Dear Reader –
Two HUGE events this weekend…and both couldn’t really have gone any better. Glory days indeed.
The Big Thing
We were giddy as we arrived to Ballyshannon on Saturday morning.
Excited by the prospect of getting the theatre ready for the show that night. One of the lads said he would do this every day of the week if he could. But there was also a healthy set of nerves about presenting the show to a new crowd. And meeting the dozen or so local musicians who were going to be performing with us.
The day moved on and the challenges presented themselves as they always do, but one by one we figured them out and managed to finish our marathon rehearsal a full 20 minutes before showtime!
There were magic moments as there always are, but it was the strength of the applause received by Drew Maitland and then Seamie O’Dowd straight after when I knew it was truly working. Sinéad Conway got her now usual standing ovation (!) for her rendition of I Will Always Love You and all of a sudden the show was over, and I was meeting smiling faces in the foyer just like in the Hawk’s Well.
“You’ll be back?” I was asked (or possibly told) by many audience members afterwards - and I’d say there’s a very good chance of it. As always, letter readers will hear first.
Thanks so much to all the musicians, theatre staff and audience members who made us feel so welcome in Ballyshannon. As a friend said to me - “you’re certainly living someone’s dream”!
See the bottom of this letter for a video from the show.
Where else but Sligo?
“One day Tourlestrane won’t win. Maybe it will be us who does, or maybe someone else. But one way or another a county final is a big thing. And it’s nice to know it still feels that way”.
I wrote this a couple of years ago. It was the closing paragraph of a blog about the 2021 county final. And finally, for the first time since 2015, Tourlestrane didn’t win. And…it was us who did.
You can get the match report elsewhere, but it’s the individual stories that are always more interesting to me.
I got a picture during the celebrations with two of the heroes of Sunday - Niall Murphy (left) and Keelan Cawley (right). I played with both in the 2011 final (which we lost), and the two lads also lost finals in 2019 and 2021. So they were feeling pretty good about life, having finally picked up that elusive championship medal.
It was no coincidence that they were the two men that scored the points that started our comeback in the second half. Add the equaliser by another elder statesman of the team Barry O’Mahony and it was clear that the leaders of the team were determined that they weren’t going to lose again.
Talking to them afterwards the overriding emotion was relief and a deep sense of satisfaction. There was a great pic going around of Keelan as a 16 yr-old on someone’s shoulders watching us win the 2005 final, and Niall spoke of similar formative experiences as a child.
Joint-manager Adrian McPartland summed it all up in a message - saying that the part that he enjoyed most about the win was seeing the many children of the club around to witness it all. The bonfire, the cavalcade, the trophy presentation, the sense of elation and general madness around the whole thing. Inspiring. Lighting their fire. Letting them know this is something that can be done as a player from this club. Magic stuff.
Enjoy the feeling lads.
What’s New?
THIS IS THE LIFE: My favourite sports book of the year so far. Written by Ciarán Murphy of Second Captains, it’s a witty and provocative look at grassroots GAA in Ireland. Available from your local bookshop.
TTN #30: The first Teenage Theme Night of the year is on the horizon. Anyone looking to get involved should get in touch ASAP.
BEHIND THE SCENES: This video got a huge reaction. It’s so well put-together, and provides a feel-good glimpse into what goes on backstage at a Theme Night.
Finally…
Here’s one from Ballyshannon - brought to you by John Meehan and the Theme Night crew.
Till next time - Kieran.
