Golden jubilee celebrations
BUFFERS Alley Clubhouse was a hive of activity on Saturday night for the Golden Jubilee of the club’s senior hurling success of 1968.
This victory marked a famous breakthrough for the club at senior level and the players and mentors of this team were the ones who heralded the beginning of a remarkable period of success that accounted for 12 senior titles between 1968 and 1992.
Cate Donohoe, club chairperson, extended a warm welcome to the panel and mentors of 1968 as well as the representatives of the deceased members who were present to honour the occasion.
Former hurlers Tony Doran and Mick Butler, on behalf of the players, highlighted their memories of that special win on December 8, 1968 with Mick performing a verse of a song created by fellow team member and local bard Joe Doran. The honour of cutting the celebration cake fell to Liam Murphy and Mick Butler.
Cate paid tribute to the many people who contributed on and off the field to that golden era of GAA in Monamolin and Kilmuckridge.
The club won its first Junior title in 1905 and waited 23 years for the next one to arrive in 1928. It would be a further 23 years before a third Junior title came to Buffers Alley in 1951. Intermediate honours followed in 1965 and from this milestone victory, the club made the transition to the top table of senior hurling very quickly.
An appearance in the 1967 Senior Hurling Final was a sign of things to come but very few would have predicted the unprecedented success that was to follow so quickly after the 1968 title was captured.
To mark the Golden Jubilee, a special commemorative match programme was commissioned which gives an insight into the campaign of 1968 and the men who wore the Buffers Alley jersey with pride that year.
The match reports are a reminder of the determination shown by the players in their pursuit of a first senior title for the beloved club.