Then & Now: Great way to kick off Limerick's GAA season
THE LATEST issue of the Green and White magazine stretches to 64 pages. The joint editors are Ciarán Crowe, and Joe Lyons, and it was first published in 1996.
This is issue no 76 and Declan Hannon and Cian Lynch are pictured on the front page receiving the Liam MacCarthy cup after Limericks All Ireland win in 2022.
The back page features Limerick hurlers Aaron Gillane, Kyle Hayes and Tom Morrissey reading the Green and White magazine.
A brief look at the contents follows.
Stephen Lavin the former Limerick dual star and the new director of Limerick Football Academy answers a range of questions about the role which he combines with being a school principal in Adare. The academy is 10 years in existence and has about 120 boys training each Saturday from January to August.
Getting to the county final by Cuan and Evan, is the story of how Roxborough NS boys team broke a long drought by reaching the Limerick Primary Schools Football county final.
Limerick camogie star Caoimhe Costelloe from Adare enjoyed a very successful 2022, winning a player of the month award in June and later being nominated for the PWC All Stars team of the year. She has been a high scoring player for the county since 2014 enjoying All-Ireland championship success at minor and intermediate level.
Kristine Reidy from the Feohanagh-Castlemahon club is featured on the Green and White File following a very successful year with the Limerick ladies footballers. She was named on the 2022 TG4 Ladies football Junior team of the Championship to add to her selection on the LIDL Team of the League in 2016 and 2019.
Cian Purcell from Kildimo a TY student at Salesian College Pallaskenry designed and constructed a memento of Limerick's 2021 All -Ireland win as part of his MTW coursework. The Kildimo-Pallakenry club player is shown with his craftwork.
Mia O'Dwyer who attends Knocklong national school plays camogie with Galbally and football with Ballylanders is pictured after receiving her Communion playing her favourite sports in her Communion dress. Daughter of Paudie who played for Kilmallock her favourite Limerick player is Cian Lynch.
Billy Lee, who stepped down as Limerick senior football manager, is thanked for his contribution to the team for the past six years. His positive impact on the players improving character and helping individuals fulfil their ambitions off the field was every bit as much as he was committed to improving them as footballers. Ray Dempsey from Mayo is his replacement and his career details are shown as well as the new Limerick senior football management team. Ray who faces a huge challenge in Division 2 of the league at present is wished well for his two year term in charge.
Munster won the Martin Donnelly GAA Wheelchair Hurling Camogie All Ireland Championship in November to add to the league title won earlier in the year. The Munster captain was Ellie Sheehy from Templeglantine and top scorer was Maurice Noonan from the Granagh-Ballingarry club. Dave Fitzgerald from Limerick was joint coach with John Carey from Clare and other Limerick players were involved.
A few words from modest Diarmaid Byrnes is very interesting to read as he covers height, free-taking, pressure and his Hurler of the Year award. Personally I was delighted he won the award last year as he had a lower profile than others but his ice cool free taking has been a great asset to Limerick over the years.
Who is Joe O'Connor?
This deals with the Austin Stacks and Kerry captain who has Limerick connections. His father Tim is a native of Killeedy in west Limerick and his uncle Diarmuid O'Connor is principal of Feenagh National School and long time Cathaoirleach of Cumann na mBunscol in west Limerick.
The Jack Leahy Cup and Máire Hourigan Cup is a short report by the South Liberties GAA club correspondent, plus team photos.
The Anthony Baggott Memorial Cup story is told by the Knockainey National School with a series of photographs from the day. The Coláiste Mhuire Askeaton Primary School Football Blitz report is by the Ballyhahill NS correspondent.
Limerick's All -Ireland win in the 2022 U15 Hurling Championship is recalled with a team photo, match results and team squad. The backroom team and photo also feature.
Stephen O'Byrnes has two articles published over two pages focusing on the 2022 All Ireland senior hurling final between Limerick and Kilkenny.
A few close shaves, but still standing on the brink of hurling immortality was published in the Irish Times and Limerick's hurling heroes facing their toughest test was broadcast on Sunday Miscellany on the morning of the final.
James Lundon also has two articles over four pages: The five winning Limerick points of the 2022 All -Ireland hurling final and the 2022 All-Ireland hurling final analysis and programme.
South Limerick bids farewell to Emly NS from the South Limerick Cumann na mBunscol correspondent is the end of an era story. The school have decided to leave the South Limerick Division and play in the Tipperary Cumann na mBunscol division. The reason they could not represent the South if they won competitions and their children could not be selected for the Limerick Primary Games teams.
Paul Anglim is the author of the Askeaton-Ballysteen club history which was launched in 2021.
He includes part three of a fine article titled The Rise and Fall of the GAA in the Thomondgate area. It covers the years 1979 to 1998, and pictured are five county championship medals won by Treaty Sarsfields teams in 1951.
One player Mick O'Shea was presented with all five medals.
Garrett Howard hurling's 'man for all seasons' is written by Liam O'Brien.
It covers the career of one of the great hurlers who won five All Ireland hurling medals with Limerick three, and Dublin two, Railway Cup medals with Leinster and Munster and a GAA all time All-Star Award in 1982.
All the Cumann na mBunscol news is included with all the divisional competitions covered. Noel Hartigan has departed his role with Limerick GAA as Games Development Manager and he receives a lovely tribute and best wishes for the future.
The issue is another fine publication, with lots of interesting news, great school photos, puzzles, cartoons, crossword and in of the post to satisfy all readers.
The magazine is distributed to all the local primary schools and is also available in certain shops in the city. Continued success to the Green and White magazine, and Ciarán and Joe, with their future publications.