New era for St Joseph’s at Gurteen

THE weather may not have been as kind as officials had hoped for but the heavy rain did not deter the crowds from flocking to Gurteen on Sunday for the official opening of the St Joseph’s GAA club’s new facilities.
From early morning, young and old gathered for a day of celebration, which got underway with the parade of young teams representing camogie, ladies’ football, hurling and football.
Because of the heavy rain, many of the activities were switched to the club’s magnificent new hall. Parish priest Fr Jerry Carey was the chief celebrant of mass in the hall, which involved the parish choirs with soloist, Caroline O’Connor.
Mass was followed by the blessing of the new facilities by Canon Caimin O’Carroll after which well-known GAA broadcaster, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh performed the official opening.
The GAA’s director general, Padraic Duffy, then performed the official launch of the club’s commemorative book, a publication which runs to over 200 pages covering all aspects of GAA activities in the parish, hurling and football, camogie, ladies’ football, Scór and a list of the various achievements of the club over the years. The book was compiled and edited by Seamus O’Sullivan, club PRO and Liam Duggan, chairman of the St Joseph’s Camogie Club.
Various underage teams from the club played a series of games before St Joseph’s and Carrigaline lined out in a senior hurling match for the Ger Hoey Memorial Trophy. Ger’s brother, David, lined out at full-forward for the home side and the former Clare player showed his class in the opening minute when he struck the first goal of the game which ended in a draw, 2-14 for St Joseph’s to 1-17. Lorcan Hassett was another of the St Joseph’s All-Ireland winning side, which came out of retirement to play in this game.
Seanie McMahon, Jamesie O’Connor, Ollie Baker and Lorcan Hassett made presentations on behalf of the club to guests Pádraig Duffy, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Robert Frost (Munster Council vice-chairman) and Clare GAA chairman, Michael O’Neill.
In their addresses to the gathering, Pádraig Duffy and Michael Ó Muircheartaigh paid warm tribute to the club on providing such excellent facilities. They noted that the project was debt-free and paid particular tribute to club officials on “the prudent management of the development”.
Clare GAA chairman, Michael O’Neill warmly congratulated the club on their work and on their support for Clare GAA.
There was a tree-planting ceremony involving Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, the Hoey family, club chairman, Tom Duggan, and former chairman, Michael McMahon
The trophies and cup presented on the day were sponsored by Allied Irish Banks where the late Ger Hoey worked as manager at the time of his untimely death.
Visitors, Carrigaline GAA from Cork with whom Ger Hoey played when he worked in Cork, presented the club with a framed picture of Ger when he played for their club.
Throughout the day, club members worked on a voluntary basis to ensure that the occasion was a major success.