AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Kilruane MacDonaghs club will be held in the Thomas MacDonagh Complex on Friday January 13th at 8.00 p.m. It will be preceded by Mass for deceased members at 7.30 p.m. in Cloughjordan Church. Nomination forms can be downloaded from website www.kilruanemacdonaghs.com and must be returned to secretary Kay Cahalan by Thursday January 12th.
Juvenile AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the juvenile club takes place in the Thomas MacDonagh Complex on Friday January 20th at 8.00 p.m.
Juvenile Presentation
The presentation of medals to the U-12 and U-14 hurlers is scheduled for Friday January 27th at 8.00 p.m. in the Thomas MacDonagh Complex. The U-14 hurlers were North Feile champions and the U-12 hurlers retained their county crown. The U-10 hurlers, who had a very successful season, will receive a special presentation at the function.
Scrap Metal Collection
Ardcroney Community Field committee is organising a scrap metal collection to fund ongoing development of the facility. Kilruane MacDonaghs second pitch, which is used continuously throughout the year by various club and camogie teams, is located there. Its maintenance and development are of crucial importance to the club. The committee will collect a variety of metal, iron or steel items including machinery, cars, bicycles, gates, radiators, barrels, containers and utensils. No item is too big or too small. You can contact George O Leary 0871222816, Kay Cahalan 0879059592 and Philip Heenan 0872887830 who will arrange collection of donated items. The deadline for collection is January 14th. Note that non metallic items will not be accepted.
Mick O Meara R.I.P.
The death of Mick O Meara Carriganagh, just a week short of his 93rd birthday, has severed the last remaining link with the 1940 Kilruane MacDonaghs senior hurling team which defeated Kildangan in the North final in Borrisokane and the 1944 side which got the better of Duharra to claim the Murphy Cup . Mick was also to play in the finals of 1947, 1952 and ‘53 without adding another medal as Kilruane had to give second best to the powerful Borris-Ileigh side of that era. He continued playing until 1954. Mick was a skilled and tenacious defender who played senior hurling for eighteen successive year in the green and gold of MacDonaghs. He was selected on the North Tipperary team which won the interdivisional Miller Shield.
Mick’s family has a long and distinguished association with the G.A.A. for over a century. His father John O Meara won one county and seven North medals with the De Wets and his uncle Bill Cleary was also on the side. Coincidentally, when John passed to his eternal reward in 1964 he was the last surviving member of the De Wets. Mick’s brother, the late Fr. Niall O Meara, served as North Board chairman in 1957 and vice-chairman between 1973 and 1975. His son John, in his role as juvenile secretary, continues on the family tradition of service to the club. Mick was a shrewd operator on the line and he was a selector on the MacDonaghs senior team which won a hat trick of North and County titles between 1977 and 1979. He was also an active and dependable committee member for many years, working quietly and conscientiously in the background. Mick also acted as a steward in MacDonagh Park and carried out his duties efficiently and effectively on big match days. In 1988 he was elected vice-president of Kilruane MacDonaghs, a position he still held at the time of his death. In recognition of his immense contribution to Gaelic Games in the parish, he was honoured with a well deserved Sean Ghael award in 2004, the first MacDonaghs man to receive this prestigious accolade. Mick served Kilruane MacDonaghs with distinction both on and off the field and was a steadfast supporter of the club during his lengthy and active life. In the New Year’s Eve drizzle three generations of MacDonaghs players flanked the funeral cortege in silent tribute on Mick’s final journey to his resting place in Ballygibbon graveyard. To his wife Sally, son John, daughters Kathleen, Mary and Anne- Marie, his sisters Nora and Annie, and extended family, sympathy is extended. See profiles section of website for a more comprehensive tribute.
