Recession? What recession!

What Recession?

Glorious sunshine, a buzzing atmosphere and guests in expansive mood would have left the proverbial wandering Martian wondering what all this recession talk is about at the sixth annual Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Corporate Race Day at the Punchestown National Hunt Festival on April 28th 2009.

 

For the over six hundred guests attending the Crokes event - and the nearly four hundred present with the Laois Lady Footballers - the bright airy Punchestown Pavilion located just next to the last fence set the tone.  As the guests began to gather from around 1pm the buzz grew.  Slickly and excellently “MCed” by Kilmacud Crokes hurler and Newstalk presenter Oisin Langan the day was quickly under way.  Tips aplenty were provided by Boyle Sports, Leon Blanche, Brian Flanagan of the Daily Star, Hurling pair, Cyril Farrell and Michael Duignan, Charlie Swan and Edward O’Grady.  Also prominent among the crowd were All-Ireland medallists Richard Stakelum and Ger Cushe, Leinster Council President, Seamus Howlin, Con Clarke and Sean O’Mahony from Dublin Co Board and Daire O’Brien of Setanta Sports. 

 

There were draws for valuable prizes.  Winner of the biggest draw prize of all, a holiday in Portugal, was popular Crokes member, Tina Dias.  One of the high points was the auction, run in spellbinding style by Galway Auctioneer, Michael Regan.  Headline item was an Irish Rugby jersey signed by the 2009 Grand Slam winning team.  Later in the evening a snack was served while throughout the day the Liam McCarthy and Leinster Championship Cups, courtesy of the Kilkenny County Board and chaperoned by Denis Cody, did the rounds.  The photographs, courtesy of Seamus Fearon, can be seen by clicking on the flashing camera below

For Kilmacud Crokes Hurling the day was a resounding success.  We are particularly grateful for the generous contributions of those who took tables or seats or who in any form supported the Race Day.  The proceeds will go towards the development of hurling within the club and will assist in reducing the debt on the €500,000 Hurling Arena at Glenalbyn, providing a full time hurling coaching service and funding Winter training facilities.  These are all necessary measures as we aim for best practice and strive to develop hurling among young people and within the community.  Special thanks must go to the energetic Paul Gorman and his organising work group and also to all the helpers on the day and everybody who assisted in any way.  We are also particularly appreciative of the help from the staff at Punchestown – headed by Dick O’Sullivan, Liam Houlton & Louise Keane – and John Coughlan, Paul O’Rafferty and the Masterchefs team.

 

Remember now is the time to put Punchestown 2010 in your diary!

 

To see an article about the event which appeared in the Irish Independent on 30 April, click HERE