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Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Garryspillane have too much for South Liberties in Limerick opener
There were opening round wins for Croagh Kilfinny, Granagh Ballingarry, Garryspillane and Blackrock the Limerick's Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship. Stumbling at the first hurdle were Effin, Glenroe, South Liberties and Bruff respectively. The Championship commenced last Thursday evening when 1-12 from young talent Cian O'Carroll inspired Croagh Kilfinny to a 1-21 to 0-16 triumph over Effin. The wing-forward scored a crucial penalty entering the final eight minutes and his side finished scoring 1-6 to just a point after the sides had been virtually inseparable before that. As well as O'Carroll, 2007 Young Hurler of the Year Seamus Hickey and Limerick footballer Adam Shanagher were on the scoresheet for the West Limerick club. Situated between Adare and Rathkeale, the 122-year-old club have been in five county finals in as many seasons and eventually won the Intermediate title at the fourth time of asking. They played a much slicker looking running game with Effin backboned by Nickie Quaid at centre-back. They also had Limerick panliststs Paddy O'Donovan and Fergal O'Connor on target with the former well held overall. Effin have the experience of reaching the last three semi-finals at the grade, having defated Croagh Kilfinny in the 2021 Intermediate final. Meanwhile on Friday night, Granagh Ballingarry had to fight back to claim the spoils against a youthful Glenroe side. It finished 1-18 to 0-19 at Kilmallock with the winners hopeful of building on a steady, if unspectacular first season back at the grade last season. For Glenroe, last term was testing. They only managed a single victory, that against Na Piarsaigh's second string, and it was enough to preserve their status in this second tier. Sean O'Connor struck the only goal of the contest, at the beginning of the final quarter to help the men from the west wrestle control. They had trailed 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time but the green flag saw them hit the front. O'Connor would end with 1-3, while captain Luke Flynn chipped in with a half dozen green flags. In reply, young talents Darren and Adam Frewen were on target, while former Limerick keeper David McCarthy landed four long-range frees. On Saturday evening, a double scores victory, 1-21 to 0-12, was secured by beaten finalists last season, Garryspillane, against South Liberties. Interestingly, it was South Liberties, with a seven-goal haul, who relegated the Bouncers from Senior in 2023, but there was little spice or tension in this after the initial proceedings. After spending a decade and a half at the senior grade, South's were relegated without a victory last season. Ken Byrnes accounted for seven of their dozen points but it was a crucial Adam Sheehan save which denied Shane O'Neill in the second quarter. That assured a 0-11 to 0-6 interval lead with Hugh Flanagan, Declan Heavey and Dylan O'Shea all on target. Heavey's goal nearing the three quarter-mark ensured a large lead, which was further increased by Colin Ryan, Dylan O'Shea and John English. Liberties have struggled the replicate the production line of many of their peers and it already appears that 2025 will be about stopping the leakage. The final game of the weekend, played on Sunday evening, saw Blackrock pull clear of south rivals Bruff, 1-19 to 0-15. By the time Colm O'Keeffe struck the games only goal in the 60th minute, the Rockies were already four clear, and emerged deserving winners. With Seán Finn at full-back for the Stars, it is a disappointing start to the season, having reached the semi-final last season. Another former All-Star, Richie McCarthy was manning the other-full back line. Jimmy Quilty and Paudie Leahy were among the scorers, alternating the free taking duties for the winners while Owen Meany and Darragh Butler (0-4) were on target for Bruff. Leading 0-10 to 0-9 at the interval, the Kilfinane-Ardpatrick combination were never headed in the second period in Kilmallock. This grade commenced a week earlier than all other grades, with the competition taking nine matchdays to be completed, one more than Senior. The Senior grade throws in next week with a repeat of the 2024 final, where Doon defeated Na Piarsaigh, the pick of the ties. Tom Clancy Freelance Sports Journalist M: +353879676907
Irish Times
03-07-2025
- Irish Times
Look inside: Lakeside retreat on the historic shores of Lough Gur for €3.75m
Address : The Retreat, Lough Gur, Bruff, Co Limerick Price : €3,750,000 Agent : Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes and Sherry FitzGerald Pollard FitzGerald View this property on The Retreat, recently launched through joint agents Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes and Sherry FitzGerald Pollard FitzGerald, stands overlooking Lough Gur, near Bruff, Co Limerick. The substantial estate, extending to 94 acres (38 hectares), is poised at the edge of one of Ireland's richest archaeological and mythic landscapes. Home to continuous habitation since around 3000 BC, Lough Gur's undulating shores have set the stage for Neolithic farmers, Bronze- and Iron-Age inhabitants, along with early Christian monks and Norman knights. What was a modest 18th-century farmhouse has since been converted under the watchful eye of restoration architect Michael Pledge, into a substantial home at the edge of this magical spot. In addition to the house, the offering includes a self-contained guest house and staff quarters. The place was bought by its current owner in 2008, who says it took almost a decade to achieve planning permission for her lakeside retreat. The Retreat, Lough Gur, Bruff, Co Limerick The estate has three sets of accommodation around a quadrangle The main door to the farmhouse comes from an Indian temple Lying at the end of a kilometre-long driveway, the house was immortalised in Mary Carbery's book The Farm By Lough Gur, which recounts life here in the 19th century, with a bit of Irish mythology of fairies and banshees thrown in for good measure. READ MORE Steeped in history, Grange stone circle is nearby – the largest of its kind in Ireland – dating from the Bronze Age with 113 contiguous standing stones. A window to the past, the 4,000-year-old circular enclosure, which is a State-owned national monument, was used for sacred rituals, as recent excavations have unearthed thousands of shards of broken pots, animal bones and other offerings. Along with the circle, the local visitor centre has crannógs, ring forts, wedge tombs and dolmens. In essence, every leaf, tree, stone and settlement here hums with history. Now centred by a landscaped quadrangle, the restored farmhouse, which is accessed by reclaimed Indian temple doors, has two spacious ground-floor bedrooms, both of which are en suite and wheelchair-accessible. Both have access to a private door (which was the original front door) that opens directly into the gardens giving remarkable views to the lake. These rooms are accessed by a long conservatory – ensuring privacy – from the diningroom and large kitchen space. The double-height kitchen and dining area has an Aga with a Belfast sink along with both gas and electric ovens and opens into the a drawingroom with magical views to the lake. Kitchen Dining space lies off the kitchen Drawing room Study There is also a study on this floor, while a staircase leads upstairs to a reading space – again with superb views over the lake – alongside a third bedroom and dressingroom. Adjacent is guest accommodation, which has the benefit of being self-contained. Here there's ample room for visiting guests in two bedrooms, while this accommodation also has a large kitchen/livingroom. There is further accommodation in a separate building, a one-bedroom unit with a kitchen and living space, and this is also where the comms and plant rooms lie. Viewers will swoon at the 20m swimming pool that features Turkish tiling, which is also echoed in the dressingrooms that lie adjacent to a sauna. It will be the grounds though that will really captivate new owners, where 750 native and species shrubs were planted in 2021 under the guidance of designers Catherine FitzGerald and Mark Lutyens, along with renowned landscape designer Ralph Wickham. Extending to four acres – while the remaining 90 acres are prime pastureland – the gardens deserve a special mention. The farmhouse has three bedrooms Courtyard setting beside the lake American barn Walled garden 20m pool Sauna Lands are divided into 13 stock-fenced fields – suitable for sheep and cattle – and one area is ideal for hill training, according to brochure notes. Equestrian facilities include a superbly converted American barn which has two foaling units, rubber matting and a sand turnaround area. Small paddocks enclose a circular walkway – ideal for showcasing yearlings, mares or their foals. In addition to a full croquet lawn, there is a kitchen garden laid out with raised beds, while what was a bullpen is now reimagined into an orchard and nuttery with the old stone walls now draped in climbing roses and trellised fruit trees. While the house is close to Bourchier's Castle – viewed from a path that leads down to the lake – beyond are the ruins of Black Castle, where the Earl of Desmond, Gerald FitzGerald, cast off English allegiance and sparked a rebellion in 1573. This is also a place of legend; it is here that goddess of summer, wealth and sovereignty, Áine, is said to lie asleep in the caves of Knockadoon Hill. A rocky outcrop known as the Old Hag's Chair is said to be her birthing chair and a place that mortals should never sit. Close by, a spot known as Knockadoon circle is said to be the entrance to the fabled land of Tír na nÓg, or the land of eternal youth. While the legend of Tír na nÓg is said to be a supernatural realm of everlasting youth and health, you might not live forever at the Retreat, but for health, relaxation and a complete escape from the perilous world we find ourselves currently in, it will most certainly live up to its name. The Retreat, which is Ber-exempt and extends to 940sq m (10,118sq ft) in total over three accommodation offerings, is now on the market seeking €3.75 million. It lies 25 minutes from Limerick city and 45 minutes from Shannon Airport.
