Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

Kilbride Cricket

On the 4th of July 2020 we posted an article highlighting the Kilbride Cricketers as recorded by Danny Dowling. The post also sought to identify the Glenmore weight throwing champion who was recorded by Paddy Kennedy (1922-1997) of Rathinure, Glenmore, in the National Folklore Collection.  The post  is available at https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-19th-century-sports-cricket-and-weight-throwing/

A helpful reader suggested a 2006 book by Michael O’Dwyer entitled, The History of County Kilkenny Cricket: The Forgotten Game. The book was located in the local Kilkenny library branch in Ferrybank, in the reference section, however, it could not be accessed because of COVID 19 restrictions. Martin Gahan came to the rescue and lent his copy of the book. The book was read in its entirety in the hopes of finding any reference to the Kilbride team or indeed any mention of Glenmore or players from Glenmore.

Although there is no reference to Kilbride or Glenmore, it was an interesting read explaining the rise and decline of cricket in Kilkenny by highlighting the political realities of the time.  A concise review of the book is available at  https://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/the-history-of-cricket-in-county-kilkenny-the-forgotten-game/.                           

After discussing the book with Danny Dowling he suggested that his brother Dick Dowling might shed some light on cricket and Glenmore sports in general. Dick recalled hearing that the Glenmore cricket players travelled to Mount Juliet to play and that many teams were sponsored by landlords. It was suggested that the Kilbride players may have played on a team sponsored by a local landlord. Dick also pointed out the close link between Glenmore and Wexford teams in other sports such as hurling and thought that the cricket players may have played for a New Ross Team. The book was searched again but the list of Bessborough team players did not provide an obvious link to any known local cricket player.  Special thanks to Martin Gahan and Dick Dowling. The quest for information concerning the Kilbride Cricketers continues.

Weight Throwing in Glenmore

In terms of the weight throwing an article appeared in the Munster Express on Saturday the 25^th of August 1900 stating that Glenmore was to participate in the New Ross athletic events and there was a “big practice every evening at weight-throwing” in two townlands in Glenmore. One group met at the Aylwardstown forge and the other at Kilbride.

The 1900 article also indicates that the GAA was to be revived again in Glenmore parish. The author stated, “I know Captain Ned Hartley will be highly delighted at this news; he is always in high spirits when taking an active part with the dashing young Glenmorians on the football field.” The term “revived again” appears to suggest that the GAA fell out of favour in Glenmore prior to the turn of the twentieth century.

Gaelic Football in Glenmore

Given the coverage of sports in media today, it may be surprising to a lot of people that prior to 1890 very few sporting events were covered in newspapers. Commencing in the 1890’s newspapers began to print more and more articles about a variety of sports and eventually there were dedicated sports columns. For several years after the turn of the twentieth century, a sports column by “Ned of the Hill” featured in the Munster Express. What may also be surprising is that Glenmore was a Gaelic Football stronghold in the first half of the twentieth century. According to the GAA Kilkenny Bible (2011) from 1900 to 1950 Glenmore won 15 Senior County Football Championships and 3 Junior County Football Finals. “Ned of the Hill” dubbed the Glenmore Football players “the men of the Big Glen.” Thanks to Ned’s column there is a public record of the withholding of the County Kilkenny Championship medals from the “men of the Big Glen.” The medals were not awarded until 1908, just as one of the players fell ill and tragically died. This Sunday we will post “The Glenmore Football Club: The Trials and Tragedy of the 1906 County Kilkenny Gaelic Football Champions.”

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh