25th August 2015 – RIP
The death occurred recently of Liam Casey, Charlesfield Lyre. Well known in the farming and sporting circles, he was a very popular figure within the community. Originally from Knocknagree he moved to Charlesfield when he married Mary Murphy, a local girl. He played football with Knocknagree in his younger days and won an Examiner cup medal in 1962.
However, it was when he came to Lyre that he started Bowling. He had a great passion for the sport, winning several prizes over the years. He served as one of the treasurers of the Banteer Club up to the time of his death. He loved going to matches and rarely missed a Duhallow final. Card playing was another passion of his, playing many a game at home and other venues around the locality.
He had a great interest in politics and current affairs and reading was a favourite pastime of his. A lover of nature he was an expert on the growing of cabbage and kale.
A very distinguished man he always wore a hat and when he had a quiet moment to himself he would smoke one of his many selection of pipes that he had.
He called to people’s homes on a regular basis, they in turn if they were passing the way would make sure to call to him and Mary as they always kept an open house.
Mary passed away some years ago leaving a great void in Liam’s life as they were such a united couple, without doubt they will both be united in Heaven.
His popularity was evident by the large crowds that turned out for his Rosary, Removal and Funeral Mass. A gentleman to the fingertips he will be sadly missed by his family, neighbours and many friends.
May he Rest in Peace
The unexpected death of Gerald Bourke, Kilcorney, popular and well known, caused widespread shock in the Bowling Community and beyond. A great athlete, he was very involved in both Athletics and Road Bowling and indeed excelled at both. He was very involved in the Kilcorney Bowling Club as were other members of his family. A very good Junior player, he played all the top Juniors of that era. A finalist in the North Cork Junior C Championship finals. He was runner up to Dan O Regan in 1990 and again a finalist in 1995. In 1993 he won outright the Novice A final against Dan Corkery at Ballyshonin. 1995 was to be his year, he won the North Cork Veterans Championship final at the expense of fellow Club man Sean Ryan at Berrings. At Ballincurrig, he captured the Munster Veterans Championship Title with a win over Ritchie Sweetman of Kilworth. He travelled to Armagh in August of that year to take on Jim Cullen of Armagh and Willie Carroll of Mayo.
Here is an extract from Brian Toal’s Book “Road Bowling in Ireland”.
A defeat in two Ulster Veterans finals in 1992 and 1993 was a memory satisfactorily erased by Jim Cullen, Ballyheridan when he produced a faultless display in the Provincial final of 1995 to beat former senior player Aidan Toal by a clear margin. The line up for the All Ireland final at Cathedral Road ,Armagh on Saturday the 5th of August 1995 saw him joined by the redoubtable Willie Carroll, Mayo and the formidable physique of Corks Gearld Bourke. There was no repeat of the Provincial final performance as he erred untypically on several shots to allow his opponents away. Gerald Bourke was bowling by far the better of the three and it was his power and consistency that assured him of victory with Willie Carroll gaining second place on the final throw.
The local Bowling Club presented him with a Hall of fame award in recognition of what was a great sporting career.
A gentleman to his fingertips, he will be sadly missed. The Bowling fraternity would like to extend their deepest sympathy to his family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
John O Mahony – RIP 9th December 2012
The Death occurred recently of John O Mahony Kanturk. The well known footballer who played for cork in the 1960’s .A superb athlete he was also well known in Bowling ,Basketball and Handball Circles.In his younger days ,he played many a score around Kanturk and other roads beyond. He played the likes of Miah Cotter Ballyclough,Denny Kelleher ,Kanturk and Jimmy Healy of Sally’s Cross ,and other players of that era .Accurate and very consistant,he was more than a hand full for most of his opponents.
In later years he was an able administrator. He was Chairman of Sally’s Cross Club ,Chairman of the Banteer Bowling Club and a member of the Munster Social Club’s Committee.He was instrumental in bringing the All Ireland Finals to Sally’s Cross in 2009 and 2010 and he was very much involved in the organising of these finals.
Johnny will be sadly missed by everybody who knew him. To his Family and Friends ,the Bowling fraternity would like to extend their deepest sympathy.
May he rest in peace.
Paddy O Keeffe RIP 7th November 2019
A great stalwart of bowling passed away to his eternal reward, Paddy O Keeffe of Banteer and formerly of Rylane and Cullen. In his younger days Paddy O Keeffe did a lot of bowling on the Millstreet roads. He went to England working some years as a carpenter. On his return to Ireland, himself and his wife Eileen purchased a bar in Rylane. He was back on the bowling trail again and took part in the North Cork Championship. In 2008 he was runner up to Paul Walsh in the novice D final played at Berrings. However he was back in the 2008 novice D final held in Gortroe where he where he had a win over Anto Sheehan,. However he lost out to Tommy O Donoghue in the overall final. Involved in many tournaments he won a novice final in Kilcorney. He also took part the veteran and vintage championships. He played with the Banteer social club for many years where he collected many prizes. He had a natural talent for the game, a smooth running accurate bowl was his trademark. He was a great help to the younger players and was always on hand to give advice. Football and handball were sports he played in Cullen in his youth and in later years attended many matches. While he lived in Rylane, he and his family ran a flourishing bar business and were involved in local community affairs. May he rest in peace
Johnny o Riordan, Sallys Cross passed away to his eternal reward recently. He was well known in bowling circles and beyond. Johnny played a lot of scores around Sallys Cross, Banteer and many other roads. A nice style and a good delivery, he was a match for many of the players that he encountered over the years. Involved in championship and many tournaments, he collected a lot of silverware over the years. He played the legendary Mick Barry in the vintage championship at Macroom, back in the 1990s. He gave a good account of himself that day. Barry won that particular score. Johnny and Mick always had a chat when they met each other at other scores. He travelled to London in 2010 as part of the Pat Kiely Shield contingent, representing Sallys Cross and Banteer.He gave a good account of himself on the bowling road and afterwards at the local tavern, sang a few songs for a captive audience. Well known as a bowler, he was also known as a fine singer, as part of a very musical family. He sang ” Dear old Sallys Cross at the All Ireland bowling championships held at Sally Cross. Johnny promoted this song at many other venues and could tell his listeners who wrote the song, where it was written and what the words meant.A member of the Labour Party for many years, he was a true supporter. He attended many meetings and conferences and supported all the candidates that were selected. A great community man, he gave many hours to his beloved Sallys Cross. A firm favourite with everyone he knew, giving time to both young and old. To his family, good neighbours and many friends, the bowling fraternity would like to extend their deepest sympathy. May his gentle soul rest in peace
Bowling notes~John Sheehan. Mallow and Ballyclough, one of the great characters of bowling passed away recently. Coming from a family steeped in the tradition of bowling, he was well known in the game and beyond. A member of the north east region, he played many championship and tournament scores during his career. He was also a member of the Denis Horgan bowling club~Banteer, involved in many competitions. He was awarded the Hall of Fame from the club in 2008 and in later years he became one of the Vice-Presidents of the Banteer club.In later years, he kept up to date on the bowlers that he knew and followed their activies on the bowling circuit. Always had a word for everyone, young and old. He kept up to date on current affairs, with also a great wit that could entertain a crowd at the drop of a hat, making him popular with everyone that he knew. The bowling fraternity would like to extend their deepest sympathy to his family, neighbours and many friends. May he rest in peace
