January, 2025

Today, we are going to feature the 1964 Glenmore Sports Day and try to identify the Glenmore people who won some of the events. By this time athletes were traveling great distances to compete in Glenmore. For example, in 1963 the Glenmore Athletic Association hosted its 20th annual sports day. Entrants came from ten counties to compete. “The feature was an outstanding treble by Frankie O’Rourke of Wexford, who won the one, two and three mile cycle races. Liam Power of Waterford secured a good double by winning the 100 and 200 yards” (Evening Echo, Mon. 27 May 1963, p. 6).

Other 1963 winners published in national papers included:

440 yards—J. Jordan, Waterford
880 yards—Fintan Walsh, Waterford
880 yards (confined)—Garda Denis Donovan, Glenmore
1 mile flat—Stephen Mulqueen, Newbridge
3 miles flat—Edward Hartley, Clover Meats, Waterford
1 mile walk—John Harty, Ring, Dungarvan (Evening Echo, Mon. 27 May 1963, p. 6)
Relay—won by Waterford A.C. (Irish Press, Mon. 27 May 1963, p. 12).

Glenmore Sports Day 1964

The Kilkenny People (Fri. 29 May 1964, p. 8) advertised that the first event of the day would commence at 2 pm. A raffle on the field for a Foxford Rug, presented by Richard Hanrahan, draper, New Ross was to take place and a dance was to be held that night in Mullinavat with the music by the Mighty Barrow Boys from 9-2, admission was 5/-  [Richard “Dick” Hanrahan (c. 1929-2006) was a native of Robinstown, Glenmore.]

Notwithstanding the fact that entrants in 1963 came from ten counties it was proclaimed in 1964 that there was a “record entry from eight counties.” The event was held at the Scough Bridge on Sunday, 31 May 1964. “The weather was ideal and a good standard was maintained in all events,” (Kilkenny People, Fri. 5 June 1964, p. 5.) Mostly only first initials were used in the newspaper articles providing the results, and we have placed in [square brackets] the names of the persons we believe may be a local winner and their townland.

Event Winners and Runner Ups

The Kilkenny People trophy for the best all round athlete went to cyclist Thomas O’Neill of Graigue, Aglish, Cappoquin, who pulled off a hat trick by winning all three cycling events. Thirty-seven year old, Thomas had been cycling competitively for 19 years in 1964.

100 yards—(1) S. McCarthy, Waterford; (2) E. Wynberry, Waterford.
200 yards—(Brooks Cup) (1) O. Noonan, Newbridge; (2) S. McCarthy, Waterford.
400 yards—(1) F. Walsh, Waterford; (2) P.J. Kelly, Wexford.
880 yards—(1) M. Ryan, Rockwell, Cashel; (2) F. Walsh, Waterford.
Mile—(1) P. Walsh, Tullamore; (2) J. Bergin, Dundrum.
Three Miles—(Athletic Cup)—(1) E. Hartley, Kilmurry, Slieverue; (2) J. Comerford, Thomastown.
[Eddy Hartley of Kilmurry, Slieverue]
Mile Cycle—(1) T. O’Neill, Cappoquin; (2) B. Keane, Waterford
Two Miles Cycle—(Social Club Trophy) (1) T. O’Neill, Cappoquin; (2) B. Keane, Waterford.
Three Mile Cycle—(McCalmont Cup) (1) T. O’Neill, Cappoquin and P. Walsh, Glenmore.
[Pat Walsh (b. c. 1936) of Jamestown, and later Robinstown, Glenmore. See our post of 14 August 2022 regarding the Glenmore I.C.F. Cycling Club.]

Two Miles Cycle—(novice ) ordinary machines (1) P. Power, Forristalstown, Glenmore; (2) B. Boland, Glenmore.
[Pat Power (1940- 2019) of  Forristalstown and Billy Boland (1947-2022) of Ballycroney]

100 yards—(under 21) (1) T. Kirwan, Glenmore; (2) P. Kennedy, Glenmore.
[Who were T. Kirwan and P. Kennedy?]
100 yards—(under 14) (Pattison Cup) (1) M. Kennedy, Glenmore, (2) M. McDonald, Glenmore.  
[Martin Kennedy (b. 1950) Ballinclare?; Michael McDonald (1951-2004) of Gaulstown?]
100 yards—(under 16) (1) P. O’Connor, Glenmore; (2) R. Colbert, Waterford.
[Peter O’Connor (b. 1949) of Graiguenakill, Glenmore?]
880 yards (confined) Murphy Cup (1) P. Power, Forristalstown, Glenmore; P. Power, Glenmore.
[The apparent battle of the postmen’s sons. Pat Power of Forristalstown (1940-2019) son of postman Tommy Power] and Pat Power (b. 1941) Cappagh, son of postman Foxy Watty Power.]
440 yards (under 18) Creamery Cup (1) F. Boyle, Shanbough, Rosbercon; (2) P. O’Connor, Glenmore.
[Peter O’Connor (b. 1949) of Graiguenakill?]
Mile Walk—(1) B. O’Keefe, Thomastown; (2) P. Power, Glenmore.
[Pat Power (b. 1941) Cappagh?]
Ladies 100 yards—(1) Miss M. Kennedy, Glenmore; (2) Miss O. Bolger, Waterford. [The Irish Examiner, Mon. 1 June 1964, p. 9) identified Margaret Kennedy as the ladies’ winner.
[Margaret Kennedy (b. 1950) was from Ballinclare and the twin of Martin Kennedy.]

Sack Race—(1) T. Boland, Glenmore; (2) P. Kirwan, Glenmore.
[Tom Boland (1955 -2023) Ballycroney and Patsey Kirwan (c. 1956-2023) of Gaulstown]

Three Legged Race—(1) J. Mernagh and Miss M. Walsh, Glenmore; (2) P. Larrissey & Miss N. Larrissey, Kilmacow. 
[Jimmy Mernagh (b. c. 1952) of Jamestown, Glenmore? Who was Miss M. Walsh?]
56 lbs. (without follow)—(1) P. Larrissey, Kilmacow; (2) M. McDonald, Glenmore.
[Mick McDonald (1929-2002) worked in the Creamery and lived in Haggard and later Cappagh. Known as Mick Mac of the Creamery.]

Obituary of Michael McDonald (1929- 2002)

Munster Express, Fri. 16 Aug. 2002, p. 8–Passing of Mr. Michael (Mick) McDonald, Robinstown, Glenmore with his wife Edie McDonald, née Barron of Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford at St. James Hospital, Dublin after a long illness. Born in Haggard, Glenmore in 1929. Mr. McDonald was an esteemed employee of the staff of Glenmore Co-operative Creamery and later Waterford Co-op, up to his retirement nearing a decade ago.

Mick, gave a lifetime of service to the parish of his beloved Glenmore, been involved in all of the parish activities, the old Mhuintir Ns Tire Guild, the Pioneers and the Church in Glenmore. Hiss passing will be mourned by all who knew him and in particular his family members, relatives, neighbours and friends.

In his young & sporting days, Mick McDonald, played Gaelic Football for Glenmore parish teams and also excelled as an athlete when that sport was popular in that district. He was keen on sport in general and encouraged many around him to do likeise. He was an avid Glenmore and Kilkenny GAA supporter and attended matches whenever possible.

Mick McDonald was predeceased by his brother Bill McDonald, of Haggard, Glenmore, his sisters Catherine, Glenmore, Peggy Manchester and Mary Ann, Rochestown. He is survived by his wife, Edie, his daughters, Joan, in Camross, Co. Wexford; Mary in Lucan, Dublin; Margaret in Salt Lake City, Idaho (sic) USA; his sisters Alice, in Manchester and Bridget (Biddy) in Portsmouth, both in England. Also, by his two nephews in South Kilkenny, John McDonald, Thomastown and Thomas Gahan, Glenmore. Fr. Kavanagh paid tribute to his work involving the church and the different parish organisations that he was so involved in.

A large and representative gathering attended on both the funeral day and burial in Glenmore. Fr. Kavanagh was joined by Fr. Liam Barron of Millinavat, Monsignor Paul Fitzgerald, Thomastown, and Fr. Dick Phelan, Ballycallan. To his wife, daughters and families, sisters and family members we extend our sympathy. Go Déanna Dia Trócaire ar Anam.

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Please send any corrections, additional information, photos etc. to glenmore.history@gmail.com

The featured photo above is Pat Walsh, of Jamestown and later Robinstown, taken c. 1970 by Danny Dowling (1927-2021). The photo of Michael McDonald (1929-2002) was taken in 1993 at the time he retired after 46 years’ service to Glenmore Creamery (Kilkenny People, Fri. 8 Jan. 1993, p. 19).

The photos of Patsey Kirwan (c. 1956-2023) and Billy Boland (1947-2022) are courtesy of their families that published the photos on R.I.P.ie.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh