The Tubberadora Monument, which honours the extraordinary team who dominated hurling at the end of the 19th century, regularly attracts visitors from far and wide. On Thursday 18th August a very special guest received a warm welcome there from local people.
Catherine Flanagan and her partner Seán Powers had travelled from the US and were delighted to see the names of her grandfather Thady Flanagan and grand-uncle Jim Flanagan inscribed on the plaque. Both men won All-Ireland medals with Tubberadora in 1895 and 1896, and only missed the 1898 Final victory because their father, Con, was dying.
Con was the local blacksmith and was followed in that role by Jim, and later by Jim’s son Peter. Thady, born on the 27th of April 1875 in Tubberadora, later emigrated to America, settling in New Jersey where Catherine’s father was born. The family still have his hurling medals in their possession.
They also have the engraved silver watch which each member of the Tubberadora team was presented with by the people of Cashel on 23rd June 1901, to mark their great achievements. Jim Maher’s grandfather Ned was the goalie on the Tubberadora team, and Jim was present and showed the visitors the watch which Ned had received on the same occasion.
Gerry Fogarty, on whose land the monument and forge stand, brought Catherine and Seán to see the remains of the old family forge. Willie O’Brien told them stories from his visits there as a young lad when the forge was an important local meeting place. Gerry presented Catherine with a copy of the booklet, “Tubberadora: The Golden Square Mile” by John G. Maher.
Huge credit goes to Nóirín Ní Mhaoldhomhnaigh who organised this happy event and further hosted an excellent lunch for the party afterwards in her home.
