Sport « Thurles Information

Wanted: Info. On Tom Semple & The Thurles Blues.

Attempt At Preserving Tipperary’s Rich Sporting History

Tom Semple is most certainly one of the most iconic GAA personalities in The Premier County, having played with and presided over one of the finest teams in the land. But surprisingly little enough is known about the great man. Well, all that is about to change and local GAA man, historian and retired school Principal, Liam O’Donnchu of Thurles Sarsfields fame is embarking upon a book entitled ‘Tom Semple and the Thurles Blues.’

Liam, the long recognised voice of Semple Stadium, has taken on this project following encouragement from Tom Semple’s son Martin, who now resides in Denver, Colorado and is delighted to have the support of the Semple family in bringing together as much information as possible about Tom Semple and his famed team, which won two All-Ireland titles for Tipperary in 1906 and 1908.

Our picture (left) shows Tipperary (Thurles Selection) All-Ireland Hurling Champions 1906.
Back Row: Tom Allen, Jack Cahill, Jack Gleeson, Tom Kerwick, Paddy Maher (Best), J.M. Kennedy Sec.
Middle Row: Denis O’Keeffe (Chairman), Paddy Burke, Jimmy Burke, Paddy Riordan, Ger Hayes, Martin O’Brien, Phil Molony (Treasurer).
Front Row: Jack Mockler, Joe O’Keeffe, James O’Brien (Hawk), Tom Semple Captain, Tom Kenna, Michael Gleeson, Paddy Brolan.

The book will cover the period 1904 -1912, a time when Thurles were at the very pinnacle and Liam is anxious to bring together any nuggets of information about Semple or any of the players on those teams, as he attempts to weave together the story of their success, their lives off the field and their attitudes to the social, political and cultural events of the day. Of course much of the focus will be on Tom Semple who worked as a ‘Porter’ first and then as a ‘Guard’ with the Great Southern and Western Railway Company. He lived in Fianna Road in Thurles, but he came from the village of Drombane in Tipperary originally.

Tom Semple

Tom Semple’s grave – Grounds of St Mary’s Churchyard, Thurles, Tipperary.

Tom Semple was a leader off the field as well. He was heavily involved in the purchase of Thurles Sportsfield in 1910, but died in 1943 and did not live to see Semple Stadium at its brilliant best, as it is today. He would surely be proud to see 50,000 people crammed into the grounds on Munster Final day with the stands and terraces heaving with excitement and the thrill of the ancient game – or would he? Would Tom Semple have approved of the way the game has gone, the Association has gone, or even the way Thurles Sportsfields has gone? The answers to those questions, we will never know, but perhaps you might have answers to other questions, or might be able to provide Liam with information which could open up other aspects of Semple and the Blues lives. (Click on Image immediately left for larger Resolution.)

Author Liam O’Donnchu

Liam O’Donnchu himself has been heavily involved with the match programmes in Semple Stadium; spent 25 years as Secretary of the Tipperary GAA Yearbook Committee; penned a history of Pouldine National School of which he was Principal; was involved in the Pictorial Record of the Horse and Jockey; and co wrote and edited the Tipperary GAA Ballads book, which is a real collector’s item and a ‘must have’ in all GAA homes in the county.

Liam is hoping that descendants of those great men might have information, photos, newspaper cuttings, or stories from those times which can be relayed and used in the book which it is hoped will be a social, historical, sporting and cultural history of the era involved. The teams which went on to win the All-Irelands contained players from Horse and Jockey and Two-Mile-Borris, Drombane and in 1910 they represented Tipperary at the Celtic Congress in Belgium playing in such places as Fontenoy. They hurled in the Croke Fennelly Cup – Semple himself was involved in the erection of the Croke Memorial in Liberty Square, Thurles, back in 1922.

Information, photographs etc. of any kind, are urgently needed on the following players and officials:-

Winners of the All-Ireland Hurling Final 1906
Tipperary (Thurles Selection): Tom Semple Capt., Jer Hayes (Vice Capt.), Jim ‘Hawk’ O’Brien (Goal), Paddy Bourke, Martin O’Brien, Paddy Brolan, Tom Kerwick, Jack Mockler, Tom Kenna, Hugh Shelly (Thurles), Paddy Riordan, (Drombane), Tom Allen, Paddy Maher (Best), Jimmy Bourke, (Two-Mile-Borris),Jack Gleeson, Joe O’Keeffe, (Horse and Jockey), Tim Gleeson (Drombane). Subs: Jack Mooney, Joe Moloughney, Mickey Gleeson, Jack Cahill, Rody Berkery (Thurles), Tim Condon (Horse and Jockey).
Club Chairman-Denis O’Keeffe, Secretary – J.M. Kennedy, Treasurer – Phil Moloney.

Winners All-Ireland Hurling Final 1908
Tipperary (Thurles Selection ): Tom Semple-Captain, Jack Mooney, Tom Kerwick, Martin O’Brien, Jack Mockler, Tom Kenna, Hugh Shelly, Paddy Bourke, James ‘Hawk’ O’Brien, Paddy Brolan, Anthony Carew, Joseph McLoughney, (Thurles), Joe O’Keeffe, Jack Gleeson, Bill Harris, Bob Mockler, (Horse and Jockey), Tim Gleeson, (Drombane). (Drawn Match)
For the replay, the twelve from Thurles were unchanged while the remaining included Jimmy Bourke (Two-Mile-Borris), Tim Gleeson, Michael O’Dwyer, (Holycross), John and Pat Fitzgerald (New Birmingham).

Note: All photos and other associated material presented, will be quickly scanned and returned immediately to their owners in original condition.

Contact: Liam Ó Donnchú, Ballymoreen, Littleton, Thurles. Tel: 0504-44106 Mobile: 086-6036547 or email liam.odonnchu.oifigeach@gaa.ie

Information, photographs etc. can also be left at Thurles Sarsfields Social Centre or at Lár na Páirce.

Tipperary Supporters Club Membership Launch 2014

The annual launch of the Tipperary Supporters Club Membership will take place in the Horse and Jockey Hotel on Tuesday 4th February at 8:00pm.

Come along and hear Eamon O’Shea speak of his plans for the year and meet members of the senior panel. Minor Manager, Liam Cahill and Under 21 Manager, TJ Connolly will also speak about the season ahead. Here is great chance to look forward to the 2014 season in great company.

Tea, coffee and refreshments will be provided after the meeting and organisers urge all Tipperary supporters to join them and show your interest and support in what is always an interesting and the most enjoyable of event.

Tipperary Supporters Club Membership Benefits

Note: (Especially those living overseas) Membership for 2014 is now available on http://www.tippsupportersclub.com/. The member’s gift, in 2014, will be a soft feel 100% Polyester Neck Scarf, 1.2m x 15cm, specially produced in the traditional Blue & Gold Colours of Tipperary and featuring The Tipperary Supporters Club Official Logo. Each member will also receive a Tipperary Supporters Club car sticker and a 2014 Membership Card. Membership is €30 per person.

Tipperary’s Shane Long Signs For Hull

Tipperary native Shane Long has now put pen to paper, to sign a three-and-a-half-year deal which could cost Hull a reported £7million.
Long was in Humberside recently to undergo a medical and to further discuss the final terms of his transfer, that previously had collapsed in August 2013.

It is unlikely Long will figure in Hull’s weekend expected encounter with Norwich at Carrow Road.

“The pressure now is on me to produce and to follow up Steve Bruce’s confidence in me. I’m excited, it seems like a good opportunity for me, and I just want to get out there now and play football.” said the Tipperary man. “I hope its money well spent for the club and it’s up to me to prove myself by scoring goals and I hope to do that sooner rather than later.” he continued.

West Brom’s new boss Pepe Mel confirmed he had been made aware of Long’s expected departure, before his own appointment and stressed that the club were capable of surviving without him. West Brom on the other hand may yet discover that his move turns out plain suicidal for their club, with regard to remaining in the Premier League. Looking back Long’s move was practically confirmed when West Brom, having accepted Hull’s initial advances last August, had failed to open talks with an option to extend Long’s deal for an extra year.

Despite that Long had featured regularly this season with West Brom and it now appears that a desire to free up money for their new manager may have been the true reason for the Tipperary man’s eventual exit.

Shane will collect an estimated £8m in wages over the course of this proposed three-and-a-half-year contract, moving the 26-year-old attacker into the £45,000 a week wage bracket, together with bonuses.

Long will now join a large Irish contingent of other Irish senior internationals at the club such as; Robbie Brady, Stephen Quinn, David Meyler, Paul McShane and U-21 international Conor Henderson.

Has Hayes Hotel Thurles Been Thrown A Lifeline?

Hayes Hotel, Thurles, Co Tipperary

Thurles born and Tipperary left corner-forward ‘All Stars Hurler of the Year 2010,’ Mr Lar Corbett, International boxing star Mr Matthew Macklin and Thurles businessman Mr Kevin Coppinger are understood to be the current front runners interested in a take-over of the birthplace of the GAA, namely Hayes Hotel, Liberty Square in Thurles, Co Tipperary.

Amid calls from leading figures, including former GAA president and MEP Sean Kelly, for the premises to be purchased by the GAA, this historic hotel presently in receivership since last April, may now have been thrown a possible lifeline if a deal can be reached by vendor and interested purchasers.

Professional boxing champion Matthew Macklin, known as “The Tipperary Tornado,” though himself not a Thurles native, has indeed strong roots close to the town through his mother who is a native of Holycross, latter a village just outside Thurles. Matthew, a regular visitor to Ireland and an attendee at Tipperary sporting events, has himself in the past represented Tipperary in U-16 hurling, before choosing to concentrate on his sport of boxing.

In 2011, Lar launched “Lar Corbett’s Bar“ at Coppinger’s Bar, 4 Parnell Street in Thurles and both businessmen more recently also have acquired the Park Avenue Hotel, converting same into a popular Italian restaurant, “Puccini’s,” situated on the corner of Friar Street and Mathew Avenue, in Thurles.

Corbett has previously travelled to New York to watch Macklin train and last December, Corbett and Coppinger were believed to be both present in Atlantic City when Macklin beat American Lamar Russ in a middleweight bout.

This local Thurles / Tipperary “Trioka” are understood to have confirmed that an interest in purchasing this historic Hayes Hotel has been privately expressed and is now a possibility, subject to a suitable deal being agreed and accepted.

Brendan Cummins To Receive Mick Doyle Award

Tipperary Hurling Legend and goalkeeper Brendan Cummins is to be rightly honoured tonight in his own county.

Born in Ardfinnan, County Tipperary, into a family that had a strong association with Gaelic games, particularly Gaelic football, Brendan played hurling at club level with Ballybacon-Grange and football with their sister club Ardfinnan.

Cummins initially arrived on the inter-county scene at the tender age of seventeen, when he first linked up with the Tipperary minor football team. He later joined the minor hurling team and the under-21 sides in both of these sporting events.

He first made his senior hurling début in the 1993/94 National Hurling League, before going on to play a key role as the counties goalkeeper, for the last twenty years.

Brendan retired in October 2013 last, after a career which won for him three National League Medals, five All-Star Awards, five Munster Medals and two All-Ireland Medals, while also achieving All-Ireland runner-up status on three occasions.

Brendan, who also holds the record for the highest number of appearances in the history of the championship will receive the ‘Mick Doyle Golden Memory Award,’ tonight at the Canon Hayes National Sports Awards.

This event will take place at a banquet in the Ballykisteen Hotel and Golf Resort, Ballykisteen, Tipperary.