Weekly News 28th March 2016

PAT WALSH COMMEMORATION OUTSTANDING SUCCESS: The 5 day celebrations and commemorations in Dunamaggan from last Wednesday until Easter Sunday were an outstanding success. The exhibition in St. Leonard’s School Hall of projects by pupils from St. Brigid’s School, Kells, St. Eoghan’s School, Kilmoganny and St. Leonard’s School, Dunamaggan was open on Wednesday to Friday during the Shrughawadda performance of “The Risen People” and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. In addition on Saturday and Sunday from 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. there was the additional exhibition of photograph’s, old documents, memorabilia etc from the past 100 years in St. Leonard’s School Hall. The demand to see the exhibition was so great that an additional opening afternoon took place on Easter Monday from 2.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. During the exhibition on Easter Sunday, teas were served to all in the packed hall which was also a great meeting place for friends new and old to meet.

On Saturday there was a Ladies football match which was followed by Juvenile hurling Blitzes and a very educational Family Treasure Hunt. On Easter Sunday St. Leonard’s Church was filled to over capacity for the annual mass at which the O.N.E. provided a colour Party and Denis Ryan with the pipes was an addition to the regular Choir and organist Pascal Grace. The Parade was led by the Reserve Defense Forces under the command of Joe Sheridan who were followed by the O.N.E members and then the Dr. O’Herelihy Pipe Band from Clonmel, The Kells Scouts, Relatives wearing medals of Family members, the Shrughawadda Players, Juvenile Hurlers and Ladies Footballers who carried Cards displaying the names of over 30 different active organisations in the parish of Dunamaggan. The parade halted at the Pat Walsh Monument where Chairperson, Ned Kirwan, welcomes all on behalf of the Pat Walsh Memorial Committee. In his welcome he thanked all for coming on this the 100^th anniversary of the Easter Rising. He offered a special welcome to the distinguished guests including Bobby Aylward T.D., Cllrs Mat Doran, David Fitzgerald and Joe Malone, the Mayor of Kilkenny. He thanked all who participated in the parade. He went on to say “The foundation stone of this state was laid down in 1916 by men such as Pearse and Connolly and their compatriots, a golden generation of our people, who shared a desire for Irish people to be free to fulfill their potential and to shape their common future for the benefit of all. How fortunate we are to be part of a centennial celebration of that event and to remember and pay tribute to those men and women, who together, changed the course of Irish history forever.

The leaders of 1916 and our local men and women of the War of Independence whom we honor today joined the cause when the entire national movement was united in a tremendous effort to achieve Ireland’s independence. They were ordinary men and women who lived in extraordinary times. Many of us here today, of older stock, are award of the taming of nationalism, that meant that a generation of our people, were told nothing of that extraordinary time in our history, told nothing of the golden generation. The Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War were not so much revised, as hidden away, in an attempt to distance citizens from  history. A generation had no shared history, for they were never taught it, no pride, for it was never instilled in them, no heroes, for they were never told of them. They never knew that the freedom we take for granted has to be earned. The recent resurgence in the public interest in 1916, both at home and across the world, proves that our history is becoming something we must cherish, rather than suppress. Pearse, Clarke, Connolly, and our own Pat Walsh, their vision of freedom remains the yardstick by which we measure the march of our nation. Let future generations never forget, that we are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice, and as such, we should commemorate their efforts, and pay them due tribute. We, the ordinary people are the custodians of their spirit and ideas. To the people who have gone to their eternal reward and who kept this annual commemoration alive, often during difficult and unfashionable times, I would like to say ‘go ndeana Dia Trocaire ar a amaim’. And so to conclude, it is important to remember, as we commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising this year, that it should be celebrated and cherished, not alone in large public ceremonies, but in the quietness of people’s homes and stillness of Irish hearts. The centenary is our centenary, an Irish Celebration, without apology, of a proud past, guiding us into a better future.”

The Proclamation was read by locals Thomas O’Callaghan and Timothy O’Shea. Ria McCormack, a great-great-granddaughter of Paddy Power who was with Pat Walsh on the fateful day in Knocknagress performed Irish dances. Emer Moylan, a great grand-niece of Ellen Peters, who carried the tri-colour at Pat Walsh’s funeral and bravely placed it on his coffin, laid a wreath at the monument. She was wearing the medal of her great grand-uncle, Bill Peters, F Company.

In conclusion Ned Kirwan thanked sponsors, St. Canice’s Credit Union, Eugene & Siobhan ‘Donovan, Bob & Maud Doherty and an anonymous friend from Kilmoganny, the committee members for their hard work, John Walsh, Noel McDonald & Jimmy Kehoe, the teachers and pupils of the three primary schools, Michael Dowling and the Shrughawadda Players, Padraig Moore for the P.A., the Kells Scouts, Dunamaggan GAA and Ladies Football Club, The Vintage participants, Video and Photographers, those providing teas and refreshments and all other who helped with the weekend.

Cllr Mat Doran then expressed thanks to Ned Kirwan on behalf of the community for his dedication over many years in ensuring that the Pat Walsh memorial and Parade survived. Spontaneous applause was the response to this. He also reminded those present that in five years-time in 2021 the centenary of Pat Walsh will be celebrated.

Then a minutes silence was observed for all former committee members and a decade of the rosary was led by Rev. Nicholas Flavin for all who fought in the cause of Irish freedom and remember them who have gone to their eternal reward.

Then the Parade proceeded and returned to St. Leonard’s School. The vintage parade followed it and it included over 20 vehicles all from the Dunamaggan parish. These vehicles then parked beside St. Leonard’s hall for viewing by the public.

John Holden later gave a historical tour of the village. Later in the evening Dunamaggan and Ballingarry played a hurling match with the host team winning by 0 – 16 to 1 – 10. The usual cabaret in Townsend’s concluded the celebrations.

For photos of the weekend Click here!!!

KILMOGANNY SENIOR FOOTBALLERS ADVANCE TO COUNTY FINAL: The Kilmoganny senior footballers played the county semi-final on Good Friday against St. Patrick’s in James Stephens, Kells Road. Kilmoganny got off to a brilliant start when within the first four minutes they had scored two goals and the point with the Tommy Maher and Kieran Bergin getting the goals and Kenny Moore getting the point. St Patrick’s eventually got on the scoreboard and put over two fine points and then hit the net to put only two points between decides. It was Kilmoganny who were playing the better football even though they were playing against a very strong breeze. They indeed had the majority of possession and were in their opponents half for much of the game. David Herity got his first point from play when Kieran Bergin won back the ball and laid it off to David. St. Patrick’s then slotted a point before Davy Herity was fouled again and he stood up and coolly slotted it over the bar. St. Patrick’s responded with a good point. Kieran Bergin then made a good run forward and his shot hit of the upright and over the bar to put a goal between the teams. Then came a very lucky goal for Kilmoganny when a mistake in the St. Patrick’s defence gifted Darren Fitzpatrick the ball and he coolly lobbed the keeper to send the sides in at half time Kilmoganny 3 - 04 St. Patrick’s 1 - 04.
Peter Kenneally game on for Canice Hickey at half time. St. Patrick’s then had their best passage of play in the opening 10 minutes of the second-half however it only yielded one point from play which was to be their only score of the half. Kilmoganny who were now playing with a strong breeze were on top all over the field with David Herity pointing three frees to extend the lead as the game headed into the last quarter. Peter Kenneally, Kenny Moore and Ronan Coffey added three further points from play to underline Kilmoganny’s advantage. Kilmoganny could afford to bring on further subs as the game headed into the final 10 minutes with John Fitzpatrick coming on for Tommy Maher and Donal O'Shea coming on for Ronan Coffey but not before Ronan scored a good point for play. David Herity added to his tally with a well taken free just as the game headed for the hour mark. It was Aidan Donovan who had come on for Darren Fitzpatrick who had the last say with a well taken point from play. Full time in a bitterly cold James Stephen’s was Kilmoganny 3 - 12 St Patrick’s 1 - 05. Kilmoganny displayed some excellent defending and passages of play and were on top for most of his game and now advance to the county final. Panel:- Aaron Doherty, Mark Heffernan, Noel Hickey, Liam Heffernan, Mark Dowling, Canice Hickey (Peter Kenneally), Eoghan Kearney (Paul Kirwan), Sean Connery, William Phelan(C), Kenny Moore, David Herity, Darren Fitzpatrick (Aidan Donovan), Tommy Maher (John Fitzpatrick), Kiernan Bergin, Ronan Coffey (Donal O’Shea), Roy Cullen, Jim Fallon, Jack Brett, Andrew Fitzpatrick, William Bergin, Brian Farrell, Seaghan O’Neill.