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LARRY SHEEHAN
The forgotten Hero Tim Mulcahy
The passage-way at the end of the G.A.A. Field in Monagea is known as the Rahanagh passage, after the townland where it is situated. In bygone days many people from the western side of the parish and from the townland's of Crean, Barna and Garryduff used this route their way to mass.
The passage-way extends only for about a half a mile and the rest of the journey was made through the fields. Nowadays the number of people who pass this way is down to a trickle. The old school in Monagea was built in 1868, and in the following decade large numbers of children, went to school through the fields. Among the earlier pupils to attend this school was one Larry Sheehan. He was born, the youngest of seven children to Timothy and Ellen Sheehan in the townland of Camas, and was baptised in Monagea Church on the 25th of February 1877. In the environment in which he grew up, it was understandable that he would become active in the GAA. His mother was one of the Shanahan's of Rathcahill, a family who distinguished themselves in many cultural and sporting activities of the time. His elder brother was an outstanding athlete and during his formative years, interest in the newly formed Gaelic Athletic Association was spreading through the country like wild fire. From an early age young Larry Sheehan played hurling and football with Monagea.
However, as the youngest son on a farm of limited acres he sought his fortune further afield. He went to work in Limerick City and very soon his talents, as an outstanding footballer became apparent. When Limerick Commercials defeated Dublin's Young Irelanders in the All Ireland final of 1896 which was played in Jones' Road Dublin on February 6th 1898, Larry was already a celebrated member of the team. While we know very little about the merits of All Ireland wining teams, of those days in relation to present day standards it is surely significant that following their defeat in 1896, Dublin went on to win three All Irelands in a row. While the fortunes of Limerick Commercials seem to have gone into decline, the prowess of Larry Sheehan as a footballer did not. So much so in fact that when he moved to Dublin a few years later to work at McBirneys on O Connell Bridge, he soon established himself as an automatic choice with the Metropolitans. He was a member of the beaten Dublin team in the 1904 All Ireland final, but two years later, he was at corner forward on the Dublin team that won ultimate honours against Cork.
In some ways Ireland in The early days of the century was not unlike the Ireland of today. It was a time of change, turmoil and uncertainty. In one respect however, things have changed dramatically for the better. Many illnesses and infirmities that are now imminently curable were at that time proving fatal. Larry Sheehan fell into bad health. He came home to Crean and he died in January 1917. It was a wet evening at the beginning of a wet year when his former team mate from Limerick Commercials, Amby Quillinan led the guard of honour for a man who had not yet reached his fortieth birthday. In all three men form Monagea have won the most coveted award in hurling and football. Ned Cregan, Limerick's outstanding defender in the early 1930's and the father of a family, which has contributed enormously to the development of the G.A.A. in Limerick, was a member of the 1934 All Ireland winning team He died in 1972 at the age o1 71 and is buried in Mount St Lawrence Cemetery in Limerick. There are two men buried in the Graveyard in Monagea who won two All Ireland medals each. A few feet from the gate, there is a white marble headstone in memory of Liam Hough the legendary captain of the 1918 All Ireland wining hurling team and pivot in what is regarded as the greatest half back line in Limerick hurling.. Nicknamed "The Brandenburg Line" He was also a member of the victorious team in 1921. On the south-eastern flank of the Graveyard and turned towards the rising Sun, there is a weather beaten Celtic cross. The inception on it reads derided by John Sheehan of Camas to the memory of his parents, brothers and sisters. On St Patrick's Day this year the daffodils on the grave were beginning to wither. There will be daffodils there again next year. There should be another name there "Larry Sheehan born 1877….died 1917. He was the only Limerick man to play in three All Ireland football finals with different counties. It is a safe bet that this record will stand for some time. .
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