Thurles Sarsfield’s Hurling Festival Chairman, John Enright demonstrates road bowling skills.
IPB Insurance, in association with North Tipp County Council and Thurles Sarsfields International Hurling Festival, will lead the way for “The Gathering 2013,” here in Thurles on July 12th to 14th next.
Welcome Home And Enjoy Thurles Co Tipperary
The joint organisers of this year’s International Hurling Festival, under the Chairmanship of John Enright, are inviting home all Thurles people, wherever they may be, for the International Hurling Festival, now in its third successive year.
This year in particular, they are inviting back former Sarsfields Club Members and players who have been associated with this successful club in the past. They are calling on same to “Camán home for the Hurling,” on July 12th and include the Munster Final on Sunday July14th and guaranteeing to make this a most joyful reunion for all concerned.
This year’s festival will once again be centred on the International Hurling Competitions featuring the Tom Semple Cup and Carew Cup, latter names famously associated with Thurles and the GAA.
The festival will again include road bowling, wheelchair hurling, camogie, Camán Abú and other numerous social events that are currently still being finalised and for which full details will be posted as planning progresses. For now, just put this weekend date into your diary and begin planning your visit, thus making Thurles the centre of International Hurling and a special annual weekend for all who the game.
Latest Gathering News For Thurles Sarsfields International Hurling Festival.
(1) All the way from Salt Lake City, we welcome Fr. Paddy Carley and some 30 friends travelling here once again for the festival.
(2) Two full coaches from Indianapoliis, Illinois, who will spend a week in the area, playing hurling and camogie at the festival.
(3) Mr Tom Bergin from Moyne is arriving with an enhanced group of Kilburn Gaels hoping to make it a ‘three-in-a-row,’ for the Tom Semple Cup. (Mr John O’Riordan from Ardfurt, the Kilbrun Chairman has been rumoured as stating he is determined to keep the cup.)
(4) Seán Callanan with Dunboyne is back for the third year hoping this time it will be third-time lucky for his group.
(5) Former Sarsfields stalwarts Colm O’Rourke, Jamie Murphy and David Kerins are bringing the All-Irish speaking Setantas back again.
(6) Ger Collins, former Tipp County Minor, is bringing back Naoimh Moninne for the third time. Louth are also sending a road bowling team to compete in the Cusack Cup.
(7) McCormack is a name very much associated with Thurles Sarsfields. The McCormack clan from Keady are coming back a third time expecting this time to win the Tom Semple trophy. They also have strong ambitions with regard to road bowling.
(8) Mayo are coming with a huge contingent, Toureen ( Carew Cup Holders ) and Castlebar for the hurling, Ballina for Camán Abú and Westport for Road Bowling. David Hughes and Peter Goggin are the current Interprovincial ‘Michael Cusack Cup,’ champions. Mr Adrian Hession, the Mayo development officer, is the driving force here.
(9) We have a second Setanta team from the Gaeltacht in Donegal, giving us our second Irish speaking team.
(10) Ballyduff and Causeway are our two Kerry teams. It’s great to see two traditional clubs from North Kerry joining us.
(11) North Cork are arriving representing the birth place of Dr. Croke, Kilbrin.
(12) Last year Manorhamilton became the first Leitrim team to hurl in Thurles and Mr Steve Feeney is bringing them back this year for more of the same.
(13) Damian O’Doherty and Na Magha from Derry are coming back again and very welcome indeed.
(14) Fulham Irish from London, under Mr Michael Ruby from Kilshannig in North Cork will be the third London club to take part in the Tom Semple Cup.
(15) It is great to see Naas hurling manager Pat English bring his native Carlow club Ballykellin to this year’s festival.
(16) Another new entrant this year is the Rialto club from Dublin under Mr David Broderick.
(17) Bernie O’Dowd and Louise Lanigan, Thurles Sars Camogie, and Deirdre Murphy from the Munster Council are organising a senior seven-aside camogie tournament in St Patrick’s college, the latter I hasten to add is a fantastic addition to this Thurles Festival.
All in all, this year’s festival promises to be the biggest and best to date, so do stay tuned as we continue to keep you up to date with all events planned, as same are confirmed here on Thurles.Info and our sister website Hidden Tipperary.
Hope it goes well.