5th October, 2013 • ISSUE 140 Bishop Sheil Centenary Senior Hurling Quarter Final, Dunboyne vs Kilmessan, Kilmessan’s Team, back row from left; Paul O’Brien, Sean Power, Stephen Clynch, Ger O’Neill, Pater Farrell, Eoin Marshe, Shane bRennan, Paul Grimes, Darren Reilly, Niall Flynn, Sean Doyle, Nicky Horan, Declan Smith, Mark Munnelly, Cathal Burke. Front row from left; Paddy McGovern, Padraig Maguire, Kevin Keena, Danny Tyne, Danny Maguire, Mark Brennan, Richard Donnelly, Charles Keena, Martin Horan, Malcolm Doyle, Kevin Reilly, Pauric Burke, Tony Horan, Peter Reynolds: Alan Russell. ©John Quirke Photography Kilmessan back in Senior Hurling Final Kilmessan will be aiming to bring the Jubilee Cup back to the village this Sunday. The club takes on Longwood in the senior hurling final in Pairc Tailteann at 3.30pm. It is the first time Longwood have been in a final since 1961 - when Kilmessan beat them. The last time that Longwood won a senior hurling championship was in 1936, beating Kilmessan, so it will be all eyes on who comes out on top this time. Kilmessan’s last title was in 2008, and they were beaten by Kildalkey in 2009. Paths to the Final First Round Kilmessan 4-10, Killyon 2-14. Longwood 2-12, Kildalkey 0-13. Second Round Kilmessan 1-14, Boardsmill 1-14. Longwood 1-13, Kiltale 1-14. Third Round Kilmessan 2-17, Kildalkey 2-10. Longwood 2-14, Boardsmill 1-11. Fourth Round Kilmessan 1-12, Kiltale 1-18. Longwood 0-16, Killyon 0-9. Fifth Round Kilmessan 2-16, Longwood 2-13. Quarter-Finals Kilmessan 3-13, Trim 0-11. Longwood 1-10, Navan O’Mahonys 0-5. Semi-Finals Kilmessan 3-15, Dunboyne 2-13. Longwood 1-22, Kiltale 2-16. (Information courtesy Meath Chronicle) Rory McIlroy played Killeen Castle last week. While he had played a couple of times as an amateur there, this was his first time as a pro. He’s pictured practising his swing beside the sculpure of course designer Jack Nicklaus on the first tee. Writers’ Circle Book Meath Writers’ Circle will launch ‘A Gathering of Poetry and Prose’ on Friday 18th October in Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, with local contributions from Myra Lalor, Frank and Peggy Murphy, John Wiseman, Carmel Murray, and Mary Jo Gibbons. Mary Lavin season events Launch of ‘Mary Lavin’, published by Irish Academic Press, Co Library, Navan, 10th October, 8pm; ‘Storiesof Mary Lavin’, ‘A Likely Story’ and ‘The Widow’s Son’ presented by Two Chairs Theatre Company, various branch libraries, 15th18th October; Showing of documentary ‘An Arrow In Flight’ Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, 5th November, 8pm; ‘Tales from Bellinter’, Bellinter House, 10th-14th November; ‘Mary Lavin’s Life Lessons’, a talk by Heather Ingman of Trinity College, 21st November, 8pm, County Library, Navan; ‘Mary Lavin: A Personal Insight’, a talk by her grandaughter, Kathleen MacMahon, 12th December, Co Library Navan. A celebration of the centenary of a presentation to Kilmessan native Bishop Joseph Sheil, who became fourth Bishop of Rockhampton, Australia, will take place on Sunday 13th October, at 11am Mass in Kilmessan. Joseph Sheil was born at Swainstown, Kilmessan, on 17 February 1873. His father, Richard, worked as a steward/ gamekeeper on the Preston estate at Swainstown Joseph was baptised Bishop Joseph Sheil on 21st February 1873 at Kilmessan Church by the curate, Fr James Nulty. A note says “Baptised sub conditione” which may suggest that he may have been in danger of death at his birth and he was baptised by the mid-wife. Richard Sheil died 29th September 1894 aged 63 years. The family then moved to Lower Exchange Street, Dublin and established a number of businesses in the city including Grattan Stores in Temple Bar and the Grattan Hotel on Essex Street. Richard’s widow, Anne Sheil, died 12 January 1924, aged 85 years, and was buried in Kilmessan. International Rules captain’s local links All-Ireland event for Grangeboyne Donegal GAA football captain Michael Murphy, who has been named as team captain for the upcoming International Rules series tests against Australia, has family connections in the Dunsany area. The 2012 Donegal All-Ireland winning captain will lead Ireland’s campaign in both Cavan on October 19th and seven days later at Croke Park. Donegal’s victory over Mayo in last year’s All Ireland senior football final brought great delight for one particular family - the Hutchinsons from Clavinstown, as team captain Michael Murphy is a nephew of John Hutchinson, and spent a lot of his earlier years in the area. John was delighted to see his nephew lift the Sam Maguire trophy last year, and score the opening goal so early in the game. “It’s great, because when he was a younger lad, his grandfather noticed there was something wrong with his walk,” John, who is a brother of Michael’s mother, Mary, told the Meath Chronicle after the final. “It turned out he needed surgery, as there was a problem with his leg and hip, which could have left him walking with a limp. So he came to stay with us in Dunsany, as it was nearer Temple Street Hospital than his Donegal home.” Michael, whose father Mick is a Mayo native retired garda, stayed with the Hutchinsons all the time he was attending the hospital, and enjoyed spending time around the Dunsany area with John and Maria, and his cousins, Joe and Stephen. John recalls the Murphys helping the Hutchinsons move house from the Dunsany Castle courtyard to Clavinstown, and has images of young Michael on film helping them make the move. Michael’s father was very much behind bringing the game of football back into the east of Donegal. Most of the All Ireland winning team of 1992, captained by Anthony Molloy, was from ‘west of the gap’. “I have a lovely photo of Michael and Stephen sitting each side of Anthony Molloy when we met him in Ardara afterwards,” John says. The 23 year-old Donegal captain is studying sports science in Dublin City University, and is in regular contact with his local relations. The Hedge Laying Association of Ireland will stage the second annual All-Ireland Hedge Laying Championship at Grange Boyne, Kilmessan, today, Saturday 5th October. The event will take place on the farm of Tom Rowland, who hosted hedge-laying demonstrations there some years back. Last year’s inaugural annual championships, held in Moneymore, Co Derry, was a great success with 14 of the country’s leading hedge layers taking part and hundreds of spectators turning up to watch, this year the organisers are hoping for even more. Hedge Laying has many names around the country, breasting or stretching or layering the hedge being the best known. It was the traditional winter work on farms all over the island, and this form of management produced enough wood to heat the farmhouse all through the winter, as well as rejuvenating the hedge and keeping it stockproof, all a far cry from the mechanised management of today, leaving our hedgerows in many cases, shattered and gappy, disintegrating and broken. The Hedge Laying Association was founded in 2004 with the expressed [email protected] www.skanenews.com Michael Murphy never thought he had be on the back of a bus! Print & Design by A & J Print Dunshaughlin Ltd Phone: (01) 825 6402 • Email: [email protected] Joseph Shiel (as it was spelt in Australia) began his education at Kilmessan National School. The school would have been a single storey building at the time. Having shown signs of a vocation he received his secondary education at St Finian’s College, Navan. In June 1892 Joseph won a scholarship place to St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, entering in September 1892. He was ordained there on 19 June 1898 by the Archbishop of Dublin, William Walsh. Dr. Carr, Archbishop of Melbourne, was on a visit to Ireland and made an appeal to the newly ordained priests to volunteer for Australia. Fr. Shiel applied and the Bishop of Meath granted permission for him to go. On 19 August 1912, while visiting his mother in Ireland, Father Sheil was notified of his appointment as Bishop of Rockhampton. At a special presentation held in the Temperance Hall, Kilmessan, on Sunday, 12 January 1913, Bishop Joseph Shiel was presented with a silver-gilt crosier by the parishioners of Kilmessan and Dunsany. The silver crosier was based on the crosier of Clonmacnoise. This event will be commemorated on Sunday, with a Mass in which Fr Dan Moore, now retired in Rhode, Co Offaly, who served in Rockhampton, Australia, will take part. Noel French has prepared a pamphlet from which this information has been taken which will be available on Sunday week. A plaque will be unveiled after the 11am Mass. The Sheil family burial plot in Kilmessan. The launch of the hedge laying event at Tom Rowland’s farm. purpose of putting this traditional rural skill back on the modern agricultural agenda as the benefits to farms of well maintained healthy hedgerows became increasingly evident The craft of hedge laying dates back thousands of years and the regular practice extends the life of the trees almost indefinitely. Hedges that were laid during the demonstrations on Rowland’s farm seven years ago will be on view, while a hedge planted by Tom’s late father in 1968 will feature in this year’s championships. The farm is located on the Scurlogstown to Bective Road. Kilmessan are Under-15 Notices Camogie Champions 85 years of Dunsany National School 1928-2013 Gathering Saturday 21st September 2013 n Recent Bereavements The death occurred recently of Kaline Murray, Drogheda, daughter of the late Oliver Plunkett and his wife, Mona (nee Peters) of Railway Street, Navan; and of Monica Lynch, Drumree, wife of Johnny and mother of Martin, Enda, Triona and Aine. Judges’ remarks Kilmessan are Meath U-15 camogie champions after a hard fought win over Ratoath in the final played before a large crowd in Kilmessan. The two teams were evenly matched for most of the first half with just a point between them towards the end of the thirty minutes. Then just on the stroke of half time Joelle Smyth struck for the second time when she rifled to the top corner of the net after a fine solo run to leave the score KIlmessan 2-03 Ratoath 1-02 at half time. Ratoath threw everything at Kilmessan and a goal and a point brought them level with 10 minutes of the second half played. Both sides battled hard and the game was in the balance until Smyth struck home her third goal of the game to put Kilmessan in front. Kilmessan continued to increase their lead with some fine points and try as they might Ratoath couldn’t get back in the game. The Kilmessan backs held firm to the final whistle to run out winners on a 3-06 to 2-04 scoreline. After the match Meath County Board Chairman Martin Heneghan presented the trophy to Kilmessan captain Niamh Costello. Kilmessan : Amy Duffy, Emily Harlin, Kim Farrell, Rachel Duffy, Hannah Loughran, Aisling Walsh, Laura O’Neill, Megan Thynne (0-01), Niamh Costello, Katie Walsh, Aine Brady (0-01), Nadine Doyle (0-03), Ciara Hickey (0-01), Joelle Smyth (3-00), Emma Duffy. Subs : Leah Dennehy for Emma Duffy, Abbye Donnelly, Ciara Brady, Shauna Clynch. (Report: Hogan Stand). Pictured at the presentation of the cheque were Jamie Conway, Sean Fox, Ailish and David Smyth and regular customers of Crocketts Bar, Bective. The Doc’s Close Shave for Crumlin Sean Fox, aka ‘The Black Doctor’, presenting a cheque for €1,425 to Jamie Conway, Community Fundraising Manager, Crumlin Children’s Hospital, at a presentation night in Crockett’s, Bective Bar, on Monday night last. The cheque was the proceeds of a Head Shave which took place in Crocketts on the 31st August and Sean thanked all those who supported his fundraising effort. He thanked sponsors Millbrook Frozen Foods, Crocketts Bar & Lounge, Lismullin Developments, Ross Filling Station , Bective Filling Station and everybody who sponsored him and supported him on the night. Jamie Conway , Community Fundraising Manager of Crumlin Children’s Hospital thanked Sean and said that without the efforts of people like Sean and the individual donations such as this cheque that Crumlin Hospital couldn’t carry out the necessary works which were a vital part of running the hospital. n Wedding Bells Congratulations to Fidelma McKeon, Old Road, Dunsany, on her recent marriage to Ciaran Clancy from Lucan in Dunsany; to Paul Keating, Curtistown and Amanda Sheehan on their marriage in Blackpool, Cork; and Bobser O’Brien, Ringlestown and Aoife Quinlivan on their wedding in Co Clare. Eileen King and Catherine Lynch Mary Commins, Maureen Mc Donagh, Patsi Teeling and Catherine Bockett Rene O Sullivan, Caroline Donnell and Bernie Kellett Rene O’Sullivan and Michael Smith Betty Harrington Smyth, Maureen Feely O’Connor and Maureen Smyth Mary Costello with Sean and Phyllis O’Neill n Ruby Wedding Congratulations to Peter and Dolores Donohoe, Killeen, on their recent 40th wedding anniversary. n New Arrival Congratulations to Ronan Collier and Grace O’Malley on the arrival of their new daughter, Lauren. n Chernobyl Charity Walk Renee O’Sullivan’s walk for the Chernobyl Children’s Trust Walk takes place on Sunday 13th October takes place from Dunsany Hall at 2.30pm. n Senior Camogie Final Kilmessan take on old rivals Trim in the senior camogie final, at 4pm today (Saturday) in Longwood. All support welcome. n Christopher’s Jackpot Well done to Christopher Smith of Ringlestown who won €6,900 in this week’s Dunsany GFC lotto draw. n Taking Flight Kilmessan Camogie and Friends are coming together to do a Charity Skydive in aid of The Friends of St Lukes Cancer Care and Kilmessan Camogie. We are very grateful to those who have sponsored our group so far and thank you to those who donated from far and wide online on our Charity page www.mycharity. ie/event/kcccharityskydive/ Please Sponsor our 14 very brave Skydivers when you see them: Stephanie Horan, Michelle Horan, Ann Marie Dennehy Martin, Sinead Cusack Markham, David Keogh, Declan Bambrick , Gavin Gillespie, Cedric Letellier, Siobhan Doyle, Laura Forde, Mary Ellen Sheridan, Noreen Sheridan, Treasa Sheridan, Brid Sheridan. Please support them in whatever way you can - date of Skydive to be decided soon. Nellie Meehan and Angela Tyrell at Ann Crocock and Joan Collier Dermot Smyth and Rose Neylon Jimmy Maguire and Paddy Lynch Jane Lawlor and Jackie Clynch Francis Smyth and Philip Mc Enteggart Lisa Horan and Orla Crocock Gerald Smith, Peter Donohoe and Lucy Monaghan Michael Feely, Peter Donohoe and Frank Harrington n For Sale Caravan Awning, 13ft- complete (in good condition). Also Caravan Toilet Porta Potti 245 (as new) Phone (086) 157 9148.