rena Buckley says camogie boss
CORK should consider honouring its record winning All-Ireland dual star Rena Buckley from Inniscarra by naming some road or piece of infrastructure after her - just as they have done with Christy Ring and Jack Lynch, according to All-Ireland winning camogie manager, Paudie Murray.
Cloughduv born Mr Murray paid tribute to his fellow MidCork star when he took to the podium on the South Mall on Monday for the homecoming after Cork, captained by Rena Buckley, defeated Kilkenny by 0-10 to 0-9 to move to the top of the Roll of Honour with 27 All-Ireland titles.
“To our senior team for the effort, they put in – we spoke about a couple of things coming into this game, we spoke about composure, we spoke about desire and finally wearing the Cork jersey and the duty they have to that jersey and yesterday they carried out that duty brilliantly.”
“Finally to our captain, Rena – what can I say about her – what a warrior – you know, I drive around the city here a lot and I see the Christy Ring Bridge and the Jack Lynch Tunnel and I think maybe it’s time we name something after her,” he said before also thanking the clubs for their support.”
Rena – who plays camogie with Inniscarra and ladies football with Donoughmore – concentrated this year on camogie with Cork but the decision proved the right one as she became the only player in the history of Gaelic games to win 18 All-Irelands – seven in camogie and eleven in ladies football.
Among those to pay tribute to her was the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Inchigeelagh born Dr John Buckley who said great credit was due to both Rena and her teammates for the way that they had come back to defeat Kilkenny who had pipped them in last year’s decider.
“It took a superhuman effort to win and the team showed great determination and boundless energy and we congratulate them on their magnificence victory and in congratulating them, we congratulate in particular Rena Buckley, cousin of the bishop!” he declared to loud laughter.
“What an achievement on Rena’s part – yesterday she won her 18th All-Ireland medal between camogie and ladies football and that achievement will remain indelible in the annals of the sporting history of not just Cork, but indeed of Ireland,” added Bishop Buckley.
Earlier the Lord of Mayor of Cork, Cllr Tony Fitzgerald and Mayor of Cork County Cllr Declan Hurley had welcomed Rena and her team mates on to the podium with the O’Duffy Cup to thunderous cheers from the hundreds of fans gathered on the South Mall.
It fell to Rena – who works as a physiotherapist in Macroom – to pay tribute to the fans for travelling to Croke Park in such numbers to cheer them on against Kilkenny and then to turn out back in Mallow and Cork to welcome the team home after their thrilling victory.
“The one thing about this Cork camogie team is we are a very tight unit and I think this year everyone put their shoulder to the wheel and backed everyone up from December all the way to the top of the Hogan Stand yesterday– well done to everyone and I’m so proud of you all.”