Hear Ye…Hear Ye…

On the days leading up to big battles like the forthcoming one with Corofin on next Sunday my mind often drifts back a decade or more to a rousing motivational speech given by a highly esteemed club veteran- the irrepressibly gifted Liam O Toole - who thank God is still hale and hearty and who recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Liam’s ‘Tubber loyalty was unquestionable! He was the solitary civilian warrior from Ballintubber who had made a spectacular one man pitch invasion in McHale Park and felled Billy Fitzpatrick of Garrymore as he was about to score in the 1965 County Intermediate Final. On this occasion the year was 2008 and our Under 21 Panel who were enjoying great success at County U21 A level -were gathered in Corley’s Abbey Lodge. It was a squad occasion and as Liam approached - the boys gathered enthusiastically around …with his proud chest stuck out…his shoulders thrown back … in a loud passionate voice … Liam began to recite Brian Boru’s speech to his armies on the eve of the battle of Clontarf in 1014!…

“ Hear ye…Hear ye…On your valour rest the hopes of your country today; and what surer grounds can they rest upon?
Oppression now attempts to bend you down to servility; will you burst its chains and rise to the independence of Irish freemen?
Your cause is one approved by Heaven. You seek not the oppression of others; you fight for your country and sacred altars.
It is a cause that claims heavenly protection. In this day’s battle the interposition of that God who can give victory will be singly manifested in your favor.
Let every heart, then, be the throne of confidence and courage. You know that the Danes are strangers to religion and humanity; they are inflamed with the desire of violating the fairest daughters of this land of beauty, and enriching themselves with the spoils of sacrilege and plunder.
The barbarians have impiously fixed for their struggle, to enslave us, upon the very day on which the Redeemer of the world was crucified.
Victory they shall not have! From such brave soldiers as you they can never wrest it; for you fight in defense of honor, liberty and religion – in defense of the sacred temples of the true God, and of your sisters, wives and daughters.
Such a holy cause must be the cause of God, who will deliver your enemies this day into your hands.
Onward, then, for your country and your sacred altars!”
Many of Liam’s attentive young audience on that evening are still serving Ballintubber and have honoured the club shirt with valour on countless occasions since.
I’m not for a moment suggesting that Corofin are Barbarians and I’m sure they don’t have any designs on our daughters or indeed our sacred alters! But after two defeats by Corofin in the Connacht Club Championship (luckily in 2011 and deservedly in ’14) they can surely expect a really sturdy examination!
P.S – Liam – on Sunday you will have a side-line seat at the front! If things are tight with three minutes to go and you see Gary Sice careering up the field …you will know instinctively…

Sean Hallinan – Cathaoirleach Baile an Tobair CLG

AND WE HAVE 3 WINNERS 😃😃😃😃😃
What a weekend for the Plunkett family. Not only did Alan, Kelly and Michael scoop the club lotto but Alan and his wife Claire welcomed the youngest Ballintubber supporter into the world with the arrival of baby Beth Plunkett on Sunday morning, just in time for dad to head off to Inischrone to help the seniors reach the Connacht semi final. Congrats to u all from the Ballintubber GAA family on your new arrival and the lotto win.

Results from last Saturday nights lotto draw, next week's jackpot is €3,000. You can buy your tickets at the usual outlets or on line by clicking the link below http://bit.ly/BallintubberGAA