By Gerry Slevin
     Staging the Tipperary Laochra Sean Ghael awards ceremony on Sunday to coincide with the celebrations to mark the 125th anniversary of the founding of the GAA in Thurles proved to be a most appropriate move. Included among the thirty-four recipients from all over the county honoured for their great service to the Association were men with a direct link to the immediate follow-up to that great event in Thurles on November 1st 1884. Pat Walsh from Carrick on Suir is a grand nephew of the GAA’s first President Maurice Davin while Archbishop Dermot Clifford follows the precedent set back then of having the Archbishop of Cashel & Emly as the GAA’s Honorary Patron.
   Thirty seven years after the GAA was founded came its darkest day when on November 21st 1921 a member of the Tipperary football team lining out in a tournament game in Croke Park against Dublin was one of thirteen people shot dead. Another award recipient on Sunday was Michael Hogan from Grangemockler, nephew and namesake of that Tipp footballer.
   This trio joined with others, men and   women, players, mentors, officials, administrators, all outstanding contributors to the onward march of the GAA in a lifetime of membership, all of them having passed their 70th birthday.
   The venue was the spacious Dome adjacent to Semple Stadium, a move away from Bru Boru in Cashel where the ceremony has been held since it commenced in 1993. That was after the late John Moloney from Bansha asked Noel Morris from Borrisokane to accompany him over to Wexford to find out more about the Sean Ghael concept where it was in being. John then breathed life into the idea in the Premier County and chaired the organising committee until his untimely passing three years ago.
   Former County Board chairman and current Central Council delegate John Costigan presided in his role as chairman of Laochra Sean Ghael and each of the recipients – most were present – were privileged to accept their framed scrolls from GAA President Christy Cooney. Also on stage were the members of the organising committee, Noel Morris, Seamus J. King, Pat Moroney, Seamus McCarthy and Michael O’Meara (secretary) who introduced each recipient with a brief resume of their contributions   over the years.
   Understandably, in the various addresses delivered much attention was drawn to the role John Moloney had played in bringing the Sean Ghael concept to the county. John Costigan, County Board chairman Barry O’Brien, Archbishop Clifford and Christy Cooney made special mention of the Bansha official’s prowess as a referee, a club official and his overall interest in and commitment to the GAA and its ideals. Nor were the award recipients left in any doubt as to where they stood in terms of the Association’s indebtedness to them. Their enthusiasm and their work rate was lauded, the point being stressed that what they and the other recipients in the seven year history of the awards scheme in the county had contributed was the stuff on which the GAA thrived.
   The recipients themselves, accompanied by family members and friends were visibly charmed to have been so honoured. Some of them weren’t too long into their seventh decade and there were a few also who had strode into their nineties and who belied that     great achievement in the manner in which they walked up, unaided, to receive their scroll of honour. The conviviality of the whole occasion served to emphasise the real meaning and strength of the GAA where so much is done so willingly. Each recipient epitomised the volunteer element of the Association and it was easy to see as they all mingled   , swapped stories and brought the best out of each other in much reminiscing and banter, what the GAA meant to them and how happy and glad they were to have been able to play a part in its onward march over the decades.
   A measure of the regard in which the Sean Ghael concept is viewed was exemplified in the presence of one nominee, who travelled all the way from Canada to receive his   scroll. Borrisokane native Jimmy Morris who gave many years of great administrative service to both the Borrisokane and Nenagh Eire Og clubs was back home only a few short weeks ago to celebrate his 80th birthday with his family in Nenagh. While here, he learned of the honour to be bestowed on him and even though committed to returning to Canada, he was adamant that nothing would prevent him from making the long   journey back to Ireland again to be part of the great Sean Ghael occasion. Jimmy’s late wife Nonie (Whelan) was a niece of Jimmy Butler Coffey, Tipperary’s longest surviving All-Ireland medal winner, who celebrated his 100th birthday a couple of weeks ago. Michael O’Meara in making reference to that having introduced Jimmy Morris recalled that the centenarian was a member of the first group of Sean Ghael   nominees honoured back in 1993 and he extended the congratulations and best wishes of all to him on reaching such a marvellous milestone.
   Eight award winners from each of the four divisions were chosen and, in addition this year handball was especially remembered and honoured through the recognition of Tom Ahearne from Ballina and Paddy Gregan from Youghalarra, each of whom has given a lifetime   of involvement in the game.
   The following are the 2009 Sean Ghael nominees, on whose behalf Archbishop Clifford extended words of gratitude to the organising committee for so honouring them:
   North: Michael Collins, Newport; Mick Minogue, Roscrea; Tom Lambe, Lorrha; Jim O’Brien, Silvermines; John Joe Maher, Ballina; Jim Madden, Portroe; John ‘Mackey’ McKenna, Borrisokane; Jimmy Morris, Nenagh Eire Og.
   Mid: Archbishop Dermot Clifford, Paddy Wardick, Boherlahan-Dualla; Tommy Casey, Drom, & Inch; Connie Keane, Thurles Sarsfields; Phil Blake, Moyne-Templetuohy; Fr Phil Barry Upperchurch-Drombane; Sean   Grey, J.K. Brackens; Peggy Gleeson, Loughmore-Castleiney.
   West: John Baragry, Golden-Kilfeacle; Liam O’Dwyer, Arravale Rovers; Jerry Fahey, Sean Treacy’s; Michael O’Dwyer, Cashel King Cormac’s; Willie O’Grady, Rosegreen; Paddy Ryan, Knockavilla Kickhams; Hannie Hanley, Aherlow; John Ryan (Luke), Glengar.
   South: Jimmy Cleary, Clonmel Og; Michael Lonergan, Ballybacon Grange/Ardfinnan; Tony Newport, Fethard; Bill Martin, Ballingarry; Seamus Leahy, St Mary’s; Tom Walsh, Cahir; Michael Hogan, Grangemockler; Pat Walsh, Carrick on Suir. 

 Laochra Sean Ghael recipients from the North Division with GAA President Christy Cooney. Seated: (l to r) Jim Madden (Portroe), Tom Aherne (Ballina Handball Club), Christy Cooney (GAA President), Noel Morris (Cumann na Sean Ghael Committee), Tom Lambe (Lorrha), Jim O'Brien (Silvermines). Standing: Pat McKenna rep. Paddy Gregan (Youghalarra Handball Club), John 'Mackey' McKenna (Borrisokane), Jimmy Morris (Nenagh Eire Og), John Joe Maher (Ballina), Michael Collins (Newport), Mick Minogue (Roscrea), Timmy Floyd (County Board Secretary), Gerard Ryan (County Board PRO), Michael Sheehy (North Board Chairman). Photograph: Bridget Delaney