London Calling

Last weekend saw the London U-15 hurling development squad visitTemplemore for their annual trip. 20 eager hurlers, their management team and some family members were led across the Irish Sea by our very own Eddie Fogarty who is currently serving as Chairperson of the Tipperary Association in London. Eddie has breathed new life into the Tipperary population across the water and they recently had a fabulous float in the London St. Patrick’s Day parade. They arrived in town on Friday evening and stayed at the Templemore Arms hotel for the weekend. We were very privileged to secure the services of Paudie Butler at very short notice on Saturday morning who gave the boys an hour long coaching session that they will never forget. Paudie spent some time in London in his earlier years and was only delighted to help out. Well done to you. In the afternoon they played J.K. Brackens and Drom/Inch in challenge games and were more than a match for the locals. This was followed by a long puck competition where London’s Ciaran Fennessey won the Backens jersey on offer while a delighted Bryan Tonde picked up the London jersey. This was followed by a presentation of plaques to each other before London finished off a great day with some tug-of-war. A beautiful, sunny, clear Sunday morning saw them scale the Devil’s Bit before they rounded off their trip in the Park watching the Brackens v Mullinahone Senior hurling league game. They departed Templemore by bus at 3pm for an 8pm flight back to London. The J.K. Brackens' club were delighted to be a part of their weekend and were invited to visit them in London at some time in the future. Huge credit is due to Eddie and his management team who continue to promote Gaelic Games in the great city where training on any given evening could be as much as a five-hour round trip. Well done to all who travelled and maybe we’ll see you in London in the not too distant future.