Ó Maoláin Scrapbook – A Treasure Trove Of Gaelic Games Achievement

Ó Maoláin Album

Some time ago, Cartlann Digiteach Cuala reported it had struck gold – having just acquired access to a unique Scrapbook documenting hurling & football in Dalkey. It contained material associated Harold Boys N.S. Dalkey and Dalkey Mitchells GAA Club – two institutions that occupy a unique position in the Cuala story.

The Album, compiled by legendary Harold Dalkey schoolmaster Proinsias Ó Maoláin, covers a period from the 1950’s to the 1970’s.  It contains a wide range of handwritten notes, photographs, newspaper cuttings, songs and poems – all penned by the author or his pupils. Overall, it paints a vivid picture of how Gaelic Games were organised in and around Dalkey during the period.

We have already published many articles based on this fascinating album and we are now releasing the full album for your enjoyment.

1988 Junior Football Final Recalled

Cuala’s heritage in images and print is not just concerned with winning trophys. We love to hear of heroic journeys that took teams to great heights even if the outcome did not mean more silverware. Some seasons yielded something just as valuable – lasting friendships and great memories of shared endeavours.

So there was “Cuala-whoops” of excitement (as the Herald would put it) when Cartlann Digiteach Cuala got these media cuttings from Fintan Quill. They tell the story of our memorable journey to the Junior Football final in 1988.

Image supplied by Adrian Dunne

 

Colmán’s Philosophical Prize Earned 20 Years Ago

Cartlann Digiteach Cuala is of the view that we should never overlook great hurling endeavours by Cuala members that take place beyond the jurisdiction of club and County.
And so we’re grateful to Colin Behan (again) who spotted a familiar face in this team picture of the victorious UCD team that lifted the Fitzgibbon Cup in 1993.  We reproduce here an account of the final (from the UCD site). Although our shy and retiring future Academy Chairman, Colmán O Drisceoil did not feature in that report, we’re assured he certainly made is presence felt on the field of play is that epic final 20 years ago.
Epic 1993 Final
The 80’s was a quiet decade for the college with UCC dominating proceedings in the inter-varsity competitions. In 1993 however this was all to change when UCD booked their place in the Fitzgibbon final against UCC, after defeating UL in a very lack lustre semi-final in Waterford.
On the Sunday morning of the 1993 final an extract from a piece by Kevin Cashman said that “UCD were a team stuck in third gear and were lambs to the slaughter against a very fancied UCC side bidding to regain their Fitzgibbon grasp.”  UCD however had different ideas with the team being captained by Jim Byrne of Wexford and included players of the calibre of Johnny Pilkington (Offaly), Brendan Carroll (Tipperary), Andy Dunne (Laois), Eamonn Scanlon, Seamus Hughes (Wexford) and Dan O Neill (Kilkenny).
UCD pushed the match to extra time with a last ten minute brace of points. They emerged in extra time with Jim Byrne playing a captain’s role and leading by example scoring a marvelous 2-10 of UCD’s tally for the day. The final score in a remarkable final was UCD 2-21 UCC 4-14.
UCD had bridged a 14 year gap and hope was revitalised of new things to come as most of the team were around for the following year, however they failed to UL in waterlogged conditions in Galway.
The Fitzgibbon Cup competition is the premier hurling championship among higher education institutions. The trophy is named after Dr. Edwin Fitzgibbon,  a professor of philosophy at University College Cork who, in 1912, donated most of his salary to purchase the trophy.

Historic Visit By “Bob” Recalls Momentous Year In ’61

1961 was a very long time ago! That’s history, some say. But history doesn’t have to happen so far in the past; it can be happening now too.  And this certainly was the case in July 2013 when, for the first time since 1961, the Dublin Senior Hurlers won the Leinster Championship – and earning Cuala a visit from hurling ‘royalty’

The world was a very different place in ’61. No Sunday Game to re-live the match action; in fact, RTE had not even begun broadcasting until December of that year so all the match action could only be ‘seen’ on the ‘wireless’.

On the world scene, US President elect John Fitzgerald Kennedy,  was about to take power from Dwight D Eisenhower while, in Hawaii, a young Barak Obama was born.

Back at home, we had two meteorological phenomenons – a cyclone in Mayo caused by Hurricane Debbie and Barry McGuigan,  the Clones Cyclone, was born.  We even had  Royal guests that year – Prince Ranier and Princess Grace of Monaco paid us a visit. But for our Dublin hurlers the only historic event was their winning the Leinster Senior Championship that year.

It seems hard to imagine this now but, In 1961, there was no “Cuala”.  However, Gaelic Games were alive and well in the Borough – with our three ancestral clubs in full swing through Dalkey Mitchell’s, Roger Casement’s and St Mary’s. But plans were already well-advanced to launch a new juvenile club to be known as Cuala Boys – an undertaking that must surely have been spurred-on by Dublin winning that Leinster Hurling Championship.  That branch of our Club DNA was to be started in ’62 by Tom Holden and others. Now it must surely be no coincidence that, 41 years later, no fewer than 4 Cuala Hurlers were among those lifting the Bob O’Keeffe Trophy, with two of them, Paul & Marc Schütte, being grandsons of Tom Holden.

Historic Meeting – A Key To Cuala Success

Recent efforts to refurbish the Hyde Road clubhouse has prompted Cartlann Digiteach Cuala to explore the history of the Hall.  We’re delighted to remind members of the historic meeting that took place 36 years ago – a gathering that secured for the club one of its most useful assets – the Cuala Hall.  The hall, which had previously been controlled by Dalkey Boxing Club,  has since facilitated training of generations of players regardless of weather conditions and provided a centre for social gatherings and fundraisers.  And isn’t it great to see so many familiar names still involved with the club today?

Historic Video Show Cuala In Phoenix Park

Every so often, Cartlann Digiteach Cuala re-discovers a real gem. This is one of them.  We are grateful to Damien Byrne & Ken Fitzgerald for drawing out attention to this delightful video which was part of a programme made by the late Eamonn MacThomáis (a renowned Dublin historian).  In this programme, he focussed on the history of the Phoenix Park but also featured some ‘present day’ activities.

In it, we see some very familiar faces as Cuala Hurlers take on Eoghan Ruadh (now St. Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh, Navan Road)

Many thanks to Colman O’Murchu for confirming that this was in late summer 1981; he should know, he came on as a sub on the day.

Vinnie Holden – Evening Herald Legend Of The Ball

Former Dublin hurler Vinnie Holden is this week’s Legend of the Ball. The defender is regarded as one of the classiest hurlers ever to play for the Sky Blues. Along with his brothers Mick (RIP) and PJ, Holden was a Cuala stalwart, propelling the Dalkey club to a hugely successful period in the 80’s and early 90s.

GREATEST MOMENT IN A DUBLIN JERSEY?
We beat Offaly by a point in a Leinster u21 final in 1972. We were beaten off the field but somehow we got a goal in the last minute and managed to win the game.

WORST MOMENT IN A DUBLIN JERSEY?

Not getting on in the 1991 Leinster final again against Kilkenny.

BEST CLUB MEMORY?
Winning the club championships were always great. We always seemed to win them by a point after extra-time!!

ANY REGRETS FROM YOUR CAREER?
Not a single one.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER?
My father, Tommy.

TOUGHEST OPPONENT?
I never had a handy day! The likes of Francis Loughnanne from Tipperary and Liam Fennelly from Kilkenny were a nightmare. Loughnanne was a fantastic player when Tipperary weren’t going well.

BEST PLAYER YOU PLAYED WITH?
I’d say my brother Mick was the best I played with.

IF THERE WAS A TRANSFER MARKET IN YOUR ERA?
Frank Cummins (Kilkenny), without a doubt. He won eight All-Irelands. He was a team all himself.

ANY CHILDHOOD HEROS?
Muhammad Ali.

IS THE GAME BETTER NOW OR WHEN YOU WERE PLAYING?
The skill level has come up completely and so are the fitness levels. But I don’t know if it’s as enjoyable. There’s so much commitment now that it’s not a pastime anymore.

IF YOU COULD MAKE ONE RULE CHANGE IN HURLING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Throw-ins drive me mad. I don’t know how it could be eliminated. But it comes from fellas trying to roll lift it all the time and it causes a rook. If a fella played it on the ground it would keep the ball moving a lot more. Those rooks are becoming too much a feature and it makes the game stop more than it should.

PET HATES IN HURLING?
Other than the throw-ins it’s hard to upset me!

HARDEST THING ABOUT RETIREMENT?
I won my last championship when I was 41. I never really retired they just stopped ringing me!

HOW DO YOU THINK DUBLIN WILL PERFORM IN 2013?
I was hoping last year (2012) they would push on but instead they went back a lot and I would worry about whether they can kick on again or fall back into mediocrity. To be relegated, thrashed by Kilkenny and beaten by Clare was hard. I’m just concerned that they put so much effort into every game will that make them lose confidence. Having put in all that effort, will they have to drive to go again. But the bad experiences could stand to them. I definitely think they have the hurlers.

ANY ADVICE TO YOUNG PLAYERS?

I never listened to any myself! But I would just tell them to enjoy their hurling.

original article

by Diarmuid Geraghty,

Evening Herald, 27 November 2012

Who Do You Think You Are?

1962 was a pivotal year in Ireland and in the World generally.  50 years ago, we were beginning to see immense changes in social and cultural lives.  We saw the very first Late Late Show and witnessed the birth of the Dubliners and the Chieftans.  It was the year of the Second Vatican Council and the communications revolution had begun with the launch of modern communications satellites – a fact celebrated that year with a chart topping “Telstar” by the Tornados.  Some things remained the same though.  Kerry won the Football and Tipp’ won the Hurling in what was first All-Ireland final to be broadcast live by Teilifis Eireann

Back on earth in Dalkey, 1962 was a pivotal year in the history of Cuala.  There were 2 strategic developments in the local GAA world – developments that were the critical foundations of our modern day club.

St Begnetts GAA Club was re-named Dalkey Mitchells and began plans to develop facilities in Hyde Road. (It’s very likely that the “Mitchells” title was chosen because there had been a team of that name (honoring the patriot John Mitchell) operating in the Glasthule/Glenageary area in the late 18and early 1900s but had become defunct). Dalkey Mitchells were to later release their Minors to another new club Roger Casements

Also in 1962, in Dun Laoghaire, a new boys club was founded drawing on pupils from CBS Dun Laoghaire and a recently disbanded club, St Michael’s of Sallynoggin. The new Club adopted the name Cuala Boys.  It was named after the Cuala Marian League (1953 – 1967, and whos officers included Seosamh Ó Drisceoil and Prionsias Ó Maolain). And it also resurrecting the name previously used by Cuala Hurling Club based in Dalkey since about 1918.

Having collaborated in setting up Roger Casements (1966), Cuala Boys & ‘Casements later fully-amalgamated as  Cuala Casements in 1967. By 1971, discussions were well advanced on an amalgamation between Dalkey Mitchels and Cuala Casements. In the meantime, Cuala Casements became informally associated with  Naomh Mhuire Camogie from 1972.  In 1974, Dalkey Mitchels and Cuala Casements merged to form Cuala Hurling & Football Club and retained their informal “association” with Naomh Mhuire.  Then, in 1979, Naobh Mhuire was formally accepted into Cuala as a new Section – thus bringing together Camogie, Hurling & Football under a single Cuala ‘roof’ and giving us the great club we know today.

Here’s our family tree –

 

Dalkey As Most Of You Have Never Seen It

Cartlann Digiteach Cuala has become aware of this historic film footage of Dalkey, taken in the late 50’s courtesy of Dalkeyphotos.  Nearly 30 minutes or pure nostalgia.
It’s amazing how little has changed – except for the cows and the hens.  And there’s a brief glimpse of football action in Hyde Park . Was that Johnny Sheanon?

First Ever Football & Hurling Titles In Dalkey – 1961

Most onlookers will appreciate that Cuala is a very successful mix of teams catering for all ages and playing codes over a wide area of south County Dublin.  But how many realise that the very “DNA” of our great club is the product of a rich history of mergers and amalgamations of earlier teams and clubs in the Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire areas? This week marks the 49th anniversary of a significant milestone in the development of Adult Hurling in Dalkey.  St Begnets GAA, later renamed Dalkey Mitchels before amalgamating with Cuala Casements to form the club we all know today, won the Junior Hurling “C” League – Dalkey’s first Adult Hurling title.

Only 2 year previously, in 1959, our Footballing forebears in St Begnets had made their mark at Minor level by winning a League Title.

These achievements  earned their place in the O’Maoilean Album where you can now see pictures and how the media of the day reported the event.