Castlelyons Club Notes WE 2.1.2017 2017-01-05 18:10:00

Shock and Regret on the death of one of our greatest Stalwarts Tom Joe O Riordan.


It was with shock and deep regret that we heard just last Friday of the tragic death following an accident of Tom Joe O Riordan one of our greatest stalwarts. He was always a man at the heart of Community activity in Castlelyons and had a passionate love for Cumann Lúthchleas Gael. He gave sterling service to the Club and won an East Cork Junior B hurling medal in 1953. He was at full back on the first Castlelyons team to win the East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship in 1955. Tom Joe then played with the Cork Junior hurlers of 1956. He captained the team to win the East Cork Junior B hurling in 1965 and he was at full back on the first football team from the club to win an East Cork, the Junior B in 1968. His displays at full back are legendary as he was a man of great strength with powerful hands and when he went for the Sliotar or the Peil he got it.


He was an outstanding Administrator and was secretary of Castlelyons GAA Club from 1979 to 2002. This was a golden era that saw Castlelyons go through the ranks from Junior B level to play Blackrock in a County senior semi-final and Tom Joe was a driving as secretary during these years. His sons Martin and William have also represented the club with distinction as they both won a county Junior B Football title in 1989 and William was corner back on the Junior and Intermediate Castlelyons team that won the counties in 1997 and 1998. Tom Joe was treasurer of Imokilly division for 17 years from 1983 to 2000 again an era of great success for Cork and Imokilly as the Division produced mighty hurlers and Cork won several All Irelands in all Grades. During this time, William won two County Senior hurling championships medals with Imokilly in 1997 and was captain of the 1998 winning team. These great victories brought much joy to Tom Joe but he was always so delighted in Castlelyons winning or any of our club players being selected for county teams because he was a man with great sincerity and values as he had a special grá for the Parish.


Tom Joe, with his wife Moira and the family, farmed extensively in Ballyarra as he had a very large dairy herd and a pure-bred Simmental herd. He had a serious interest in this breed of cattle and was a member of the Southern Simmental Club and treasurer of the Irish Simmental Cattle Society. He was a regular exhibitor at Shows and Sales throughout the country winning several trophies. His greatest award came in 2011 when he was presented with the Hall of Fame for his commitment to Simmental cattle for over 27 years. He was also a member of the Advisory Committee of Glanbia for several years.


It was entirely fitting that throughout News Years Day there was a huge outpouring of emotion in Castlelyons as Tom Joe lay in repose at his home in Ballyarra and again at Requiem Mass on Monday. So many people including members of the farming and sporting community country wide called to express their condolences. Mr Gerry O Sullivan Chairman of the Munster Council and Mr Ger Lane, Chairman of Cork County Board with Mr Pearse Murphy, Treasurer of the Board represented Cumann Lúthchleas Gael. Mr Patsy Ahern represented the Glanbia Board. Mr Maurice Carroll, our Club Chairman arranged a huge team with the local community to facilitate traffic on both days. Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Caisleán Uí Liathán wish to express their deepest sympathies to Tom Joe’s wife Moira, family Martin, Annette and William, his brother Father Michael, daughters-in-law Brid and Marie, son-in law Alan and grandchildren. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm dílis. We also wish to extend every good wish to the other person involved in the accident last Friday for a speedy and safe recovery.


Castlelyons Weekly Lotto Draw.

Our last Draw was held in the Community Centre on Monday night 19th December and the numbers drawn were 9. 14. 25 and 31. There was no winner. The following winners of a €20 each in the Lucky Dip Draw: - Clem Carroll. Sagart McCarthy. Colman O Connell. Martin Dorgan. Mick Cummins. Matthew Walsh. Mary McNulty. Brendan Hallihan. The post-Christmas Draw is being held on Tuesday 3rd January, 2017 in the Abbey Tavern at 9.30 pm. Thanks again for your great support throughout 2016 and looking forward to 2017.


Players Meeting.

There will be a Players Meeting on this Saturday evening at 8.15 pm and it would be appreciated if all attended. The Managers Mick Spillane, hurling and Donal O Leary, football, together with the Coach and Selectors will be setting out the programme for the coming year as training will commence on Monday 9th January at 7 pm. While it might sound early we were stowed since the end of July last year in hurling and have had a good rest. The footballers extended the season doing very well to reach the East Cork final and were so near to winning. In recent years Castlelyons have produced some great teams in both minor and U21 which has resulted in a huge panel of talented players but we have not matched this promise at Intermediate level and drifted somewhat. Well mar deirtear an seanfhocal ní thagann ciall roimh aois and many of the lads are coming of age now so with the right commitment we look forward to a great 2017.


Congratulations.

Congratulations to Alison Magee and our player Michael John Dorgan on the birth of their baby Andy who was born at 1.05 am on New Year’s Day.


Canon Michael O Brien Cup.

On this coming Friday January 6th, the annual challenge game between the Cork Senior hurlers and UCC will be held in the Mardyke for the Canon O Brien Cup. This is always an interesting game and gives us a glimpse of future players for the county and the UCC lads are preparing for the Fitzgibbon Cup. This year three of our players will feature with the College namely Jack Barry, Colm and Anthony Spillane and we wish them the best of luck.


Club Main Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group.




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