Story of a born supporter

CARRAHAN man Flan Quigney will launch his third book, To The Banner Born, on Saturday, September 1, at 8pm in The Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis. Although from Quin, Flan taught for 45 years in Scoil Ablbhe CBS in Thurles, the last 13 years as principal.
His other books were What was the Question Sir? and Schooldays – Cool Days or Cruel Days?
“To The Banner Born is a sociological study of a cross section of Clare hurling supporters. It explores their experiences following Clare, including the mode of transport availed of to get to matches.
Flan clearly remembers how he developed a love for hurling, although he says that he wasn’t the most dangerous corner forward ever seen, when he played himself.
“I suppose it started in primary school and then I had a very good neighbour John Reddan, who was also a cousin of mine and he used to take me off on his crossbar to Ennis, Tulla and Limerick. That got me up and running. Every Sunday we were off on the bike to Tulla. We lived in Dr Daly Park nearly as young fellas and we got a love of it there. I suppose it stuck with me then along the way,” he said.
As for his hurling career, it didn’t quite hit the heights.
“I played a small bit of hurling myself. When I was Ennis CBS I was on a Harty Cup panel, unfortunately the year that we lost to St Flannan’s in 1963. I never did an awful lot because I was weak and small. Big corner-backs used to bury me in the muck. I did a small bit when I was at teacher training college at St Pat’s but after that I was more a supporter,” he explained.
Living and teaching in Tipperary didn’t lead to Flan going native. He had the road worn from Thurles to Clare or wherever the county hurlers happened to be togging.
“I used to make the trip home to most of the matches and as I got older I had more time with the family reared. It was hard to keep me at home at all then. I was heading past the bridge in Killaloe regularly and of course with the Limerick tunnel it’s only up the road and you’re there in an hour,” he said.
His book includes almost 80 chapters penned by people whose love of Clare hurling runs as deep as Flan’s
“I knew a certain few that I’d have met going to matches over the years. I had a core group of four or five people that I rang up and they directed me. People were mad for it. They loved it and sure I loved talking to them,” he laughed.
To The Banner Born will be launched by Jamesie O’Connor on Saturday week in Ennis. All profits from the book will be donated to Pieta House- the centre for prevention of self- harm or suicide.
Following the launch the book will be on sale at locations throughout the county.