KILTEELY- DROMKEEN GAA CLUB NOTES

Michael O’Loughlin – RIP

It was with huge sadness that the Club learnt of the passing of one of the clubs greatest sons as Mike O Loughlin passed away in the early hours of Monday April 5th.

Mike was a colossus when playing hurling for the club throughout three decades. Once he started his adult career at the tender age of 16 Mike never looked back. Mike played underage with Caherline as Kilteely Dromkeen had no juvenile teams at the time, reaching a County U21 final in 1965. A year earlier Mike was on the great Saint Flannans team that were narrowly beaten by Limerick CBS in the Harty Cup final.

Mike’s college work brought him to Mayo where he lined out with the County team and won a National Hurling League Division 2 medal. He moved back down to Kilteely and the Club won their first ever East Junior Hurling title in 1969 with Mike playing a starring role. A year previous Mike played corner back on the Limerick Intermediate team that won the Munster Intermediate Championship.

Mike’s exploits soon caught the attention of the County senior team and Mike duly made his Senior Championship debut in 1970 in Thurles v Cork, he kept the famed Charlie McCarthy to one point but defeat was Limericks lot.

Mike’s, and indeed the Clubs, finest hour came in 1972, when the Club claimed our first and only County Junior Hurling title. From there the Club blossomed as Mike spearheaded the team and led by example from centre back.

Those lucky enough to witness those halcyon days will remember titanic struggles against the best senior teams the East had to offer. At a time when only All Ireland finals were shown on TV there was a huge appetite for and attendance at local club games. Caherconlish on a hot summer Sunday was akin to Croke Park for hurlers and supporters, it was a like a coliseum and the players like gladiators. This was when Mike really came into his own, pitching his skill and strength against the very best as he invariably always came out on top. A huge cloud of dust would rise in the square as players stretched every sinew to gain an advantage, more often than not Mike would emerge from the cloud calmness personified with ball in hand ready to deliver a telling clearance. For seven or eight years that great team with toe to toe with the very best, giving the great South Liberties and

Patrickswell teams the games of their lives. Mike was surrounded by fellow skilful hurlers, the kind who only come along once in a lifetime in a small rural club.

Mike was recalled to the County setup in 1973, unfortunately Mike felt he could not give the full commitment to the County team that it deserved as he had taken over the family farm at this time. As we all know Limerick went on to claim the All-Ireland title that famous year, who knows what could have been. However Mike never dwelled on the past and put all his effort into hurling with the club he so dearly loved. Playing alongside his three brothers James, Andrew and Ben, and close neighbours from Ballinagrana, Mike liked nothing better than giving his all for the club.

Mike would wear the green of Limerick one more time, in 1975 Limerick travelled to London to play Kilkenny in a tournament game in the famed Wembley stadium.

In the early eighties Mike’s career came to an abrupt end as he suffered a severe leg break during a football game for the Club. In later years Mike nursed his wife Brenda as she suffered from a long illness. Mike was a devoted family man as he cared for his wife until her passing in 2013.

Mike always had a keen interest in the club and again got involved as a selector with the junior team where his keen eye for the game was very evident. Mike also got involved with the Club field committee and had a big involvement in the local tidy towns. Mike gained many friends throughout the years, both young and old, as his happy demeanour and genuine interest in people shone through, he had a wonderful ability to listen to people and had time for everyone. He threw himself head first into everything happening in the community and was always on hand to help either with big or small jobs.

Mike had a tough battle with illness in recent times but Limericks All Ireland victories in 2018 and 2020 gave him huge solace and pride. Mike received a huge surprise in late 2020 when Limerick manager John Kiely paid a visit to his home. There, the two men chatted about hurling and life as Mike returned to the playing fields of his youth in his mind. It is a true measure of John Kiely that he took time out of his very busy schedule to spend time with another hurling great.

And so Mike passed peacefully on the morning of Monday April 5th surrounded by his loving family. The Club would like to offer our sincere condolence to Mike’s daughter Clodagh, son Declan, brothers James, Brendan Andrew (rip), sisters Mary and Collette, grandchildren Ben and Evan, partner Marie and his extended family.

Mike was Kilteely Dromkeen’s Mick Mackey, his exploits will live on in the memories of all who saw him play. A great hurler, and, more importantly, a great family man and friend.

To borrow a phrase used about the great Christy Ring, whenever people gather to speak of hurling they will talk of Mike O Loughlin.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis

Club Membership

Adult player €60 ( fob access) Adult nonplayer €30 (plus €20 for fob access) Family membership €90 (1 fob access {2 non playing adults – up to 4 under 18 Y/O}) Juvenile Membership €30 (under 18 Y/O Jan 1st – no Fob access)

Membership to be completed through returntoplay.gaa.ie

Adult players/ parents use the same email address, that they used last year – to set up the Return to Play profiles. Select Kilteely Dromkeen as club (if not previously selected).

Select appropriate team / teams.

Parents – set up your family members (other adults and children – it’s very likely that they will be on the system already).

Select your membership option and proceed to payment.

This system will be used for this year to do the Covid-19 health check before each training / matches.

Those players (Adult and Juvenile) who will be playing with either Pallasgreen or Sarsfields, will be able to select these clubs later.

We will circulate how to do this before returning to training.

Finally, only members who have paid membership for 2021 will be allowed to return to training / matches – when it’s their time to do so.

Any queries contact Robert Holmes 0878131360

Club History

A lot of progress has been made over the last few months regarding our Club history. This project initially started out just to cover a couple of decades but quickly expanded. It will now cover the entire history of the club from inception right up to the present day.

This is a huge undertaking and is being ably led by local historians Bosco Ryan and Eddie O Dea, already they have uncovered some very interesting facts, photos, stories and articles. Over the coming months they will need plenty of help so we are appealing to anyone who has an interest to help out in any small way you can.

This is a hugely worthwhile project and will be comprehensive. We are also looking for people to contribute any memories or stories especially from times past or copies of old photos or memorabilia.

If you want to help out in any way or contribute, please contact Noel O Dea 0876278022 or Bosco Ryan 087 968 4787.

Limerick Club Draw The first draw took place recently. if you have missed, you can still join the draw for the coming year and support the Club and join the draw for some fantastic prizes.

Support your Local Club & Join the CLUB Limerick Draw TODAY! Next Draw Sat 30th January. 1st Prize €10,000, 2nd Prize €3,000, 3rd Prize €2,000, 26 Additional Cash Prizes of €500 €250 & €100.Entry only €10 per month.

Visit limerickgaa.ie/club-limerick-draw-signup to join

Covid Update The recent government announcement on the restrictions will see a limited return to training for our under 18s from April 26th. This will be limited to pods of 15 and will be non contact.

No details in adult club training have be announced of yet.