As part of the GAA’s Social Initiative, the Kilmacow Hurling and Football Club will hold a Public Lecture and discussion on Sunday the 5th of Febuary in the Community Hall in Kilmacow.
The lecture will be titled ‘’Kilkenny Hurling – from the One Parish Rule to the Four in a Row’’. The lecture will be given in two parts, the first will cover the period from the late 1940’s to the end of the 1970s, and will be given by Dermot Kavanagh from the Rower Inistioge club. The second part will cover the 1980s to the present day, and will be given by PM O’Sullivan from the Ballyhale Shamrocks club.
After the lectures, a panel will discuss further the topics covered, which will range from the initial resistence to the One Parish Rule, the infulence of Fr Tommy Maher, the team of the 1970’s, the trends within club activity, the teams of the early 80’s and 90’s, and then right up to and including the Brian Cody era. This panel will include the two guest speakers, and they will be joined by among others Eddie Keher, Willie O Connor and Enda McEvoy.
The GAA’s Social Initiative arose as a result of former President Mary McAleese and her husband, Martin, noticing an absence of older men in attendance at official functions during their many visits to local communities over the years. The former President referred to those “who have lost the threads of regular and meaningful social contact and who would welcome the chance to revive their social lives again in ways they would enjoy”. Subsequently, the former President invited the GAA to implement some of the ideas that arose from a Forum that was held, and this in turn resulted in the ‘GAA Social Initiative’, being launched in 2009.
It is now being re-launched as a club-based, island-wide project, utilising the GAA club network as a vehicle to achieve the greatest reach into all our communities. The former President’s commitment is clearly illustrated by her willingness to serve as Patron to the Initiative. In addition, Dr Martin McAleese will serve as a Director of the Trust established to implement the Initiative.
The lecture will begin at 6.00pm on Sunday 5th of Febuary in the Kilmacow Community Hall, and some light refreshments will be available afterwards. All OAP’s and Students will be free, and there will be a charge of 5 euro for other members of the public. The Liam McCarthy Cup will be present and available for photographs. It would be hoped that both lectures would be complete after approximately 30 minuites, and that the discussion and debate would take about an hour.
This is a social initative open to all, but aimed at older men who may have a limited social outlets. All clubs or individuals are encouraged to bring along a neighbour or friend that might enjoy the lecture and the discussion and banter that will hopefully follow.
By Mary Morgan Fri 13th Jan
