Latest news with #Kilkenny
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Joxer's long-term plan comes together for Waterford
Waterford manager James 'Joxer' O'Connor always believed that his minor hurling project would produce results in year three. At the end of 2024, he only had one championship win to show from nine games. 'I'm pig-headed like that to be honest with you! If I think something is going to work, I'll stick with it. I believed that I had the players to win. At no stage did I say to myself 'you know what, I made a bad decision here, I should get out.' Never. If anything, I was more bull-headed after last year.' The position wasn't on his radar whatsoever until county board chairman Sean Michael O'Regan made an enquiry three years ago. 'He was the man that set this ball rolling. He rang me one day and asked me would I be interested. To be honest, it was one thing I never envisaged myself doing. I always saw myself as an adult trainer. I thought I might be too hard on younger lads. "In fairness to Sean he said 'we'll give you everything you need to do this job.' The man stood over it 100%.' The board stayed loyal through thick and thin. 'There were some tough days. It wasn't all plain sailing by any means. The first year, we won no match. The second year, we won a game and this year, we're in an All-Ireland. I'm delighted that they've stuck with me and hopefully, we'll have silverware at the end of it.' An All-Ireland minor title would be the pinnacle of his coaching career. Back in 2011, he helped Carrigtwohill to their first Cork senior hurling title in 93 years. The Lismore man recently led Fr O'Neill's and Shamrocks Ballyhale to All-Ireland club finals but lost both. "Three All-Irelands in six years is not bad going. All I have to do now is win one! I'll be happy then.' The question on everyone's lips after the semi-final win over Kilkenny was: what happened the team bus? 'I'm not really going to go into it. A bit of a logistics problem. We got to the match, we kept our timeframe that we set which was brilliant. If anything, it took away a bit of the pressure.' The backroom team brought the starting 15 up in cars from Carriganore. 'We shoved them into the cars and off we went! The bus was late in coming and they picked up the rest of them. They were 40 minutes behind us. Fellas were amused going up in cars with the management. It was funny for the lads. They enjoyed it; I probably didn't! The main thing is we won. Once we win, I don't care what way we travel.' Will they go by bus or by car this time around? 'We'll plan for the bus but we'll have the cars ready if needs be!' Sean Power was Waterford minor manager the last time the Irish Press Cup crossed Rice Bridge in 2013. Seven days out from the final against Galway, he also had to deal with a stroke of bad luck. 'All of them got new gear. William Hahessy got new boots, new socks, everything. The Sunday before, he went out just to hit a few balls and run around and he twisted his ankle in his garden. William Hahessy was central to everything we did at number two. So, Hahessy's ankle was out like a balloon on the Sunday. Brendan McCann was our team doctor. McCann looked at it and very soon after he said 'No way in a week will he be ok.' "We said we'd do a fitness test on the Thursday. Peter Hogan was the baby of the group, he was just gone 16. We put Peter on Hahessy to run him and twist him and turn him. Brendan McCann said 'I'll eat my hat if he passes this, lads.' Peter went at him and William Hahessy tore into him like William Hahessy does at corner back. I remember Kieran O'Gorman turning and saying 'Doc, I hope you brought red sauce to eat your hat!' Sure enough Hahessy was ready for Sunday.' The homecoming was unforgettable. 'Monday on the Mall in Waterford was incredible. It's something that will stick with me to the day I die. When we went over the bridge into Dungarvan that night, in the dark, it was like the Wild West! It was like a rock concert!' Twelve years on, the Mount Sion man will be on co-commentary duty for WLR alongside Kieran O'Connor. 'I see a lot of similarities. I see a group of forwards that are lethal. A very exciting team, they play with a bit of purity that we like to see. The semi-final was as good a game as you would see at any grade."
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
What will €250,000 buy in Italy, Portugal, Spain, France and Co Kilkenny?
Ireland: Co Kilkenny This pretty one-bedroom, two-bathroom terraced cottage is situated in the townland of Clogh about 3km north of Castelcomer, the nearest place to get a pint of milk or a pint of plain. Constructed in 1909, the redbrick C3-rated home has been extended to measure 106 sq m (1,140 sq ft) and has a separate kitchen and livingroom, a partially converted attic and a garden. Price: €249,000. Agent: Clement Herron Italy, Arezzo, Bucine Italy: Arezzo Surrounded by olive groves and cypress trees, this stylish own-door, one-bed apartment is within a renovated granary on the outskirts of a historic village that dates from the 1600s. Located about 45km southeast of Florence, it is set over two floors and has lofty proportions, terracotta floors and timber-beamed ceilings. Its opens directly out to a communal terrace. Price: €205,000. Agent: Engel & Volkers Portugal: Algarve Constructed in 1967 this recently renovated studio apartment is located on the fifth floor of one of the high-rise blocks just a few minutes from the golden beach. With a fully equipped kitchenette, modern bathroom and lift access, it extends to 38 sq m (409 sq ft). The unit includes 8 sq m (86 sq ft) of terrace offering sea, mountain and the village views. Price: €195,000 Agent: Spain, Murcia, Sucina Spain: Murcia About 18km inland from the beaches of the Mar Menor, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom detached villa with roof terrace is located in the village of Sucina and is within walking distance of its bars, restaurants and supermarkets. The property is near golf courses and is about 30km from Murcia and 105km from Alicante airport. Price: €195,999. Agent: READ MORE France, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Lot-et-Garonne, Saint Antoine De Ficalba France: Nouvelle Aquitaine For those that are handy with their hands, this doer-upper barn on 1.6 acres on the outskirts of St Antoine De Ficalba extends to 228 sq m (2,464 sq ft). It includes a large 72 sq m (775 sq ft) livingroom with mezzanine level, a library, kitchen, lounge, diningroom, two bedrooms and one bathroom, with another bedroom and shower room in the square tower. Price: €200,000. Agent:
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
What will €200,000 buy in Italy, Portugal, Spain, France and Co Kilkenny?
Ireland: Co Kilkenny This pretty one-bedroom, two-bathroom terraced cottage is situated in the townland of Clogh about 3km north of Castelcomer, the nearest place to get a pint of milk or a pint of plain. Constructed in 1909, the redbrick C3-rated home has been extended to measure 106 sq m (1,140 sq ft) and has a separate kitchen and livingroom, a partially converted attic and a garden. Price: €249,000. Agent: Clement Herron Italy, Arezzo, Bucine Italy: Arezzo Surrounded by olive groves and cypress trees, this stylish own-door, one-bed apartment is within a renovated granary on the outskirts of a historic village that dates from the 1600s. Located about 45km southeast of Florence, it is set over two floors and has lofty proportions, terracotta floors and timber-beamed ceilings. Its opens directly out to a communal terrace. Price: €205,000. Agent: Engel & Volkers Portugal: Algarve Constructed in 1967 this recently renovated studio apartment is located on the fifth floor of one of the high-rise blocks just a few minutes from the golden beach. With a fully equipped kitchenette, modern bathroom and lift access, it extends to 38 sq m (409 sq ft). The unit includes 8 sq m (86 sq ft) of terrace offering sea, mountain and the village views. Price: €195,000 Agent: Spain, Murcia, Sucina Spain: Murcia About 18km inland from the beaches of the Mar Menor, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom detached villa with roof terrace is located in the village of Sucina and is within walking distance of its bars, restaurants and supermarkets. The property is near golf courses and is about 30km from Murcia and 105km from Alicante airport. Price: €195,999. Agent: READ MORE France, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Lot-et-Garonne, Saint Antoine De Ficalba France: Nouvelle Aquitaine For those that are handy with their hands, this doer-upper barn on 1.6 acres on the outskirts of St Antoine De Ficalba extends to 228 sq m (2,464 sq ft). It includes a large 72 sq m (775 sq ft) livingroom with mezzanine level, a library, kitchen, lounge, diningroom, two bedrooms and one bathroom, with another bedroom and shower room in the square tower. Price: €200,000. Agent:
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Irish Times
‘He was perfect, a one-off': Pensioner killed in London is remembered as proud Kilkenny man
John Mackey, the 87-year-old Irish man who died after being attacked while walking home from grocery shopping in north London, will be remembered as a man 'with a twinkle in his eye', his funeral heard on Thursday. Originally from Callan, Co Kilkenny, Mr Mackey had been living in London since the age of 19. He was running errands on the afternoon of May 6th when he was allegedly assaulted near his home close to Goodchild Road. He suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital two days later. On Thursday, his remains were carried into the Church of the Assumption in his south Kilkenny hometown by six pallbearers, a number of whom were his nephews. READ MORE A guard of honour was provided by retired Irish UN peacekeepers, as one of Mr Mackey's brothers is a former member. His coffin was adorned with two flags, representing his beloved Arsenal Football Club and the county colours of Kilkenny. There was also a photograph of Mr Mackey wearing his trilby hat. Mementos of his life were brought to the altar by members of his extended family. Parish priest Fr William Dalton said Mr Mackey's trilby exemplified how he had always been a dapper dresser with a love of good clothes. The Callan flag, and a book on the town by John Fitzgerald that had brought Mr Mackey memories of his beloved county, were included, as well as a photo of him with two nephews and his brother Christy. John Mackey worked as a postman in Callan before moving to England where he became a loyal part of the Irish community, his funeral heard. Photograph: Sarah Murphy There were his rosary beads which were said to have helped him through his long, happy and fruitful life. Fr Dalton told mourners they were there 'to say farewell as a person with faith which helped him through a long and happy life'. 'When we think of the Mackeys in the 1930s and 1940s, a family of 11 children, six boys and five girls, a very Catholic family. Their mother died when the eldest of the children was 15 and to make matters worse their father was taken from them. It was a time when there were no social services and no children's allowance, but they were able to survive,' he said. He recalled how their sister Kitty reared the children, enabling them to live together as a family. 'Most of them in time went to England with some returning.' Mr Mackey, he said, had worked as a postman in Callan before moving to England in 1956 where he worked for a pharmaceutical company. 'There he would spend his life and would become immersed in the culture [and] integrated into society. He became a devout Arsenal fan and a loyal part of the Irish community there. Part of him will always be with us, even though there is a void, the memories of him will always be with us.' In her eulogy, his sister Betty recalled how her brother had been well-known in Callan before his departure. Pat, the eldest of Mr Mackey's 22 nieces and nephews remembered 'the perfect uncle' who 'always had a twinkle in his eye, always smelling of lovely aftershave'. 'He was a new age man, many [women] had tried to get him to the altar but failed. One woman almost got him there, but John forgot his wallet on Christmas Eve at 4.55pm and the jewellers were closing,' she said. She recalled spending time with him in Finsbury Park, trying to get him to eat Chinese food. 'But, no, he had to have his fry with chips. We all remember such happy times, he was a one-off. We are so incredibly lucky to have had him as our uncle.' Mr Mackey was one of 11 siblings and is survived by four. He was buried in Kilbride Cemetery. A man has been arrested and charged with Mr Mackey's murder and with robbery.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
'Cork hurling brings colour' – GAA president praises Cork senior hurlers
Today at 07:45 'Cork hurling brings colour,' declared GAA president Jarlath Burns who was full of praise for this year's Munster hurling champions. The Rebels are scheduled to play Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday, July 5 with Kilkenny and Tipperary due to meet the following day.
