Our minor hurlers play their first competitive match, the seniors are in Semple Stadium this Sunday evening while a first-aid training course is offered. All of this and more, in this week’s news on the Blues

Minor Hurling

Our minor hurlers were the first team in the club to take to the field in championship action this year and ended up on the wrong side of a 3-10 to 5-15 scoreline against Lorrha Rovers in Puckane. Seth Shayanewako was in flying form early on setting up goals for Ben West and Seán Crowe however Lorrha Rovers quickly took control and as we approached half time, they took a lead which they would not relinquish for the remainder of the encounter. Jamie Cottrell got a late goal for the Blues but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. 

Senior Hurling

Our senior hurlers open their championship campaign on Sunday evening next, 7pm, Semple Stadium against Holycross Ballycahill in the FBD Insurance county championship.

Unfortunately, due to Covid 19 restrictions, the attendance at this fixture will be limited to 200 people. This figure includes the panels, management and backroom teams of both clubs as well as the referee and his officials. Therefore access for our supporters will be severely limited. Unless you have one of the golden tickets you will be denied entry. We do acknowledge that many of our supporters will be bitterly disappointed at not being able to attend but this is out of our hands and indeed out of the control of the GAA who are only following government restrictions. However, you can follow the proceedings as we will be providing updates on our Twitter account.

The seniors aren’t the only show in town as there are numerous other games involving our club and you can get the full details of these here. 

Community Lotto

The third draw from our new Community Lotto took place on Monday evening last and there was no winner. Ten names were drawn to go forward to our €500 draw and they are listed below. We are asking all of our players, members and supporters to join our Community Lotto online here. 

Alternatively, paper tickets are on sale at the following businesses: JKC’s, Sheedy’s Centra, Albany Home Decor, Foley’s Spar Inver Gortlandroe, Hackett’s Butchers, A Sportsman’s Dream, Cinnamon Alley, Specsavers, O’Connor’s Kenyon Street Market, Keller’s Carry Out off-licence and Cleary’s Daybreak on the Limerick Road.

Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw

The first draw for the new Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw will take place on Friday, 18th September and once again there are amazing prizes on offer including cars and prize money up to €25,000.

Those who have previously entered the draw will have already received information regarding the new draw in the post and are asked to contact their promoters as soon as possible.

Further information about the draw and how to join can be found here.

Condolences

The club offers its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the late Donal Hackett, Fintan Lalor St. Nenagh and Urra, Ballycommon. Donal was a former hurler with the club and is pictured above with his teammates after winning the under-15 North Tipperary final in 1970. To his family Roisin, Dan, Brid, Niamh, Sean and Eadaoin, brothers Patrick, John and Eugene, sisters Michelle, Brigid, Jennifer and Nuala, his grandchildren and extended family, we offer our sincerest condolences. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Juvenile News

Under-6

Camogie News

Under-16

Under-10

Under-8

Handball

It’s Lonely at the Top

Tipperary and Nenagh hurling legend Mick Burns visits MacDonagh Park, the 1995 senior team are getting back together while the club seeks an Irish Language and Culture Officer. All this and more in this week’s news on the Blues

Mick Burns

It was absolutely fantastic to see club legend Mick Burns in MacDonagh Park on Saturday afternoon last after a recent hospital stay. Mick is our most decorated hurler having been part of the legendary Tipperary teams of the 1950s and 1960s when he won five All-Ireland senior hurling titles, eight Munster senior titles, five National Hurling Leagues as well as a North Tipperary senior hurling crown with the club in 1964. Mick played for a number of years with Faughs in Dublin where he also won a county senior hurling league medal.

Mick is pictured above with his son Michael and grandson Robert.

Community Lotto

The second draw from our new Community Lotto took place on Monday evening last and there was no winner. Ten names were drawn to go forward to our €500 draw and they are listed below. We are asking all of our players, members and supporters to join our Community Lotto online here. 

Alternatively, paper tickets are on sale at the following businesses: JKC’s, Sheedy’s Centra, Albany Home Decor, Foley’s Spar Inver Gortlandroe, Hackett’s Butchers, A Sportsman’s Dream, Cinnamon Alley, Specsavers, O’Connor’s Kenyon Street Market and Keller’s Carry Out off-licence. 

The Men of ’95

We have recently got word that the county senior championship-winning team of 1995 will be guests of the County Board at a reception prior to the county final this year and will be introduced to the crowd at half time. The game is fixed for 20 September but is subject to change due to Covid-19.

In 1995 Nenagh defeated Boherlahan Dualla 2-25 to 2-8, the goals came courtesy of John Heffernan and Robbie Tomlinson with captain Conor O’Donovan climbing the steps to claim the Dan Breen where he echoed the words of Paul Kennedy from 1992 when he declared that this is for everyone who ever wore the blue jersey. 

Conor has once again taken on a leadership role with this team as he is coordinating the group for this reunion and all players from the panel are asked to contact him at 087 610 7360

The match programme from this game can be viewed here. 

Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw

The first draw for the new Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw will take place on Friday, 18th September and once again there are amazing prizes on offer including cars and prize money up to €25,000.

Those who have previously entered the draw will have already received information regarding the new draw in the post and are asked to contact their promoters as soon as possible.

Further information about the draw and how to join can be found here.

Season Tickets/Passes Ticket claiming Procedure for upcoming senior games

Irish Language and Culture Officer

The club is currently looking for an Irish Language and Culture Officer. The main role of the Irish Language and Culture Officer is to promote the use of the Irish language and to promote cultural activities such as Irish music and dancing in the Club. The Culture & Language Officer position should be filled by someone who has a good working knowledge of the Irish language. The officer should provide a back-up service in the use of Gaeilge for all officers and members and encourage and promote the use of Irish phrases in the club’s business. Cultural activities should be organised through the very popular GAA Scór competition. He/she should also liaise closely with the County Irish Officer and any relevant Committee and with other Irish/cultural organisations in the area.

If you are interested in fulfilling this role, please contact eireognenagh@gmail.com or contact any committee member.

Thank You Christy

All of our teams in the club owe a huge debt of gratitude to referee Christy McLoughlin who has taken charge of all of our challenge games in recent weeks in MacDonagh Park. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are unable to use a referee from outside the parish and the former goalkeeper has been more than accomodating to our teams when it comes to officiating matches. Without Christy being so willing to offer up his time, it is unlikely that these games would go ahead. So a big thank you Christy from everyone in the club.

Thank You Bartley and Marion

Our entire community owes a debt of gratitude to Bartley and Marion Ryan for their huge and selfless efforts in coordinating our club’s voluntary group who purchased groceries, fuel and prescriptions for the vulnerable during the pandemic. With over 70 volunteers, the response from our club to the call to help was phenomenal and Bartley and Marion deserve huge praise for everything they did over the last few months including the delivery of parish newsletters on Saturday evenings while the churches were closed. The voluntary group has now been stood down but if anyone still requires our assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch with the club and we will be thrilled to help.

Walking Group

Our walking group taking a well-deserved water break in Capparoe on Sunday morning. In the photograph are Pauline Phelan, Marie Nagle, Mary Murphy, Jackie Holland, Bernie Gratton, Martina Cahill, Marion Minehan and Fiona Kenneally. 

Club Fixtures

All of our camogie and hurling fixtures have been added to the site and can be accessed by clicking the Fixtures tab at the top of this page. We also want to remind people that our Club App is free to download from the Google Play Store. 

Camogie News

Seniors

Under-10s

Under-8

Covid 19 reminder

Juvenile News

Under-6

 

Thank you to everyone who kindly donated to Shaun Hilmi’s journey, we finally get to publish some fixtures while our new Community Lotto gets underway. All this and more in this week’s news on the Blues

Shaun’s Journey

The club would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts, from all parts of the globe, GAA players, clubs, supporters and everyone else who kindly dug deep into their pockets and donated to help Shaun Hilmi on his journey back to full health over the past week. It was incredible to see the figure on his Go Fund Me page rapidly increase as donations flowed in and the total fund has exceeded their target by over €25,000. The kindness and generosity that people have shown to the Hilmi family has been both phenomenal and moving and once again we wish Shaun well on his journey to recovery.

Shaun himself has posted a special thank you message on the Instagram page, Shaun’s Journey

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCJjMtCFjzO/

Community Lotto

Last Monday evening saw the very first draw of our revamped Community Lotto in the complex in MacDonagh Park. Present on the night were representatives of Friends of Nenagh Hospital who received a €500 donation from the club. Nenagh Special Olympics will be the next beneficiaries of our €500 gift to charities in our community.

The draw was streamed live on our Facebook page and the video has since been viewed more than 600 times. The jackpot was not won and we are asking all of our players, members and supporters to please join our lotto online.

Upcoming Club Fixtures

Finally, after four months, we have a set of camogie and hurling fixtures for our players, members and supporters to look forward to. After being deprived of pretty much all sports since mid-March, people are excited at the prospect of live sport again and we have published our fixtures to our website. Click on the Fixtures tab at the top of this page to access them. Please be aware that details are subject to change so please check back here or our social media channels for any late changes.

Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw

The first draw for the new Tipperary GAA Clubs Draw will take place on Friday, 18th September and once again there are amazing prizes on offer including cars and prize money up to €25,000.

Those who have previously entered the draw will have already received information regarding the new draw in the post and are asked to contact their promoters as soon as possible.

Further information about the draw and how to join can be found here.

Thank You Mary Jo

All of us in the club wish to thank Mary Jo O’Reilly for all of her hard work in recent weeks in ensuring we all have a safe place to train and play Gaelic games. Mary Jo is our Covid Officer and is doing sterling work at training each night and it would take a brave man to try and pass her without sanitizing!!!

Camogie News

Senior

Seniors with over 30 players on the Senior panel this year, the seniors have arranged a series of challenge matches and are training hard ahead of the start of their Championship next month. Fixtures are on www.nenagheireog.com

Under-14

Training restarted on Thursday evening with a great session. Training times are 7-8pm Tuesday in Nenagh College and 7-8pm Thursday at Éire Óg. 

Under-12
Under-12 training resumed this week with a great turnout. It was great to see all the smiling faces again and by the end, it was like they were never away. Training times are Monday 6-7pm and Thursday 6-7pm at the Éire Óg pitch. All are welcome to join us. 

Under-10

Under-10 girls return to training on Thursday 9th July from 6 – 7pm. Training is scheduled for every Monday and Thursday between 6 – 7pm. Any new players that would like to come along are always welcome.

Under-8

Under-8s first training slot is confirmed as Thursday 9th July from 6 to 7pm. It will be lovely to see the kids returning to the pitch to learn new skills.

***Important reminder of Covid 19 Requirements for training***

Please ensure you do the following for your child (for underages)

1. Register with Nenagh Éire Óg, you have to be a member to play and for club insurance purposes. 

2. Compete the Covid eLearning module https://learning.gaa.ie/covid19learning
Parents and mentors need to complete this.

3. Complete the health questionnaire for your child. 
https://returntoplay.gaa.ie
Parents/Mentors need to complete this also and anyone wishing to be at the complex using the facilities. It needs to be resubmitted before every training session.

If any parents can help out with being Covid supervisors or assist the supervisors at the sessions please let the mentors know.

Juvenile News

Under-8 boys commence training this Tuesday evening at six o’clock as training returns to the field for the first time this year. The boys participated in a number of skills challenges and drills over the last number of months but are looking forward to getting back to the field. Hurling training will continue each Tuesday evening from six to seven and Saturday mornings from ten o’clock to eleven. New members (boys born in 2012 or 2013) are always welcome.

Under-10 boys commence training this Tuesday evening at six o’clock as training returns to the field, having trained in Nenagh College before lockdown. Hurling training will continue each Tuesday evening from six o’clock to seven and Saturday mornings from ten o’clock to eleven. New members (boys born in 2010 or 2011) are always welcome. Thanks to the parents for keeping the boys practicing over the past few months.

For any child returning to training specific guidelines and requirements for their safe return has been issued on the various group communications.  Thank you to those who volunteered as Covid officers for the different age groups, without this framework and support from parents return to play would not be possible. A massive effort has gone in behind the scenes in order to properly prepare for a return to play in a safe way, many thanks to all involved. 

Well done and thank you to all the parents who encourage and support practicing our games at home each day,this is central to the children maintaining and developing skill levels and ultimately the enjoyment of our games.

Thank you to all those who have already signed up on line to the new Nenagh Éire Óg club lotto. Please visit www.nenagheireog.com  for anyone else who wishes to join. 

Blast from the Past

In the early days of the GAA, Nenagh Institute was a force to be reckoned with in the county in Gaelic football, winning the county championship on two occasions, 1911 and 1915, while they won consecutive North Tipperary senior football championships from 1911 to 1919.

In 1911 Nenagh Institute were selected by the North Board to represent the division in the county championship on the basis that they’d defeated Ballinaclough, the 1910 champions, in a challenge game earlier that same year.

In the 1911 county final, Nenagh Institute drew with Thurles which was played before the Mid Tipperary final. In the semi-final, Nenagh had beaten John O’Leary’s (Tipperary Town), champions of the South division, 3-3 to 0-0. In the subsequent Mid Tipperary final, Templetuohy defeated Thurles and so they played in the replayed county final, while Nenagh defeated Templemore, 3-3 to 0-1, in the North final. Had Nenagh lost, Templemore would have earned the right to play in the replayed final. The match was fixed for Borrisoleigh on a cold, showery day on November 4th. Nenagh won 2-3 to 0-0 and according to the Nenagh News and Tipperary Vindicator newspaper, “deserved their win”.

Tim Gleeson, Drombane, was the referee and Nenagh won the toss and elected to play with the wind. The game was due to begin at 2 pm but due to the weather, it was delayed until 2.30 pm, and indeed, three times during the first half the game was halted as the players had to seek shelter from the driving rain. Borris-Ileigh and Toomevara were supposed to play a hurling match as the curtain-raiser but this was postponed due to the weather.

Nenagh dominated the play despite the weather and slippery football but it still took them fifteen minutes to make any impression on the scoreboard, a point, the high winds playing havoc with their shooting. By half-time, they led 2-3 to 0-0. There was no score in the second period despite the best efforts of Templetuohy, wayward shooting their undoing, and so the county senior championship came to our parish for the very first time.

The Nationalist newspaper described Nenagh as “a well-balanced team, the backs being sound in defence and the forwards very quick to seize every opportunity going. Combination and speed are their chief characteristics and if they continue improving as they did over the past year they will be a factor to be reckoned with over the coming year”.

The team was Timothy Whealey (captain), William Flannery (vice-captain), John Walsh, Michael Scannell, Thomas Smyth, Thomas Costello, William Flannery, Frank Flannery, Pat Costello, Daniel Costello, Maurice Foley, Michael Egan, Charley Spain, Edward Kennedy, James Moore, Patrick O’Meara, Martin Clifford (goal).

Pictured is the North Tipperary senior football medal won by William Flannery in 1911 which features three shamrocks and an image of Nenagh Castle in the centre. Since 1934, after a proposal by Borrisokane’s Seamus Gardiner, all North Tipperary medals feature an image of Thomas MacDonagh.

Tomorrow marks our first draw in our new Lotto, the community rallies around Shaun Hilmi while The Boys are Back in Town!!! All this and more in this week’s news on the Blues

Tomorrow marks the first draw of the New Community Lotto

Tomorrow evening, Monday, marks our very first community lotto and we encourage all of our players, members and supporters to join online. If you would like to subscribe please click here. The cut off for tomorrow’s draw is 6pm so make sure you have subscribed before then.

The very first jackpot will be €2,100 and will grow by €100 every week it is not won. For further information about how our lotto works please click here.

Shaun Hilmi’s Journey

Shaun Hilmi, brother of senior panalist Craig, played hurling and Gaelic football for Nenagh Éire Óg, is a regular tennis player and a talented athlete with Nenagh Olympic Athletics Club.

In recent months he started to feel discomfort in his hip which, unfortunately, has been diagnosed as Ewings Sarcoma Cancer, a rare condition that only affects 2.93 people out of a million. This aggressive disease has already spread to his lungs and a ten-centimetre tumour has been discovered on his right glute muscle, which was lying on a nerve which has caused him immense pain.

Shaun will have to undergo six cycles of chemotherapy, surgery and possibly radium. That’s without including the physiotherapy sessions and rehabilitation he will have to complete after his treatment to get back 100%. Unfortunately, in the world we live in today, money talks! Shaun’s treatment will be very expensive and which he needs to give him the best possible chance of making a full recovery.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up and we are asking the GAA community to come together and help Shaun complete his journey back to full fitness.

All donations, no matter how big or small, will be greatly appreciated by Shaun and the Hilmi family.

His cousin Jake Morris and Celtic FC star Barry Coffey have started a 30-second plank campaign to raise funds while Republic of Ireland soccer star Shane Long has sent his best wishes. You can follow Shaun’s journey on Instagram.

The Boys are Back in Town

On Wednesday evening last Chairman John Tooher was trilled to, at last, open our gates once again for training as the junior-A hurlers were put through their paces for the first time since last March.

It was fantastic to hear the chit chat, wise cracks and the sound of ash on leather echo around Thomas MacDonagh’s ground once again after the eerie silence of the last few months.

On Thursday it was the turn of the camógs to make a welcome return as the seniors resumed training with an impressive 30 players working their socks off, delighted to be back playing.

Our senior hurlers returned to MacDonagh Park on Friday evening with the panel working hard while maintaining social distancing. Hopefully we will never experience another lockdown and uninterrupted enjoyable evenings of Gaelic games will be enjoyed Coronavirus-free long into the future.

Pride Week

Nenagh Éire Óg takes great pride in being an inclusive club where all members of our community are more than welcome to play, support and volunteer and be an important part of the Nenagh Éire Óg team.

To celebrate Pride Week and we changed all our profile photographs on our social media channels to the one above, incorporating the Pride flag and our crest. Bigotry and intolerance, in any guise, are not welcome in our club and we strive to ensure that MacDonagh Park is a welcoming place for all.

For brilliant GAA-themed article on Pride Week by Joanne and Steven O’Riordan please click here.

Drone Footage

Check out this drone footage, captured by Killian Gleeson, of Shane Hennessy pucking out the ball in MacDonagh Park.

Camogie News

It was great to see a very strong senior
camogie panel return to the pitch this week, all of whom are looking forward to the Senior Championship 2020 where they will face Annacarty at home on the 7th of August.

The committee is working with mentors to get the rest of the teams back onto the pitches after the 5th of July and we will issue further communication on this next week.

In the meantime please ensure you do the following for your child;

1. Register with Nenagh Éire Óg, you have to be a member to play and for club insurance purposes.
2. Compete the Covid eLearning module https://learning.gaa.ie/covid19learning
   Parents and mentors need to complete this.
3. Complete the health questionnaire for your child.
   https://returntoplay.gaa.ie
   Parents/Mentors need to complete this also and anyone wishing to be at the complex using the facilities.

Your daughter will be unable to train unless all of the above are completed. We look forward to welcoming everyone back.

Juvenile News

Under eight boys received two new videos last week with football skills to practice at home from Mikey Hynes. Thanks to Mikey for linking in with the group and your demonstration video.  

Specsavers Éire Óg Under eight and ten boys and girls fun challenge – “Eye love Éire Óg/Eye on the Ball” – the eagerly awaited final compilation videos of all entries have been circulated and are also available on the club social media sites. The final videos are a wonderful collection of all the children’s individual efforts and celebrations. The good news is each child who submitted an entry will receive a Specsavers goodie bag which will be distributed in the very near future. Well done to every girl and boy who entered and thank you to the parents who worked hard behind the scenes supporting and encouraging our young stars in this challenge. Thank you to Kieran and Niall for all the work you have put into coordinating this event. This was our last hurrah to keep the children’s spirits up while away from the field. 

For any child that wishes to return to training and their family feels comfortable around their child’s return we hope to have the children back training in the next few weeks subject to all safety protocols. It has been a long absence from the training field and we cannot wait to get going again. Well done and thanks to all the parents that promoted Gaelic games at home throughout this time. Guidelines and requirements for a safe return to training will be issued on the various group communications.  

Under sixteen teams are receiving recorded training sessions to practice skills in the garden. These recorded sessions are also posted on the Éire Og newsletter for anyone to revisit. Management and players are very much looking forward to getting back on the training field.

Thank you to all the parents who encourage and support practicing our games at home each day, this is central to the children maintaining and developing skill levels and ultimately the enjoyment of our games.

Thank you to all those who have already signed up online to the new Nenagh Éire Óg club lotto. Please visit www.nenagheireog.com  for anyone else who wishes to join. 

Aithníonn muintir na Gaelscoile sár-imreoir agus múinteoir sa scoil, Gemma Grace, dá mblianta ó 2008 ag imirt ar son Tiobraid Árann, agus don ghrá a chothaíonn sí ins na daltaí don sport. Comhghairdeachas leat, a Gemma! @Tipp_camogie @TipperaryGAA @NenaghGuardian #GAUabú pic.twitter.com/d9G1WvmVvy

— GaelscoilAU (@GaelscoilAU) June 27, 2020

Congratulations to Seán McCullough

We send our congratulations to Nenagh Ormond’s Seán McCullough who was recently elected Munster Rugby President for the upcoming season. A fantastic achievement for Seán and for everyone connected with sport in the town.

Congratulations to Seán McCullough of @NenaghOrmondRFC , the newly elected Munster Rugby President for season 2020/21!

Many thanks to outgoing president Michael Keane of @TraleeRFC for his service.

Full details ⤵️#MunsterStartsHere #SUAF 🔴

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) June 26, 2020

Supporting Volunteers

Please click on the link to see ways we can support volunteers who are unable to return to club activity due to Covid-19

Greg Browne’s Skills Video