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| Mooncoin Ploughing Association |
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(Click on your choice from the above index)
Introduction
By far the most popular sport in Mooncoin is hurling. It is held in high esteem by the locals. At the moment, Mooncoin's main team are in the Intermediate division. The also have four junior grade teams. Carrigeen also has their own club, their grounds being Asper Park on the main N24 towards Waterford. They were established in 1954. They play in Junior F grade.
Mooncoin GAA is also represented in many different ages in hurling, gaelic football and camogie. These include minor, junior, Under 20 and Under 16, along with an array of juvenile teams. The local colours are green and white.
Mooncoin's
GAA history started officially with the founding of Mooncoin GAA in January
1886. The committee was:
Richard Dunphy-President, John Walsh (Portnascully)-vice president, James
Comerford (village) -Treasurer, Pat Fogarty-secretary.
A gaelic football team
was also officiated at the same time.
Mooncoin played in Kilkenny's first county final in April 1887 but lost to Tullaroan. The following year in 1888 Mooncoin won their first county final and went on to win Leinster. Mooncoin had an immense rivalry with Tullaroan during the first 40 years of the GAA. One interesting fact is that either Tullaroan or Mooncoin were in every county final from 1887 up until 1930. By the way, Mooncoin GAA during this era was often referred to by an old name for area; ‘Moondharrig’, which translates as ‘red bog’ in Irish. This was a slight variation on ‘Mooncoin’, which is translated as 'Quinn's Bog’ in Irish. Needless to say, the area around Mooncoin village must have been fairly marshy and boggy in its day.
Below are pictures of Mooncoin teams who were Kilkenny Champions(Click to enlarge):
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| Mooncoin Kilkenny S.H.C 1908. 4th title | Mooncoin Kilkenny Senior Hurling Champions 1927 | Mooncoin Kilkenny Senior Hurling Champions 1928 | Mooncoin
Kilkenny Senior Hurling Champions 1932 |
Mooncoin
Senior Hurling Champions 1965(last time they won) |
Many Mooncoin players have played for Kilkenny over the years. When Kilkenny first won the 1904 All-Ireland there were three Mooncoin players on the team, namely Drug Walsh, Eddie and Dick Doyle. Kilkenny was actually represented by Tullaroan but the Mooncoin players were added because of their huge talent.
Mooncoin's most famous son is Richard (Dick) 'Drug' Walsh. His medal haul is incredible and his record of captaining three all Ireland senior winning teams is still unsurpassed in Kilkenny, over 100 years after he created the record. He was a great leader and is said to have been a key driving force in Kilkenny winning their first three in a row (1911-1913).
During this time, the club that won the county championship represented Kilkenny,
so Mooncoin jerseys would be worn when playing for Kilkenny (if Mooncoin had
won the county final the year previously).
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| Kilkenny's first all Ireland win in
1904 with 'Drug' Walsh, Eddie and Dick Doyle |
Mooncoin's biggest achievement in hurling is that it has the joint 3rd most county senior titles in Kilkenny (12 in all). Only Tullaroan and (very recently) Ballyhale are ahead (20 each). Furthermore, some people argue that Mooncoin have 14 county titles. The reason for this is that the 1916 championship was not completed until 1919 because of the political troubles. The Kilkenny County Board decided to award the winners of the 1916 championship (i.e. Mooncoin) as winners of both the 1917 and 1918 county championship. Mooncoin also have the 2nd most county minor titles (8) and the joint most junior titles (4).
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| Mooncoin's
Roll of Honours |
Early 1900s
Throughout the first half of the 1900s, Mooncoin's senior hurling team dominated Kilkenny hurling. They were feared all over the county and competed with Tullaroan as the greatest hurling parish in Kilkenny. Here are some of the great names who represented Mooncoin at this time. They were known as the famous six;
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Dick 'Drug' Walsh
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Eddie Doyle
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Dick Doyle
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Mick Doyle
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Dick Doherty
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Jimmy Kelly
"If I could play in one more game - just one...i think i could die happy"
Drug Walsh speaking at the age of 51 in July 1929.
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Richard (Dick) 'Drug' Walsh(1877-1958)
Introduction
By far, Mooncoin's most famous son is Richard (Dick) 'Drug' or 'Droog' Walsh. Winner of seven senior All-Ireland hurling medals (some are pictured below) and still the only man to captain Kilkenny to three senior hurling All Ireland final victories. If the four letter name 'Drug' was mentioned throughout Ireland in the first half of the 20th century, people instantly knew who was being talked about. He captained his club, county and province to many victories during the course of his career.
Drug's Early Years
Dick 'Drug' Walsh was born into a farm labouring family in Rathkieran on 30 December 1877, in a house on the Ballinlough (Creamery) road (where Hassey's farm is located). He was baptised the next day. His parents were William and Anastasia ('Anty' or 'Statia') Walsh (nee Quinn, originally from Ballygorey). They had seven children, four boys and three girls (along with Drug, there were Patsy, William, Michael, Betty, Bridie and Maggie). Drug was the second son in the family. Drug's parents, who moved to Polerone in later life, lived to witness his success and hero status, his father passing away in 1913 and his mother in 1921.
Many people ask how he got his nickname. When in school, he was first known as 'Droog' but as time went on, this naturally morphed into 'Drug'. In the national newspapers during his hurling career he was known as 'Drug'. The family have said he picked it up from the song 'Clares Dragoons'. This song is also known as 'the Bould Dragoons' and it dates back to the early 1800s. Clares Dragoons were an army regiment. The song was Drug's 'party piece' when he was young, especially in school where he learnt it first. His friends nicknamed him 'Droog', because of his mispronunciation of the word 'Dragoons' (as he is supposed to have pronounced it 'Drooogoons' - his classmates obviously found this hilarious, and the name stuck). However, it is worth noting that Drug hated his nickname with a passion until the day he died! But he could do nothing about it, as like all good nicknames, it stuck for life. Hurling Career
Drug was said to have been a great leader amongst his men, and drove his teams to victory on many occasions. Drug normally played full back for Mooncoin and centre back for Kilkenny. He was above average size for the era (around 5ft 10") with exceptional speed of delivery and was super fit. It's possible Drug may also have been something of a late developer on the hurling front. But in many ways, this was caused by circumstances beyond his control. There were no minor or U20 championships in those days, or any juvenile GAA for that matter, except in some primary schools. Furthermore, during Drug’s formative teenage years, between 1890-1896, there was little GAA played in Kilkenny, which was something that was mirrored around the country as the fledging GAA organisation tried to find its feet.
Drug also has the distinction of playing in seven All Ireland finals and never losing any. What's more remarkable is he was 28 years old when he won his first All Ireland (the 1904 All Ireland - played in June 1906). Drug made his Kilkenny debut in the Leinster Final of the 1904 championship (played in Enniscorthy in 1905). The 1904 All Ireland win was not only Drug's first, but Kilkenny's first, so this had special historical significance (since the founding of the GAA, Kilkenny had lost four All Ireland's previous to that). In addition, Drug scored the winning point from midfield in the last minute. Not a bad start to an intercounty career!
In winning his seven All Ireland medals, Drug was part of a Kilkenny team that beat Cork four times and Tipperary three times (controversially the first final of the three-in-a-row in 1911 was meant to be played against Limerick but they had refused due to the pitch condition and then the choice of the venue. Munster runner-up's up Tipperary fulfilled the fixture). The All Ireland championships he won were 1904, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1912 and 1913. Drug's ingenuity and attention to detail in trying to make himself a better player even stretched to the hurleys he used. He added his own 'heel' to his hurl, for a better grip. At the time, the end of the hurley resembled the handle of brush. Adding the heel - which he formed with leather and studs - meant it was less likely to slip out of his hand. He was always looking for that extra edge. The year 1913 could be considered his crowning glory, securing his last All Ireland medal as captain in Croke Park (Jones road) against a Tipperary team that were red hot bookies favourites. He was captain of Kilkenny again in 1914 at the age of 36, when Kilkenny were surprisingly beaten by Laois in the Leinster Final by a last minute goal. That game was his anticlimactic, final curtain call. He played with Mooncoin for a few more years but the stalling of club games after the 1916 Rebellion and the continuing upheaval of the First World War, perhaps, gently pushed him into retirement. He along with Sim Walton were called back into the Kilkenny panel for the 1916 Leinster championship, when he was nearly 39 years old. Kilkenny won the Leinster final but lost the All-Ireland, so it was his last taste of victory and defeat with Kilkenny. The last known match Drug played in was in 1924 when he was 46 years old. In that game, played in St James Park, Kilkenny (were the greyhound stadium is now), the old famous Kilkenny golden era hurling team came out of retirement to play the younger Kilkenny team in a friendly challenge. The younger team won! Drug is also reputed to have been the first person to call publicly for the hurling ball to be white in colour for the convenience of spectators. It was mainly brown leather before that.
Achievements & Records
Drug was a legend and hurling icon in his own lifetime. Along with his exploits in Kilkenny, he also helped coach Laois to their only All-Ireland victory in 1915 (against Cork), helping fellow Mooncoin man Bob O' Keeffe (future GAA president) who was on the Laois team. He also helped train the Waterford hurlers in 1925; he had a soft spot for the Waterford hurling team that remained throughout his life. The Waterford hurlers went on a week's training camp in Dungarvan in 1925, considered the GAA's first collective week long training session.
Drug was captain of the winning Kilkenny All Ireland team on three occasions; 1907, 1909 and 1913 (still the only Kilkenny man to achieve this feat to date). The next person to match Drug's achievements of captaining three All-Ireland winning teams was none other than Cork's Christy Ring in the 1950s. Only four people have achieved this feat, besides Drug there were; Tipperary's Mickey Maher in the late 1800s; Christy Ring, and Declan Hannon (who equaled the record in 2021). Christy Ring also broke the record of more than 7 All-Irelands, when he won eight, again in the 1950s. Four Kilkenny men held the record up to then (Drug Walsh-Mooncoin, Dick Doyle-Mooncoin, Jack Rochford-Threecastles, Sim Walton-Tullaroan).
Drug was also on Kilkenny's first three-in-a-row winning team. The next Kilkenny three-in-a-row did not happen until 2006-2008. Some people dispute the 1911 All Ireland as Munster winners Limerick did not participate over an unplayable pitch and disputes about the venue. However, Kilkenny did play the losers in Munster, Tipperary, and bet them in the 'substitute final'. The story goes that the GAA had spent £40 (a large sum at the time) on solid gold medals for the 1911 championship. So to get some finance they needed a 'gate' (money from a match). This is how Kilkenny ended up playing Tipperary in the 1911 final instead of Limerick who had forfeited their chance.
During the late 1920s there was a 'Drug Walsh Tournament' held in Waterford City. Many clubs such as Tullaroan, James Stephens and Dicksboro travelled down to play in these games, including a young Lory Meagher. In 1926, 5,000 people attended the final of the 'Drug Walsh Tournament' in Waterford.
Ned Quinn (former Kilkenny GAA chairman): "I remember Drug at the age of 70 skipping through the tyre of a bicycle. And he had a chest full of an assortment of hurleys and sliotars along with golf irons. Drug used to go to the field at the back of the house and belt the golf balls. He was just a natural athlete".
Another final note on Drugs achievements is that he was the first man to captain a 15-a-side team All Ireland winning team (1913). Up to this it had been 17-a-side. He also was the first person to captain a Kilkenny side to All Ireland victory wearing the famous Black and Amber colours, in which they now are so famously associated (previously club colours were usually worn). Kilkenny had played in Black and Amber prior to this, but it was a parish set of jerseys and not technically a county jersey. Drug also was captain of Kilkenny when they beat Tipperary for the very first time in an All-Ireland final, a sweet victory in 1907.
Club
On the club scene, Drug Walsh played in an incredible six Kilkenny senior hurling county finals and won three of these. In summary, the years were as follows; 1906, 1907, 1908 , 1909, 1911 and 1913 (victorious years were 1906, 1908 and 1913). Note: there was another 'Richard Walsh' (the 'Manager' Walsh, Ballygorey) who played for Mooncoin from the mid 1890s up until 1904. He was often confused with Drug as their period of play overlapped. Drug had to wait until 1906 to win his first club medal (when he was aged 28); the opposition was old enemy, Tullaroan. From 1907 until he retired, Drug was captain of the Mooncoin senior hurling team. His first year as captain didn't end successfully as Mooncoin lost the county final to Tullaroan, though the newspapers did state that Drug was the best player on the field. An interesting story, in March 1907 Mooncoin GAA held a sports day in Rathkieran where teams travelled to play something similar to a 'blitz'. Drug of course was playing, but the referee on the day in Rathkieran was Thomas Ashe, from Kerry. He would go on to play a leading role in the 1916 Rising. He died as a result of complications of being force-fed in 1917. Michael Collins gave his graveside oration. Ashe was attending the teacher training college in De La Salle, Waterford at the time. In 1908, Drug's Mooncoin team won the county final against Threecastles. The following year in 1909, Mooncoin lost against Erins Own. Mooncoin lost again in 1911 against Tullaroan, though Drug is said to have played brilliantly on his marker, intercounty star Sim Walton. This battle was said to have been the highlight of the game. Drug won his last county final in 1913 against Tullaroan. '13' is unlucky for some, but must be considered Drug's lucky number as that year he won; All Ireland and Kilkenny Senior county finals as captain, against the arch rivals Tipperary and Tullaroan respectively, at the age of 35.Drug, at one point, went to the US to play in a New York championship final. He was invited by Mooncoin native Dick Quinn, who founded the ‘Kilkenny’ club in New York in 1905, but because the ship was delayed by bad weather the final was already over by the time Drug got there. He was sent back home on the same ship, making him the first New York GAA 'weekender' !
Tragedy on the Suir It could all have been so very different. Drug was lucky to escape with his life following a cot fishing accident in June 1907. Fishing was a passion of his and he was skilled at snap-net cot fishing, which was unique to this part of Ireland. The River Suir was famed for its salmon and the record for the largest salmon ever caught in Ireland was recorded on the Suir some years earlier (a fish weighing 57lbs). Salmon fishing was also a good way for the locals to earn a little extra money. On the night in question, 5th June 1907, Drug went cot fishing with three others, his brothers Patrick (Patsy) and Michael, and Patrick Holden from Polerone. However, when Drug's fishing partner, Patrick Holden, stood up to pull in the nets, the boat overturned. Although Drug did his best to help him, Holden became tangled in the nets and was drowned. Drug himself went under and was pulled from the water unconscious. Holden was 39 years old and married with six children, all under the age of nine. It no doubt was a traumatic time for all involved. Drug was not allowed time to recover from the tragedy. He was required to play in the All-Ireland final that very same month in June 1907. He won his second All-Ireland medal, which must have been bittersweet considering all he had gone through (claiming the 1905 Championship against Cork).
Death
Drug died in hospital in Kilkenny on 28 July 1958, having previously suffering a stroke. He was 80 years old. Drug's coffin was processed through the streets of Kilkenny City, with a guard of honour provided by generations of hurlers, with his coffin draped in the Mooncoin and Kilkenny colours. He was then brought back 'home' to Carrigeen church where he was buried in the adjoining cemetery. He had nearly 20 priests celebrating his funeral Mass. Legends of the Kilkenny teams over the decades paid their respects at Carrigeen church. These included, the Doyle brothers (Dournane), Dick Grace and Lory Meagher (Tullaroan), John Power and Jack Anthony (Piltown), Paddy Grace and Jimmy Langton.
Many people have asked where his haul of trophies and medals are. Unfortunately they are not intact. Drug was a generous sort and gave away most of his medals during his lifetime. Three All Ireland medals were sent to relatives in America (his brother Michael had emigrated to New York and he had nieces and nephews there). Another All Ireland medal was given to Fr. Drey, Mooncoin parish priest in the 1950 and 60s. His Railway Shield was donated to the Lory Meagher Heritage Centre and eventually back to Mooncoin GAA club. Some others are still with family members. We are lucky to have pictures of his 1907 and 1909 All Ireland medals below and also his 1908 Kilkenny Senior county final winners medal (he was captain of all these teams).
Drug's Achievements: 7 All Ireland Hurling Championship medals (3 as Captain). 7 or 8 Leinster championship medals (he was on the panel in 1916, unsure if he was given medal), 1 Railway cup shield (as Captain of Leinster 1908), 1 Munster shield, 3 Kilkenny Senior County championship Medals (2 of them as Captain).
1907 All Ireland1909 All Ireland1908 Kilkenny Senior Champ
1907 Senior All Ire Hurling Final Medal. Inscribed; 'R Drug Walsh'1909 Senior All Ire Hurling Final Medal. Inscribed; 'R Drug Walsh'1908 Kilkenny Senior Championship Medal. Inscribed; 'R Drug Walsh'
The image below on the left shows Drug standing outside Browner's house, formerly Carroll's pub (which was located opposite the parish church main entrance, Main Street, Mooncoin - house now demolished. Drug's own house that he lived in was located just up the road from the current Centra supermarket, opposite Dr Jan's house/old convent. A new house exists where Drug's was. He also lived on the Dournane for a period.
Mooncoin & Kilkenny Hurling Legend, Dick 'Drug' WalshDrug Walsh, Centre, middle row with Mooncoin team which represented Kilkenny cir 1909Grave of Kilkenny hurling icon Drug Walsh, Carrigeen Graveyard'R Walsh' on the role of honours in the GAA museum, Croke Park, Dublin.
The following are some quotes from Drug which were printed in the Cork Weekly Examiner in July 1929. The writer of the piece was a Fr Dollard, an old friend of 'the Drug'. When Fr Dollard was home on holidays he met Drug and a few of their old gang of friends and walked up from Mooncoin to Rathkieran. At the age of 51, Drug and the gang had a puck about. Fr Dollard was still very impressed with his skill; "It was grand to see Drug Walsh in action again...the things he did to that ball were worth seeing";
Drug Walsh discussing Waterford hurling (note; Waterford had never won a Munster (or All-Ireland) title up to that time - 1929);
"The Waterford hurlers are the nicest lot of fellows you'd meet in a weeks walk. They are grand boys and they deserve great credit for establishing the Gaelic games so strongly in a city devoted to soccer, rugby and cricket. I'd like to see them win the Munster championship and even the All Ireland. It would be good for the spread of the gaelic spirit and they deserve to have good fortune. And the Waterford boys are real finished hurlers too, let me tell you. "
- Drug witnessed Waterford winning a Munster and an All Ireland in his life time.
Drug Walsh on the 1907 All Ireland Final (one of the best up to then, Kilkenny won by a point);
Interviewer: "Do you remember Jim Kelleher coming out like a steam engine from the Cork goal? Coming out 20 times and driving the ball through the crowd of you (in the defense)."
Drug: "Can I ever forget it! Ah Jim Kelleher was the great man of them all and they say he is just as good a man today. You know, we weren't any better than that Cork team that day. It was point for point, and our turn was just over when the whistle blew. Another minute and Cork would have evened up and it would be the same old story."
Drug Walsh on the Mooncoin team in 1929 (Mooncoin were on their way to winning 3-in-a-row senior County championships that year);
"I asked John Dollard (a Mooncoin native returned from America) a hard question the other day- i shouldn't have put it to him so blunt. We were after seeing Mooncoin win Eire óg and i said to John straight: 'do you think that the Mooncoin team now is as good as the Mooncoin team I had long ago'? Dollard hesitated a moment then replied bravely; 'Well Drug i wouldn't say their just as good - not quite - but they're a wonderful team all the same'. He answered me well but i had no right to ask him! "
The following is an extract from an interview with Jack Rochford, Drug's team mate who played full back for Kilkenny, which appeared in the Irish Press on the 27/8/1936. In it Jack describes how Drug was picked for his very first county game in the 1904 championship and Drug scoring the winning point in the 1904 All Ireland Vs Cork;
"Kilkenny hurling had been slowly but steadily climbing into power at this time (early 1900s) and when we met Dublin in the Leinster final in Enniscorthy, the Black and Amber was carried to victory by as grand a bunch of hurlers as ever played for the county.....That day against Dublin, Drug Walsh made his first appearance and I want to tell you how it happened. Some of the Mooncoin lads, Dick Doyle and Paddy Fielding i think it was, told me about a youngster who was playing well with their club, so i spoke to Jerry 'Fox' and on came Drug Walsh, afterwards a household name as a hurler.....
In the All Ireland, Drug Walsh scored the winning point as time was almost up. Jim Kelleher(Cork) pucked out a long ball that came to our twenty-one yard mark. There was Danny Harringtion(Cork), a hardy boy, waiting for it and as he raced in towards our goal i ran out to meet him. 'Fox' Maher shouted to "come back". I made a mock drive at Harrington, he raised the ball and hit me in the chest and as it fell behind me, Fox caught it, drove it up to Drug at centre field and in a tick, the point that gave Kilkenny its first All-Ireland was scored."
The following match report appeared in the Munster Express after the 1913 Leinster Final replay where Kilkenny beat Dublin in Wexford Park in September 1913. At the age of 35, it was the last Leinster final Drug would win as the lost the following years final ;
"To begin with, all the Kilkenny men are great men and fine manly players....Now I come to Dick Walsh, 'Drug', the hero of many a fight. Drug was the best hurler in this place I have ever seen, and I put Cork, Tipp, Dublin Limerick, Wexford, Queens county (Laois) or Kilkenny, nay Ireland! How many matches has the good old Drug played? How many gaelic fields has he adorned and won our loudest and boyish cheers by his magnificent exhibitions of hurling. Men, do ye remember the day of "the shields"? Have ye forgotten the day Kilkenny beat Cork by a point in Dungarvan? Drug was the hero then. Today he is even a better and much more experienced hurler...But he lacks one great essential today- speed. "
Just a few weeks after the above Leinster Final replay, Drug played with Mooncoin in the 1913 Kilkenny Senior County final against Tullaroan, held, unusually, in Waterford City. It was the last senior county final he played in and his last club winners medal. Here is an extract from the Munster Express, 18/10/1913;
"Drug was also in great form on Sunday. He hurled in ten times better style than in the last match against Dublin. He showed up at his very best - full of vim and judgment, and every stroke of his on the ball had a telling effect. His clearances were splendid on every occasion and were it not for his fine play, Tullaroan would have scored oftener. "
One reporter in the Munster Express wrote this about Drug in 1927;
"Off the field, Drug was as modest and unassuming, as he was as brilliant in the fray. The winning of an All Ireland medal is the pride and ambition of every hurler and to show the unassuming nature of Drug, I may mention the fact that I have never seen him sport one of his seven All Ireland medals." Drug/Droog Walsh Statue
On Saturday, 9th October 2021, a statue of Drug Walsh was unveiled at the club's new entrance on Main Street, Mooncoin. President of the GAA, Larry McCarthy, did the honours. The statue, which stands nearly 7ft tall, shows Drug ready to strike - 'first time pulling' such an important facet of the hurling style in his day (the statue is about 15% larger than Drug's actual size). The hurley used in the statue was molded and cast using Drug's actual hurley from the 1904 All Ireland - the hurley he struck the winning point with to give Kilkenny their first ever All-Ireland win. It was presented to club by Mrs Kathleen Doran in 2011, her late husband Séamus having been given the hurl by Drug himself many years earlier. The brilliant piece of bronze art was lovingly created in west Clare by Séamus Connolly, one of Ireland’s leading bronze sculptors. It was the Mooncoin GAA Supporters Club of Australia who made the creation of the monument possible, following their very generous donation which funded the entire cost; namely, Séamus Delahunty, Larry Delahunty and Bill Kinsella.
Old Newspaper prints that relate to Drug;
Work on the plinth for the Drug Walsh Statue - Sept/Oct 2021. Ground work completed by Ger Neill.Statue moved into place -
8 Oct 2021Sculptor Seamus Connolly examines final positioningLarry McCarthy, GAA President, unveils the statue of Drug Walsh on 9 Oct 2021Leather 'heel' Drug put on his 1904 hurl. The actual hurl was used in the mould
1936 Irish Press: Interview with Jack Rochford(mentions Drugs debut and winning point in 1904 Championship) 1929 Munster Exp Fr Dollard writing about Drug 1927 Munster Exp Review of Drug Walsh's career 1978 Irish Press Drug mentioned in an interview by Richard Quinn, New York 1913 Munster Exp Match being held in Brennan field Ashgrove 'Drug Walsh of Mooncoin'
by Fr O'HanlonCome all you young fellows to my my story give ear,
I tell of a stalwart, 'mong hurlers a peer
Whose name is still cherished wherever they join
By sportsman and trueman - "Drug" Walsh from Mooncoin.
When Cusack and Davin set a nation aflame
With a fervour and pride in its own native game
A youth from the Suirside plucked a shapely caman
Saying "Ill strike for my sireland, fair Erin go Brath".Full many an evening 'mid shouts loud and gay.
The sliotar sped swiftly in sportive affray.
O'er green sod and cross road, a dark youth to the fore
Whose prowess and skill -hurling's garlands foretold.Seven times in All-Irelands with victory crowned
A record whose equal has yet to be found-
Four gallant ate numbered, Rochford, Walton,Dick Doyle,
And that youth from the Suirside, "Drug" Walsh from Mooncoin.With eagle-eyed vision and speed of a deer,
No matter how hectic, in combat- no fear
His wristwork - an artist's, Kilkenny's own Doyen
Reigned the Prince among hurlers, "Drug" Walsh from Mooncoin.
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Eddie Doyle (1887-1971)
Like his two brothers, Eddie got his love for hurling from Pat O' Neill principle of the national school in Mooncoin. He started playing senior for Mooncoin at the age of 15 and made his debut for Kilkenny a year later in the 1904 All-Ireland final against Cork. Achievements: Won 7 All Ireland medals, a railway cup shield, Munster Feis and 3 Co. S. H. Championships.
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Dick Doyle(1888-1959)
Dick was probably the most famous of the Doyles. Dick played in the full forward line, usually partnering his brother Mick, whether it be for Mooncoin or Kilkenny. He played in the 1903 championship with Mooncoin and the same year with Kilkenny at the age of 16. He was a fitness fanatic and would often stay after training for a few extra laps of the field.
The Doyles did not play much after 1913. One reason was that their father died that year. However another reason was that their was controversy around Kilkenny after the 1913 All-Ireland. This was Kilkenny's first three in a row. At a banquet in Kilkenny, the county council decided to give each member of the team £18, which was a lot of money in 1913. However the Doyles came under fire with snide remarks from certain people, as they jointly received £54 . They did not like this kind of jibing and never fully returned to hurling afterwards.
Dick Doyle's Achievements: Won 7 All Ireland medals, a railway cup shield, Munster Feis, 3 Co. S. H. Championships and one triple S.H.C 1916, 17, 18.
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Mick Doyle(1889-1970)
Mick started playing for Mooncoin in 1904 at the age of 15. He played full forward with the county team of 1907, combining with his brother Dick. He was a classy, stylish player with pinpoint accuracy. Achievements: Won 5 All-Ireland medals, Railway cup shield, Munster feis, 3 co. senior championships and 1 triple.
Between the three brothers there are 19 All-Ireland medals in the Doyle family.
The Doyle family
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Dick Doherty (1886-1966)
He was a very light player but was a magnificent classy hurler with lightning pace. He had pub in Mooncoin village, which is roughly where the Rose of Mooncoin pub is located now. Achievements: Won 5 All-Ireland medals, Railway cup shield, Munster feis, 3 co. senior championships.
- Jimmy Kelly
(1884-1966)
Jimmy was born in Ballygorey and educated in Carrigeen NS. He played with Ballyduff, Co Waterford, across the River Suir in 1900. He is credited with arousing new interest in the game in Waterford. He was noted for his deadly accuracy and his wide range of skills. He is noted to have practiced for hours. He used a 20 foot ladder for shooting up and down between the rungs and narrowed the opening by angling the ladder. A natural left-hander, he was equally good either side and was brilliant on the ground and over head. He started playing with Mooncoin in 1901 and with Kilkenny in 1904. Achievements: Went on to win 6 All Ireland medals with Kilkenny, Railway shield, munster feis and 3 county championships.
1920s (Wattie Dunphy)
The next
star to emerge from Mooncoin was Wattie Dunphy (1895-1972) from Luffany. He led Kilkenny
to All-Ireland victory in 1922 and holds the distinction of being the first
Kilkenny captain to bring the Liam McCarthy cup back to Kilkenny. The Liam
McCarthy cup was introduced the year previously. Before this, the Great Southern
railway shield was presented to the All-Ireland winners. Great celebrations
were had in Kilkenny as they had not won an All-Ireland for nearly 10 years
(and they would not win another for 10 years).
Wattie was a farmer by trade. He was a big, strong, well built man with broad
shoulders and weighing in at 13 stone. He played centre back for both Mooncoin
and Kilkenny. His nephew, Joe Dunphy, carried on the tradition of playing for
Kilkenny when he captained the Kilkenny minors to victory in 1961 and 62.
Wattie also created more history by captaining Leinster to win the very first Railway Cup on St. Patrick's Day 1927. Wattie also captained Mooncoin twice in their famous 3-in-a-row victories(1927, 28, 29). He won five county senior medals with Mooncoin.
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Wattie Dunphy |
1930s (Eddie Doyle)
The 1930s saw another star emerge from Mooncoin. His name was Eddie Doyle(1897-1948). He was no relation to the other famous Doyles of Dournane. This Eddie Doyle was from Luffany, Carrigeen. He played with Mooncoin and Kilkenny throughout the 1920s and 30s with his usual position being in defense.
He gave great
performances for Kilkenny in the 1926 and 1931 All Ireland finals which they
lost. However, he received his first All-Ireland medal the year later in 1932.
He capped off a great career by captaining Kilkenny to victory the following
year (1933) in both the League and All-Ireland. He also captained Kilkenny
in a tour of the USA in 1934.
He retired from club and county after this but was forced out of retirement for the 1936 county
final against old enemies Tullaroan. He gave a man of the match performance
along with his friend Tommy Carroll who also came out of retirement. Eddie's
son, Noel, went on to set up the successful Suir Electric company, which once sponsored
the Mooncoin hurling team. The present GAA complex in Mooncoin is dedicated Eddie's son and Eoin's father, Noel Doyle. As a young man, Eddie Doyle took part in the Sinnott's Cross ambush in June 1921, as part of the IRA ambush party.
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| Eddie Doyle |
This decade was to be the end of the great era of Mooncoin hurling that stretched back to the founding of the GAA. They would never be as dominant again, despite a brief renaissance in the 1960s.
1960s: Mooncoin's revival started with the minors winning in 1958. They also went on to win the minor title in 1960, 61, 62 and 64. However the success at minor did not totally translate to the senior grade with Mooncoin only winning one senior county title, in 1965. They also lost the county final the following year. One record was set in this era when Joe Dunphy (nephew of Wattie Dunphy) captained the Kilkenny minors to victory in both 1961 and 1962. This record has never been equaled. He also went on to Captain Kilkenny in the senior All-Ireland of 1966 when they lost to Cork. Other Mooncoin greats such as Claus Dunne and Jimmy Lynch were also on this team.
The Mooncoin Camogie players won the Kilkenny senior camogie title for the first time in 1959, the game played on a cold December day. Interestingly, the referee for the final was Anna-May McHugh, who would go on to spearhead the annual National Ploughing Championships in later life.
Mooncoin hurlers won further minor A titles in 1979 and 2018.
Bob O' Keeffe:
Bob O' Keeffe
is another famous son of Mooncoin. He was born in 1880 in Glengrant, the most southern point in County Kilkenny and Ossory. He is famous because the current Leinster Hurling trophy (the Bob O' Keeffe
Cup) is dedicated to his memory.
Bob trained to be a teacher in De La Salle, Waterford City and his
first post was in Meath. While in Meath, he twice won the long puck championship
of Ireland for Dunboyne. Later, he moved to Laois were he was a prominent figure
in them winning their only All-Ireland title in 1915. He managed to talk Drug Walsh into travelling up to Portlaoise by train in the weeks leading up to the All Ireland final to help with their preparations, which was said to have been very beneficial in helping them win the All Ireland that year.
After his hurling career ended he was involved in local administration. While he was secretary of the Laois County Board he acquired and purchased O'Moore Park in Portlaoise.
Bob was also president
of the GAA from 1935-1938. He continued to be secretary of the Leinster council
until his death in 1949. Bob never did play for Kilkenny. Every few years, his old club team in Laois, Borris-in-Ossory, come down to play Carrigeen in a hurling match in his memory.
The original Bob O' Keeffe Trophy was the biggest trophy on offer in the GAA. It is 3 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 563 ounces with a capacity of 6 gallons. The celtic chase work was taken from the Book of Kells. The hurler depicted on top of the cup is barefooted which is attributed to Bob who originally played in this manner. A new Bob O' Keeffe trophy was introduced in 2005. The original trophy is in the possession of the Croke Park museum. The new trophy is a lot smaller and was originally a horse racing trophy!
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Bob O Keeffe |
Kilkenny legend DJ Carey with the original Bob O'Keeffe Cup(2003) |
Mooncoin Ploughing Association
Towards the end of 1800s and the first half of the 1900s, ploughing was very popular in Mooncoin with matches held often by the association. The meetings were very popular and competitive. Matches were held all over the parish, including Dournane, Polerone, Clonmore, Aglish and Clogga. .
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| Ploughing
match in the 1930s |
Soccer has become very popular in Mooncoin over the last number of decades. The main soccer team is called Mooncoin Celtic. The Mooncoin teams play in the Waterford League. They had a pitch in Ashgrove, but a new state of the art pitch and changing rooms were created in Suir Crescent near the church end of the village in the 2010s.
Mooncoin badminton club was set up over 50 years ago. Mooncoin's badminton players were widely recognised as some of the best in the county of Kilkenny. This has been proved with the amount of county medals the players have won in both double and single tournaments.