Heritage Notes - 29 July 2011

With the heady events of last weekend seeing three Waterford teams qualify for All-Ireland semi finals, two hurling and one camogie, there could only be one picture for our notes this week. For the first time since 1948, Waterford have both senior and minor teams in the hurling semi-finals. Back in 1948, they went on to score a fantastic double by winning both titles. The minor team then was powered by seven Cappoquin club members on that occasion, six playing on the team and the coach being Paddy Cunningham of Barrack Street. Our picture this week shows the group known to this day locally as ‘the Magnificent Seven’ a full twenty years before Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen and other non-hurlers ‘borrowed’ the title from them (Wouldn’t McQueen have made a great centre back!). Standing (from left) are Michael Kelleher, Vincent Walsh, Joe Flynn and Paddy Cunningham, while in front are Michael O’Connor, Billy Conway and Michael Browne.

One footnote. Few people may realise the great efforts, for absolutely no reward, that the Waterford players and members of the management team put in to help our Blackwater Crossing long puck recently. They couldn’t have been more supportive, and it was great to see the rejuvenation of the senior team last Sunday in Thurles. The standard of hurling in Waterford, from underage to senior, hasn’t been as strong as this in fifty years, and don’t let anyone tell you differently, whatever happens on Sunday week.

Postcards

Just a reminder that our series of local postcards is back on sale for the summer, available at the Credit Union and one or two more local outlets. These were very popular last summer and already are flying out the door, almost Harry Potter style, this year too. All profits go towards funding heritage-related projects, such as the exhibition.

Autumn Exhibition

Our heritage group is at work currently in trying to put together an exhibition for the autumn devoted to school days past and present. We are trying to track down copybooks and other school memorabilia, as well as copies of the folklore and stories written by local children in various primary schools during the 1930s and much more recently. If anyone has items that you think we can use, please let a committee member know.