A guest post by Mike Hackett
John (Sean) O’Connor, Principal of Piltown National School, told a great story from the 1950s when Waterford had an outstanding hurling team. Some older people will remember Ned Power, Austin Flynn, Tom Cheasty, Frankie Walsh, Johnny Kiely and Philly Grimes. They won the All-Ireland in 1959.
Sean and two of his pals set off for Semple Stadium in Thurles one Summer Sunday morning to cheer on their Waterford team against Cork. Demand for the stand tickets was high and one of the pals was lucky to be able to buy three from his local club. Everything was nicely arranged. It was in Sean’s green Morris-Minor car that the three travelled and of course he was driving.
When approaching Thurles, the traffic was getting numerous and slowing down. Car drivers were entering the different fields that had been opened as car parks for the day. All vehicles were slow moving and it was hard for the three men to be patient as the start of a great game was approaching. After awhile, Sean’s two passengers decided to walk away to the pitch – – – leaving him to queue at the gate to a car-park field. They would meet him outside Hayes’s Hotel in the square in about quarter-of-an-hour. Sean parked the car and ran for the square in the middle of Thurles. One little problem then crossed his mind: the pal, who had got the tickets, had the three tickets in his pocket. And guess what – – Sean O’Connor could not find the two pals in the crowd. It was now close to the starting time for the match. He decided to head for the stadium and hopefully meet them at the gates. However there was no sign of them outside the gates.
Just then, as he scratched his head, he saw a man approach a small door in the wall of the stadium and give a loud knock. Then a voice from inside said in Gaelige “Ce ta ann?”. An freagra (the answer) “Cigire, Cumann Luth Cleas Gael” (An Inspector of the G.A.A.) said the man outside. The door opened and in he went. Sean got an idea! He went over to the same door and gave a loud knock. Again “Ce ta ann?” duirt an duine istigh (said a voice from inside). “Cigire, Cumann Luth Cleas Gael” duirt Sean. The door opened and Sean went in. “Failte” duirt an fear. (“Welcome” said the man behind the door). Sean found a premium seat amongst the dignitaries, in line with the middle of the pitch, and enjoyed the match. It was a reward for his perseverance and tenacity. To increase his happiness (following all the anxiety) Waterford won the game. The three pals later met back at the car-park field and Sean had a great sceal (story) to tell. He told an sceal seo liomsa, fado, fado. (He told me this story himself many years ago).