Castlelyons GAA Notes WE 1.2.21. 2021-02-03 19:12:00

Sonny O’Brien a shining light with the Juvenile Club back the years.

The Castlelyons Juvenile Club was founded in 1976 and has since catered for hurling and football teams from nursery to minors.  We always appreciate that the legendary Dave Hegarty was the driving force and secretary of the Club for so many years.  There were many along the way that also assisted in the caring and development of our juveniles by lending a helping hand as both administrators and club officials too.  The name Sonny O’Brien features prominently in annals of Cois Bríde and Parish Yearbooks in the late seventies and eighties as he was vice chairman, chairman, and PRO of the juvenile club.

Sonny was a busy through life as a baker, confectioner and later owned a milk run. These jobs entailed rising at savage early hours for work like 4am daily.  He certainly got a run at the day but never seemed to tire as still found time to engage in the GAA Club and with the Castlelyons Pipe Band which he joined in 1960. He was involved with the Juvenile Club in the late seventies and eighties and during this time the juvenile club moved on to a firm footing as it became one of the most successful clubs in the parish and started to make a real impact in East Cork with many good victories.

I recently met Sonny for a chat and despite being hindered by distancing and the pandemic we certainly had a winter’s tale.  Always a supporter of the club he has as much enthusiasm now as fifty years ago.  He was delighted to see the recent purchase of land and proposed development. We spoke about his administrative roles and involvement with various teams.  Sure, we could talk for days as he spoke vividly of the young players and games of his time. The methods of communication and administration were so different then for Sonny and the Club as there were no mobile phones, no emails and certainly no WhatsApp.  The first mobile phone covering just Dublin was introduced in 1986 and cost €3000 apiece, the internet (emails) did not arrive until after 1991 and sure WhatsApp did not start up until 2017. Sonny was about when the Club worked so hard on the initial development of the pitch and Community Centre.  He spoke glowing about the drivers of the work at the time and the general power and pride of the Community to support their efforts.

Our discussion focused on 1984, the centenary year of Cumann Luthchleas Gael as all clubs made a special effort and it was and great to be involved.  The Castlelyons club made a great effort in both the adult and juvenile sections.  They had a good U12 hurling side and defeated lot of strong teams with selectors Mick Sheehan, Sonny O’Brien, and Steve Randles.  There was a massive crowd in Rathcormac for the East Cork final versus Whites Cross, but they suffered a narrow defeat.  However, he was particularly delighted with the U14 teams in both hurling and football who improved as the year went on.  They were unbeaten in both league and championship football and hurling.  On a fine July evening the whole parish hit for Dungourney for the football final versus Cloyne, always a tough side, and fair play to the lads they had a massive victory that evening.  This team were even more clinical in the hurling as they were unbeaten and left some good sides in their wake. In the East Cork hurling final in Rathcormac before a huge crowd they had a big win over old rivals St Catherine’s.  Sonny was Manager of the Under 14’s with selectors Dick Mackessy and the late Christy Barry in 1984. As a group they worked very well together, the lads responded, and it was a double in both grades for the U14’s of 1984.

Sonny has fond memories of the tournaments arranged by Dave Hegarty for the Club.  They held one in 1984 involving teams from North and East Cork, Tipperary and their special friends from Ballina, a club just over the bridge from Killaloe but in Tipperary too. The late Derry O Leary a Castlelyons man and Garda based in Killaloe was over the Ballina side.  Dave Hegarty and Derry used to arrange games home and away on a biannual basis.  Top referee at the time John Motherway used to referee these games.

Féile na nÓg is the biggest gathering of juvenile footballers in the game and teams from all counties take part.  Cork hosted the tournament in 1985 and Castlelyons took part for the first time.   Castlelyons had St Michaels of Longford as guests for that weekend were and they hosted Bride Rovers and their guests Eastern Harps of Sligo in games. All the teams paraded from city to Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the finals. Castlelyons had some good players on that outfit in Seanie and Kevin Cotter, Colm and Peter Randles, Anthony O Brien, Padraig O Brien, Gearóid Crowley the Mackessy boys and Ultan Brady and while the lads did not win did not win, they put up a good show.  That team later went on a return trip to Longford for a game and Dick Mackessy arranged a meeting and talk for the team with the late Eugene Magee who trained the great Offaly team that beat Kerry.

Of course, Sonny had another big interest and that was the Castlelyons Pipe Band.  He was a member since 1960 and treasurer for many years.  He played the base and tenor drum and more recently has acted as Drum Major whereby he carries the Staff and calls the shots.  At one stage his family Josephine, Anthony and Brendan were in the band too.  Castlelyons, one of the great pipe bands, have played at festivals including the Rose of Tralee, big games all over Munster and a resident at Cork County finals for many years. This writer was praising Castlelyons and Imokilly teams in Páirc Uí Chaoimh one day as Imokilly were heading for three in a row.  A long-term county board officer who prefers city teams interjected and said that there is a man down there with ye that played in more county finals than most East Cork teams put together and that’s Sonny O’Brien. 

On big match day the parade and the role of the drum for the National Anthem are special time for all players. Some look at the crowd, others stare the opposition and more down at the ground, but all are focused on game ahead.  There were none better to stir the tribalism and bate out famous marching tunes and the National Anthem than the Castlelyons Pipe Band led by Sonny O Brien. Fair play to Sonny he really helped Clare in a big game one day in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as he was asked by a man of the collar to go down by the Clare supporters with the Parade. Even though the Band were tied to time they took the teams down and along the fourteen-yard line in front of the Banner supporters on the Blackrock End up the other side but cut back across the middle. The Banner crowd bate the bodhrans and even drowned the Band upsetting the opposition from the start and Clare won the day.  Another day Castlelyons were playing in an East Cork Final in Watergrasshill and John Motherway the referee gave a controversial free to the dislike of Castlelyons supporters. Sonny was on the sideline with the band and he hit an unmerciful belt on the drum that could be heard all over as the free was taken and I don’t think your man scored. The referee remembers that moment of the game well and he knew after that it was going to be Castlelyons day as Sonny’s bang on the big drum was the victory call and win, they lads did.

The family are all great club supporters including his wife Mary, a Ballycotton woman and she very involved in the community too.  Sons, Anthony, and Brendan were good players but left the area on employment.  Anthony now resides in Carlow and Brendan in Kildare.  Daughters Josephine resides in Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, and Marie over the road in Conna.  All are married, and Sonny and Mary have thirteen grandchildren.  They might have to change the Cork tune soon as Josephine’s son Diarmuid is called onto the Kilkenny Under 21 panel for 2021 and we could see the black and amber flowing in Glenrouske.  

Sonny himself played the game but a motorcycle in the early days ended his playing career.  Pat O Brien his brother won an East Cork hurling championship in 1956 with Castlelyons and has since given an outstanding contribution to Fermoy for well over 50 years as he resides there.  Of course, Anne Hegarty, his sister, her husband Michael Hegarty, and family are also steeped in the club and community. Great to see Sonny has made a great recovery from a recent illness.  He is looking forward to supporting Castlelyons again and rolling the staff with the band. He has made an immense contribution to the betterment of our Club as it moves through the gears of time and we thank him for it. 

Great Support for Rebels’ Bounty Club Fundraising Draw and more on the way.

Both the Club and the County Board are very conscious of the Covid-19 situation and based on feedback more time is required to meet people so the first three draws will be held on March 25th, 2021.  Our own Castlelyons Club sales are going well and a big thank you who have joined and bought tickets to date. The cost of running the Club is ever increasing and this year we have to repair netting at the rear of the goals due to storm damage, pitch sanding and other repairs are also required.  The Club is embarking on a major development programme, so all assistance is appreciated and members of the adult, juvenile and camogie clubs are requested to continue to support and promote this Draw. 

The prizes are outstanding with a top prize of €20,000 monthly and a total of thirty each of the 12 months.  Then for Easter and August the top prize is €25,000 and the Christmas (December) one is €100,000. Value for money surely at just €100 for the ticket and the more sold by our club the more profit accrues to the Club.  As they say in the Cadbury add there is a glass and a half in everyone so if you have not joined already join up and you could be one of the big winners and maybe have a few glasses.

Club Development Progress.

Our Steering Committee in conjunction with the Engineers have produced a draft drawing for discussion.  This shows the layout of proposed second pitch plus other detail.  The members have now received a copy, and this is an opportunity to comment and contribute view or opinions for consideration. Chairman John McCarthy will be harvesting all views and together with Treasurer Michael (Snr) Spillane will be discussing those submissions with the Steering Committee before overall agreement.  Meanwhile forms for the Sports Capital Grant are being prepared by Mary Fenton, Helen Hussey, and Margaret Doran which hopefully will yield a good grant later on in the year to develop a much needed second pitch.

Incidentally, can any of you members of Adult, Juvenile, Camogie groups or parents involved with the club help in these busy but exciting times. Assistance with grounds maintenance, event management, assistance with grants, fundraising, governance, strategic planning, project implementation, finance, health & safety, assistance with PR, and when we return for a collective meeting a little catering. We all live in a busy and fast world from the web in the day to Netflix in the evening but let us broaden the band of human resources and lend a helping hand to the Club for a few hours a week. If you feel you can assist with the work in any way please give your name to John McCarthy chairman, Mick Spillane treasurer. or Michael Barrett our secretary. Ar scath a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

We are gradually making way towards an agreed plan on the overall scene and you can help us. This is coming a crunch time in thoughts and views as to the direction we take on the various developments and how we propose to fund them. The costings are high but there are opportunities through various Grants and fund-raising initiatives. This requires a bit of discussion on a definite way forward.  It is imperative that we have an overall Strategy, Vision, and buy in on this work. A Masterplan is required to reflect the GAA vision while suitable for all groups.  A phased basis may be best to flexibility to cater for the delivery of priority facilities. Hopefully, a financial model of fundraising to deliver the facilities will be contained in the Masterplan. Of course, this will require buy in and full support on the facilities from the membership to deliver on our wish list and create that legacy for future generations. I ndiadh a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin but we will get there.

Castlelyons GAA Weekly Lotto – Jackpot still a massive €20,000. 

This draw was held Monday 1.2.21 and the numbers drawn were 4, 11, 25 and 31. There was no winner, and the Jackpot is still a whopping €20,000. The Lucky Dip winners were as follows: - Aisling Desmond. Liam Martin. Mary Cronin. Nora McGrath. Killian Smith. Noelle O Keeffe. Catherine Murphy. Emma Barry. Next Draw Monday 8.2.21. Thanks so much for your support and please advise your friends that they can play our Lotto, ONLINE or purchase tickets from the usual outlets.

Votes of Sympathy.

Castlelyons GAA wish to extend sincere sympathy to the Noonan and Coughlan families Also to the Ryan family Coolagown and Looney family Glanmire in their recent bereavements. Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a nainmeacha go léir.

Club Main Sponsor: ZEUS Packaging Group

Notes by Kieran McGann Castlelyons GAA PRO




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