The Cahir Park AFC Veterans Centenary Quadrangular Tournament took place on 2nd October, featuring teams from Cahir, England (Springfield from Chelmsford), Kerry (Tralee Dynamos) and Dublin (Peamount United).  The home team beat the lads from England in the Anthony Cunningham Memorial Cup. Cahir Park then entertained Dublin side Peamount United in the Quadrangular Centenary Final. Front row Pat Enright, Liam Butler, Joe Brophy, Anthony Bates, Davy Cunningham, Sean Duggan, Norman O'Brien, Willie Sullivan. Back row Michael Lonergan, Brian Murphy, Kenny Cunningham. Christy O'Donoghue, Paul Keating, Gordon Ryan, Joe Murphy, Robert McEniry, Phil McGrath, John Murphy, Hughie O'Donoghue.

 

On Saturday night December 4 2010,  the culmination of a year's work took place at Cahir House with the Cahir Park AFC Centenary Ball celebrating 100 years of junior football at Cahir Park. In a function room transformed with black and white balloons, no stone was left unturned to make this a memorable night for all present.

Well done to all those who made such effort to get there on an inclement evening in so many areas, in particular to those who travelled from all parts of Ireland, from England, France and, of course, Italy.

During the year we've had our golf outings, family days, visits from dignitaries, FAI and Munster Junior Cup games, Airtricity league teams visiting,  Paralympic teams and veterans from abroad. We've had a clubhouse Mass for our deceased members, Council Civic receptions and our great servants honoured. There was the publishing of a Centenary Calendar and the launching of Cameos of A Century - a pictorial tribute to the stars of the past, all the while being proud of the finest clubhouse and surroundings in the country, our sponsors having helped in no small way in that regard. A big thank you to them.

MC Phil Blake also extended gratitude to the driving force behind the committee, those who look after things at home while many hours had to be spent at the Park. He thanked those who joined us from neighbouring leagues and from other local clubs on the evening.   Martin O'Hanlon the General secretary of the SFAI made a presentation to Billy Purtill, the Centenary Year Chairman, to honour Cahir Park's long and proud involvement in Irish schoolboy football.

After a fine introduction and to the sound of a lone piper, Mr Trappatoni,  accompanied by Manuela his translator, John Delaney and Peter Sherrard of the FAI, was accorded a standing ovation - one of two on the night - everyone showing appreciation to have amongst us a football legend as the night's very special guest.

A cake marking the 100 years was cut jointly by Billy and Giovanni. The Ireland manager was presented with a wooden bowl carved by a local craftsman from wood from Cahir Park. There were fine speeches too from Billy Purtill, from secretary Ger Halley and from Paddy Pollard of the Munster Football Association while treasurer Julie McGuire presented flowers to John Delaney's wife, Eimear.

Well done to the spot prize winners on the night - a hamper of wine from Coopers Off-Licence was won by Rosie O'Donoghue-Collins, a voucher from Cahir House Hotel by Christy O'Donoghue. Catherine Purtill was recipient of the bottle of brandy sponsored by Keith Edward's taxi service, Eileen McLoughlin winning the meal for two at the Shamrock Lounge. Fran Simpson took home the Dolan's SuperValu Hamper with Breda Harpur awarded the voucher from Duneske Leisure Centre. Finally, congratulations to Michael Burke, winner of the €250 Mr. Mister voucher.

It was great to have FAI CEO John Delaney in such great oratorical form regaling us with anecdotes  from first goals for sons to unlikely international substitutes. True to form from someone who has become a great friend of ours, there was also some more good news for the Club.

The night however, belonged to Giovanni Trappatoni, the 300-strong crowd hinging on his every word. While occasionally things got lost in translation, it was all too obvious that Giovanni had enjoyed immensely his whistle-stop tour of Clerihan and Cahir before having to leave to prepare for an early morning flight back to Milan, delighted with the reaction of capacity crowds in both places showing such respect for a manager who has won ten leagues in four different countries.

It suffices to say that all autographs and photographs will, in future years, make for great memories of a never-to-be-repeated night in Cahir. What a fitting way to mark 100 years, a perfect ending to a perfect year off the field for Cahir Park AFC.

 

 

 

 

All roads led on Friday evening last to Cahir House where Cahir Park AFC held a special event which brought together all the age groups and all those with an interest in who represented the Park in some form or another over their 100 years. The awards night with a difference was the brainchild of Councillor Seanie Lonergan of the centenary Committee. John Delaney of the FAI was there to present the prizes, the Park PRO Phil Blake acted as MC and Mr Delaney along with guest presenter for the evening with the red book, RTE's Cahir-born John Finnerty, were first interviewed.

The first award of the evening went to Cahir Park’s oldest surviving player Tom Kelly. Others to receive recognition: John Burke, Mountain Road who captained Ireland in 1928 having played for both the Park and Shamrock Rovers, Billy Lonergan with an award on behalf of all trustees, Paddy Ryan & Denis Halpin  (the Kilkenny League's favourite representatives received the the Bite Yer Legs Award.

Chairman Billy Purtill,  Carrigeen was honoured with an award on behalf of the Purtill family, Helen Cunningham, Bengurragh (wife of the late Anthony Cunningham) and then  Julia McGuire and Ann Coffey (on behalf of her mother Moll Doyle) represented the female force within the club. 

Patsy Ward - acknowledged by all with the distinction of being Cahir Park’s finest ever player (his daughter Liz Ward-Wilson received the token of appreciation  in honour and remembrance of her Dad) was next followed by Gerry Rogers who received an award for fundraising for the all-weather pitch. Michael O’Neill's coaching award was received by Mickey Halpin. Phil McGrath – The Man In The Middle Award was given to his son Phil on his behalf while Christy O’Donoghue claimed one  as one of Cahir Park’s finest players in the 80s. Finally on behalf of the successful under 15 boys and under 14 girls teams,

David Finnane & Dervla Buckley brought home the final pieces of crystal of the evening as the future of the Park award.

It was great to see so many get together with great memories shared and all with one thing in common. Everyone had a chance to page through Paul Buckley's fine Centenary book - Cameos of  Century - which is now on sale priced €8 from committee members and from the clubhouse. Paul presented a well-researched photographic journey to kick things off  on Friday and the Club wish to extend their thanks to him for such a great body of work.

 

 

 

 

 





                                CAHIR PARK AFC at the Aviva for IRELAND v ARGENTINA

Well done to all - organizers, kids and adults who all had such a memorable day at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday Aug 11 last. The tickets came courtesy of the FAI, Chief Executive John Delaney keeping a promise made to us at the opening of our new Clubhouse on May 22 last.

With two buses heading to Dublin at 1pm last Wednesday, Cahir Park, bedecked in club colours, were out in force. With Jim and John's u-15+s, Linda and Darren's u14 girls, the Coffey Crew and Sean's boys all arriving early with Mike at the wheel, there was plenty of time to chase cheap burgers and buy big green fingers with the occasional flag and scarf thrown in.

The contents of Dinny's bus, being more mature, thought it best to head to the Lansdowne to meet up with old friends - at least that's what we were told! Sampling the fare, and free burgers, they were unavoidably detained and took some time to reach the stadium. They had told us they knew the way but didn't look at all fit on arrival.

Meanwhile the Argentinian and Irish buses arrived with O'Shea saluting the lads and Messi glancing their way wishing he was them. Somehow I think the feeling was mutual!

In the stadium, Gerry, PJ and Paul sat back, Rosie's possee tried to start a Mexican wave, the Cahir Park ladies did their best to sing a song or two and Betty and her Boys rang out the boos from behind as DiMaria was awarded the offside goal.

The 8s, 9s and 10s were in top voice, clapped till their hands were raw and as the Cowans and the Old Boys took the beauty of the stadium in, Kathleen and Dave looked on from the posher seats. 

Fish, Kevin, Phil, Billy, Shane, Alex, Hughie, Ger and Kenny analysed the first half with typical in-depth knowledge at half-time but felt it very necessary to return to the Lansdowne friends with haste at the end of proceedings.

On the way home there was even time for a birthday song for the other Linda and as the big bus pulled in to the Park at 1.15am, all looked back on a thoroughly wonderful day. Has anyone seen the minibus yet....?                                  PHOTOS                                                                        



 

 A sun-bathed Cahir Park provided a perfect backdrop on Saturday May 22 2010 for the official opening of our fabulous clubhouse by John Delaney, Chief Executive, FAI. MC Phil Blake first of all introduced the Players of the Year for 2009/10 as follows – Under 6 Player of the Year 2009/10 Tadhg Velthuysen, Under 7 Player of the Year Jack Buckley, Under 8 Player of the Year Liam O' Neill, Under 9 Jordan Coady, Under 10 A Player of the Year for 2009/10 Conor Walsh, Under 10 B Player of the Year Stephen Grogan, Under 11 Mark Kelly, Under 12 Conor Cashman, Under 13 Player of the Year Mikey O' Connor, Under 13 Girls Player of the Year Megan Ward, Under 14 Keelan Hickey, Under 15 Gavin McCarthy, Youths A Player of the Year Mikey Byrne, Youths B Seanie Kiernan, Junior B Player of the year Shane Ryan and finally Junior A Player of the Year Barry McCormack. Our Players of the Season then received their trophies from John Delaney.

With big crowds enjoying the bouncy castles, side shows and refreshments and many faces from the Club’s past there to see the proceedings, there was a presentation by Billy Purtill, Club Chairman, to Mr Delaney of a beautifully wood-turned bowl, using wood from an adjacent fallen tree – all this the work of the talented Pat Kinsella. There then followed some short speeches from Chairman of the Tipperary SR Co Council, Liam Aherne, Centenary Committee member Seanie Lonergan, Richie Power of the TSDL, from the Club Chairman Billy Purtill, and from John Delaney of the FAI – who was particularly pleased to see girls catered for so well at the Park. Then a joint blessing from Fr Sean O’Dwyer PP and Rev Arthur Carter preceded a rush to catch a glimpse of the interior of the clubhouse, the wonderful wooden sculpture by Eamon Cowan and a view from the verandah. All returned, as expected, very suitably impressed.

The hard-working committee Chairman Billy Purtill, Vice-Chairman Pakie Halley, treasurer Julie McGuire and secretary Ger Halley and all the other committee members expressed thanks to Patricia O’Dwyer of Boston Scientific who presented the club with a defibrillator on the day, to all those who have bought perimeter advertising around the ground during the year and to the main sponsors in this, our Centenary Year – The Gatehouse, The River House and Mr Mister. The day could not go without a word of gratitude to the trojan volunteer effort that helped complete the clubhouse to such a fine standard, to all contractors who worked on the project, to the ground staff, the help of the Lottery Sports Fund, Pobal, the FAI, Pat Holland and Ned O’Connor in connection with their aid with the  Tipperary County Council Sports Grant and, of course, to the people of Cahir and beyond with their great assistance in all of the various fundraising initiatives. Cahir Park AFC can indeed stand proud for many decades to come with community effort bringing to fruition facilities the envy of so many.


County Council chairman, Liam Aherne, honouring a pledge made at the above official opening subsequently ihosted Cahir Park AFC  in celebrating the highest honour to be bestowed on them with a Civic Reception on the occasion of their one hundreth anniversary on Monday June 28 2010 at the County Council Chambers, Emmet Street, Clonmel in the prescence of Mr David Blood, FAI Chairman.