There's an expression around these parts that's issued in response to a tall tale "if you told that to an ass he'd kick you".
This time last year if we'd told you that our humble band of warriors with their camans, work ethic and attitude were going streak to victory in the county Intermediate hurling championship, become Connaught champions, defeat the Leinster top dogs and lead the parish in an odyssey to Croke Park, would you have believed them or just said 'kick me again please'?
If you were told that in return for a plot of parish land that this community would have built a new house for our parish priest, spent over €300,000 on the construction of a new astro turf pitch - with hurling wall, car-park and the foundations for dressing rooms and ball alleys – you'd have thought us deranged dreamers?
And if we told you that the people of this parish would dig deep into their pockets and promise to pay over €100,000 of their own money over three years to get this project off the ground, you would have said such things only happen in fairytales.
And yet there is more to come. A children's playground, dressing rooms and ball courts, meeting rooms, new full size pitch. A walking/running track. Tennis courts and more perhaps.
In this Community wherever there is a dream there is a will to make it happen.
And this Community working together, united in effort, carves reality out of the stuff of our dreams.
We do all this for ourselves and those coming after us. Some who have left us this year did it for those who came after them so that they might have a better, happier and more fulfilled future or just in thanks for the happiness that they felt living here.
This time last year Ged Mannion was in the thick of the organizing - manning the carpark, lining out the pitch and walking around after a horse, then a pony and latterly a donkey, closely observing their bowel movements so that he could record the winner of the horse plot prize. The crack was legend!
And Tony Broderick sat up by the scoreboard, observing all that went on and greeted all those who talked to him with a smile and a comment that make them feel special, welcome and appreciated. And that he should be feted as a king on a throne was only correct as he manicured this Community pitch as it were indeed the lawns of heaven and not just our playground.
Sarah Malone was here with her camera, smiling and unobtrusively snapping the action and capturing the moments that only she saw. Through her lens she captured the endeavour, the success skill, sadness, achievement, happiness – the essence of life itself, as she illuminated the epic journey to Croke Park.
Michael Skehill stood over by the trees at the entrance and watched James hamming it up and putting his reputation on the line as the young and old sought the gloss of glory as they tried to bulge the net behind him.
Sonny Treacy was a loyal and passionate friend of Cappy hurling never missing a match or training session for over 40 years. A man of particular habit he would park his car to the right of the gate and earth himself in the shelter of the trees, noting the talents and efforts of the players in front of him. His brilliance as a player and teacher of music was also reflected in his love of hurling and he willingly shared his particular love of both with his vast legion of friends.
We remember and lament these alone - not to set them apart or set their loss above others - but to acknowledge their importance to us and the poorer this Community is for their passing.
Despite all our reverses we have achieved much since our last fundraising day and there is much reason for hope in the year to come.
We greatly appreciate your support and if you feel you can contribute just come along and join in with us on our journey. We will make you feel welcome.
|
