Three Wicklow GAA stalwarts feature in new book
BRENDAN LAWRENCE Sports Editor
THREE well-known Wicklow GAA figures feature prominently in a new publication that was launched recently in Mount Wolseley, Tullow.
Shillelagh’s Tommy Murphy, Knockananna’s Tom Kehoe and Carnew’s Tadgh Collins all have a chapter devoted to their lives in a very entertaining new book entitled ‘For The Honour of The Little Village’ which was published by the Clonegal-Kildavin Veteran Players
The book features the stories and thoughts of 12 former GAA players from their playing days from as far back as the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The players all hail from Carlow, Wicklow and Wexford.
Eight of those honoured were from Carlow clubs: Christy O’Neill (Clonegal/Kildavin), Tom Kehoe (Clonmore and Knockananna in Wicklow), Evan Fitzgerald (St Patrick’s, Tullow); LV Conway (Grange), Willie Eustace (Naomh Eoin, Myshall), Tom Donoghue (Kilbride), Seán Treacy (Palatine) and Pat ‘Rooney’ Nolan (Fenagh).
Wicklow was represented by Tadgh Collins and Tommy Murphy, while the two Wexford men featured in the book are Tony Doran (Buffers Alley) and Tom Hanrick (Half-Way-House, Bunclody).
A copy of the book was presented to each of the 12 former players by Tom Doyle, chairman of the Clonegal-Kildavin Veteran Players. Tommy Murphy was unavoidably absent and Noel Ryan ‘substituted’ for him.
Launching the book was Chairman of Leinster Council Jim Bolger who said the book was a highly important project for the 12 players to have their thoughts and experiences in print.
“This book will stand the test of time,” said the Hacketstown native.
The three chapters on the Wicklow men are highly entertaining with recollections from their playing days and adventures in the GAA world, as, indeed, are all the chapters and this publication would make for great reading over the Christmas period and any GAA person would be quite impressed to find this wrapped beneath the Christmas tree.
Knockananna native Tom Kehoe’s chapter describes how one hal;f of his house was in County Wicklow and the other was in County Carlow.
He recalls being on a team that won the under-16 Wicklow football championship in 1951 and that he went on to play national league football for Wicklow but never championship.
Kehoe’s transfer to Clonmore and his subsequent fine playing career in Carlow are also dealt with in detail.
The ferocity of Tadgh Collins in battle shines through in the Carnew man’s chapter while Tommy Murphy’s section ‘The Man Who Lit The Fire in Shillelagh’ is very informative and entertaining.
The book sells for €10 and is available at the following locations: Brian Plunkett Clonegal, Steemers Bunclody, Conway’s Kildavin, Egan’s Parkbridge, Roberts’s Myshall, Kelly’s Kilbride, Walker’s Shillelagh, Bolands Hacketstown, Lawless’s Monamolin, The Corner House Carnew, Palatine GAA clubhouse and O’Toole’s Tullow.