Archive - Kilkenny star hurler weds before emigrating to Australia (1973)

Just a fortnight before he leaves for Australia, Kilkenny’s star left half-back Eamonn Morrissey was married in Carlow Cathedral.

In another three weeks Eamonn would have been lining out with Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, but his employment contract precluded this as he would not have been able to get a sailing ticket in time.

The departure of this outstanding young hurler and footballer is a big loss to the GAA in Kilkenny. A carpenter by trade, he and his wife Kay will settle in Sydney.

“I had been looking forward to playing in the All-Ireland final up to the time I found that I could not get a boat to enable me to stay here after September 2 and, at the same time, fulfil my employment contract,” said Eamonn.

“I wish the Kilkenny team every success and I hope the lads will bring back the MacCarthy Cup again,” he added. “I will be looking forward very eagerly to the result.”

WINDGAP HAS BIG PLANS
Now that emigration has halted and more and more young people are anxious to settle down in rural areas it is vitally important they are provided with social and sporting facilities as near as practicable to those available in cities and towns.
Conscious of this need, Windgap is already planning for the future. A considerable amount of work has already been done to provide a sports complex and social centre for the area. More importantly, Windgap is making a 5.5 acre site, parochial property, available for local authority and private house building.
“There is now a complete reversal of the trend that existed in this country for far too long for young people to leave their own localities for the ‘bright lights’ of London and other English cities,” said Fr Garrett Phelan, parish priest. “There is every reason to believe that rural Ireland will be saved by the young people.”

NEW SEASON
With the new season around the corner it seems there will be 10 teams in each division of the Kilkenny & District League.
Most clubs are preparing for kick-off but some have no pitch to prepare. League champions Evergreen have no ground while Ormonde Villa have no home base. Stephens United and Celtic have still to register their grounds.
The 10 team who will play in Division One are: Cahir Park (Tipperary), Callan United, East End, Emfa, Evergreen, Highview Athletic, Ormonde Villa, Spa United, Thomastown and Valley Rovers (Crettyard).