Community News

ST. MARY'S RFC

St. Mary's rugby football club were established in 1943 and have proved their sporting prowess this season with a persistent passion that has no sign of abating. This brave team has won the Junior League, Division 2 with one game left to play, they cannot be toppled. Recently they travelled to Crosshaven for what was to be a League decider. Prior to that match, both teams were on 52 points. At half-time they had scored 14 points apiece. In the 2nd half, courageous St. Mary's bounced onto the pitch with renewed vim and vigour and with an excellent display of sportsmanship, won by a convincing 33 – 19!

For our Parish heroes it was no mean feat to come out on top and now as winners they have been promoted to Junior Division 1 for the next season. However, there is still one game to play in this season. Come down to Castleisland for the Munster Junior Cup, Round 4 on Sunday, March 24, timed for 4pm. Good luck to them! The Parish stand proudly behind them.

LEADER OF THE BAND

With music and in particular bands, focusing in the past week within our city, my thoughts automatically turned to our very own St. Mary's Fife and Drum Band, established originally back in 1885 in Fish Lane in the Abbey area of our ancient city. And following on that I remembered a most wonderful book that was devised, researched, and penned by the Band Leader, Derek Mulcahy, who is a graduate of Mary Immaculate Training College, and holds a BA in History and English and a PhD in History. His PhD thesis was the “Evolution of Limerick's Fife and Drum Tradition from the 1830s to the 1930s” An accomplished Flute, Fife and Whistle player, he has recorded and toured with a variety of groups in Europe and the USA, and teaches the flute and whistle locally since the 1990s. In 2021, Derek produced a startling and informative book entitled, “The Leader of the Band” tracing the history of his band from its very inception. Richly enhanced with superb black and white pictures, this masterful work is a veritable treasure for all music lovers, but historically to older Parish residents. I recently noticed that the said book is on display at the Limerick (Kemmy) Museum adjacent to our old Franciscan church. What a treat this fine publication would be to our local emigrants abroad!

TWO MEMORABLE CDs

Re the previous article, neatly folded into plastic flap on the inside cover are what I term, two memorable CDs. Entitled, 'PJ McNamara's Band, Trio, Quartet and Orchestra' both discs are recordings created in New York 1921 -1927. What an added musical treasure in this fleeting clime! Take time to listen and cogitate on the limited time that was in it way back then. These menfolk not alone loved their music but greatly appreciated their roots in the Abbey, once home to the Franciscan Order.


CINEMA REMEMBRANCE

A contributor on local radio recently, in her brave effort to 'revive' Nicholas Street, once a hive of real live commercial activity, put foward the idea of bringing a cinema into the cty, And, oh how we all miss that little luxury! The mention of the old Thomond cinema came into the interview, oh yes, I remember it well! I could go on, and on, but hope springs eternal. You know what has been quoted ofttimes as to the little acorn, well who doesn't? Back in the 90s, a throw-away comment I heard heard was the genesis for a novella of mine, that was published by Emperor publications. Who knows, that this lady's idea of a Cinema operating once again in good old (one of the oldest I understand) Nicholas Street may come to fruition.

NICHOLAS STREET 1788

Over in Creagh Lane, there was a man by the name of George Alps and he was an Attorney at Law and a Practor. I found that the latter word means a supervisor of a dormitory or of examinations. While around the corner on Mary Street we had no less than 18 people gainfully employed in the running of one profession or job or another; come to that next week. Around the turn of the 19th century, Athlunkard Street boasted of 16 pig-buyers. However on Nicholas Street, known as the Great Street, back in the year 1788, we find the following trades: Thomas Appleyard, a skin and feather merchant; Thomas Bennis had a hardware house; Richard Clarke was a cabinet maker, an upholder and an auctioneer; Martin Hanan was a tailor; William Jephson was an iron-monger; John McGregor was a hatter (or milliner). while Joseph Jephson was a shoemaker.