Table Quiz

Glin GAA will be holding their first fundraising table quiz of the year in Dunne's Bar on Friday, March 3rd. There will be spot prizes and a raffle on the night also. All are welcome!

Glin GAA History

In the penultimate entry of this ten part look back into the history of Glin GAA club, we look back at one of the greatest footballers to ever don the black and white jersey, Thomas Culhane of Church Street. He represented club, county and province, and refereed an All Ireland Football Final before passing away at the very young age of 27 in 1940. The following account of his life is adapted from a newspaper report of 1954.

Thomas Culhane began football about 1926, while he was a schoolboy under Seamus Duggan N.T. who was responsible for his first steps into the code. Later the two were to play side by side as teammates. Seamus Duggan played in the Railway Cup final of 1932 with Munster, while Culhane donned the Royal Blue of his province in 1935 and continued to represent Munster each season until his death. Tom's first big game was for Glin National School against Listowel where his skills gave Glin supporters an unexpected victory. Among his teammates that day were Jimmy Ryan, who later went on to play with Foynes and James Dore, a fine score taker, who is still in Glin doing fine work educating the children of his former football colleagues as a secondary teacher.

Culhane was winning senior renown on Limerick football fields whilst still a minor, and he figured in many great games for Glin, for Limerick and for Munster all through the thirties. A referee of no mean ability, he must have been one of the youngest ever to have taken charge of an All-Ireland senior football final, when he took control of the great Kerry v. Galway final in 1938. He was the pride and joy of Glin and doyens of the most popular lads in the town and surrounding district. As a child, football spirit had completely gripped the Glin people and Tom had not far to go to get an audience. Across the road from his house on Church Street, he met each night a number of enthusiasts, old in years but young in spirit. Foremost amongst them were Bill Thompson, Dan Conway, Miko Fitzgerald and Jack Bambury. It was all football and if it is possible, they are still discussing in heaven, the great games of Tom Culhane, Seamus Duggan, Patrick Conway, Micky O'Connor, James Dore, James Dore, John Kelly, Tommy Fox, Mick Dillane, John Fitzgerald, Michael Normoyle, Michael Costello, Jack Barry, Moss Connors, Paud and Tom Mulvihill, Jimmy Sullivan and Phil Mangan.

Tom was very good natured as a boy. The parish priest appointed him sacristan to the parish church on the first vacancy, a post that he filled with credit until he handed over the reins to his younger brother, Micheál, who also became famous as a footballer with the Gardaí, Roscommon and later in  America. The following are a few extracts from the Press on his career- "Tom Culhane refereed the first drawn game between Kerry and Galway in this year's All Ireland championship, and his swift rise to national recognition as a whistle man is remarkable. He has played for Munster in several Inter-Provincials and as half-forward and is worth his place on any team for his place-kicking skills alone. He has speed too, so he is easily the number one man on the Limerick fifteen."  Well into the 1930s, he was still on the Limerick minor selection. That will give some idea of how young he is to be a GAA giant. In one particular year, his promotion was so rapid, he played minor, junior and senior. He was well respected and seen as impartial over the border too as he was often asked to referee North Kerry games.

One of the last honours won by Culhane was the West Limerick Senior Championship of 1937 and at a club social held at Conway's Hotel in May, 1938 the following team was presented with their medals: John Kelly, James Ryan, Paud Mulvihill, Patrick Conway, Seamus Duggan, Thomas Culhane, James O'Driscoll, William Bicknell, John M. Fitzgerald, John Culhane, Michael O'Connor, James O'Connor, Garrett Pierce, Maurice O'Connor, James Normoyle, Patrick Mangan, William Leonard and Thomas Mulvihill.

On the occasion of his lamented passing, many tributes were paid to his memory. Mr. Pádraig Ó Caomh, General Secretary of the GAA said: Thomas Culhane's death was a great shock to us all. He was a fine character and a great player. His death is a loss to not only to Munster, but to the Association as a whole for he gave his time and services most unselfishly to the advancement of Gaelic pastimes. He was a member of the Committee of prominent players and referees appointed by the Central Council to consider the rules governing football and make recommendations as to their working. In this connection, he gave a great deal of time to the work of the organisation and much valuable advice." The most notable GAA writer of the time, 'Carbery', wrote, "Tom Culhane of Glin was so young and blooming when we knew him in football and referee circles that it is hard to think that he has gone from us. Like many brilliant men on field and fare, he died young. Culhane was a noble type. On numerous occasions he gave some never to be forgotten exhibitions of football in Croke Park, playing centre-field for Munster in the inter-provincial championship. He displayed some tactics on the field that sent the spectators into raptures of joy. The GAA has lost one of the most skilful footballers they have ever had."

On the day of his funeral, members of the Glin football team shouldered the coffin, while players from Athea, Ballylongford, Ballyhahill, Newtownsades, Abbeyfeale and Tarbert marched in the procession with their colours, led by Mr. Seamus Duggan.  Rev. Fr. McCarthy, who was also Club Chairman at the time, declared that the club and his family had suffered a great loss and the very large and representative funeral testified to the respect and affection he was held in throughout Munster. It was a fitting tribute that two minutes silence were observed in Croke Park on St. Patrick's Day in 1940 for the Railway Cup final.

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