A KILKENNY man has been preaching the hurling gospel in the Premier County.

If Tipperary do the business on Sunday and go on to become hurling's royalty in the years to come, principal of Mullinhone NS James Cahill won't be thanked in his native county.

Since 1997 Kilkenny man Mr Cahill has been sharing his hurling wisdom across the border in Mullinahone, and his young charges could yet become the stars of Tipperary's future.

He's not likely to be top of Brian Cody's Christmas card list but he's still cheering for the Cats.

"I've had to buy a Tipp flag and bunting for the school," he confessed yesterday. "But I won't be cheering for Tipp -- we want the four in a row!"

If that comes to pass, Monday may be a good time to come in and grant a discretionary holiday, if the headmaster wants to avoid a day or more of dirty looks from his blue and gold-clad pupils.

In the past -- BJL, or Before John Leahy -- Mullinahone was largely a footballing stronghold, but that's all changed in recent years. The school has produced current Tipp stars Eoin Kelly and Paul Kelly and such is the time now being put into hurling in this part of south Tipperary that more look sure to follow their illustrious example.

Indeed, Eoin Kelly's cousin, Bridget Maher, is a teacher at Mullinahone National School.

"It's definitely a hurling school," says the principal with a laugh. Other county players from the local club, such as Paul Curran and Sean Curran, were schooled at Kilvemnon.

Border areas such as Mullinahone and the various areas between it and Callan, across the frontier, will be where hurling fever will be pitched highest in the coming days as Tipperary aim to defy the current champs (and the odds).

Local historian Ricky Sheehan, who spent a few years teaching in the border territory of Urlingford, admits to some incursions at this time of year by Mullinahone lads in the past, when it was Tipp who ruled supreme. "They would go into Callan to, let's say, raise the temperature a bit."

A few miles away, along a stretch of the N76 where land is in Co Kilkenny for a few yards, before crossing back into Tipperary, then back into Kilkenny and so on, the rivalry is said to be "friendly" at Poulacapple National School.

"Technically we are in Tipperary but the majority of the children are from County Kilkenny," says principal Mary Meagher.

"I'm living in Tipp for 19 years but, yes, I'm from Kilkenny. With a husband and children cheering for Tipperary, when the match is on I'll be sitting in the corner of my kitchen."

Aerial photograph kindly donated my Brian Molloy. Circa end of 2007

Click on picture for larger image

On Thursday the website got hacked, that explained a strange message when you may have logged in. During the next couple of days I will be updating the site with the latest security patches so the site may seem slower than normal and logging into your account may be disrupted but everything should be back to normal in a couple of days

John

The website went down for a little while, I deleted some file's by accident but hopefully everything should be fine now. Will be putting a new section up in the next few days

 John

Some pictures of Old Mullinahone, more in the picture gallery

 

 

Fethard St in 1912: L to R  Paddy Gahan, Peg Gahan (child), Jack Norton, Mary Connell (mother of Nelly), Jim Norton, Ed Crotty, Margaret Crotty (ML Norton’s mother), Julia O’Brien.

 

Taken in Paty McCormack’s home in Fethard St. early to mid 50st. Back Row L to R Richie McCormack, Mamie McCormack, the 3 lads are Dumphys and Keatings from the Asses Turn.

 

Front Row L to R Tommy Boland, Maura McCormack, Jo Jo McCormack, Paty McCormack, Nelly Gahan.

 

 

Photo 3. Taken in Carrick St late 50st early 60st I think. (drawing water) L to R Jackie Rochford (The Rocks Rd), Paddy Gahan, Thomas Gahan (Tos) Johnny Gahan (in truck) (3 sons of Jack Gahan Carrick St).

 Donated by Michael Keating

The death has taken place in the United States of Mrs. Eileen Statires of Manchester New Hampshire. Eileen was the former Eileen O Connor of 10 Carrick Street.

She had been ill for a number of years even prior to the death of her mother the late Peggy O Connor. Mass will be offered in St. Michael's Church, Mullinahone on Sunday next November 30th, at 11.30am on behalf of the late Eileen O Connor.
May she rest in peace.