The Edward Carson trophy

[glens abu]

The legend goes that Setanta as a young boy wanted more than anything else to become a warrior and join the Red Branch Knights of Ulster.

These were renowned warriors who defended Ireland. Their leader was Conor Mac Nessa the High King.

When he was 10 Setanta told his anxious parents that he was going off to Eamhain Macha (near Armagh) to join the Red Branch Knights. They tried to dissuade him but he was determined. And one sunny morning in May he headed off with his sliothar (ball) and his caman (stick).

As he made his way across the Cooley mountains he would strike his sliothar with his caman and then chase after it catching it before it hit the ground.

Eventually he reached Eamhain Macha. He joined in a game of hurley with the Kings son and others much older than himself and impressed everyone with his skill; slayed the hound of Cullan, the Kings blacksmith, by hitting his sliothar down its throat as it attacked him; and earned himself the name by which he is best remembered - Cuchullain – the Hound of Cullan.

50 years ago a Catholic priest Fr. Pól Mac Sheáin and the Naomh Moninne club in the Cooley's used this story as the basis for the first Poc Fada – long puck. The purpose was simple – to test the mettle of hurlers by mapping out a set distance in which hurlers hit their sliothar as hard and a s far as they could. The winner is the person who covers the course in the least number of pucks.

Some years ago this blog persuaded Féile an Phobail to hold the west Belfast equivalent of the Poc Fada. It is very popular and it has been run every year since then by Rossa GAC.

It has been held in GAA grounds, the Falls Park and on the Black Mountain above the city.

Its great craic and all of the participants enjoy the camaraderie and the competition.

Last November this blog hosted a tree dedication ceremony in the grounds of the Stormont estate to mark 125 years of An Cumann Luthchleas Gael.
That event was to celebrate the positive impact the GAA has had on society in Ireland.

In the course of it I pointed across to the statue of Edward Carson who is identified with militant unionism, but who as a student at Trinity College in Dublin was a member of their hurling team.

In Montgomery Hyde's biography of Carson it is recorded that 'on one occasion he was mentioned by a local sporting journal, The Irish Sportsman, as having distinguished himself on the field.'

Many other leading protestant figures were also involved in gaelic games.

They include Roger Casement, who was executed in 1916 by the British; Douglas Hyde who was the first President of Ireland and a founder of Conradh na Gaeilge and Sam Maguire, a leading GAA figure after whom the all-Ireland Senior Mens football trophy is named.



So, when we came to discuss this years programme for Féile and the arrangements for the Poc Fada, I suggested that this blog would host the Poc Fada in the grounds of the Stormont estate. Hence the Poc ar an Chnoc – the Puck on the Hill.

And from that came the idea of a celebrity Poc Fada and trophy to commemorate the fact that Carson was a hurley player. And that was agreed.

So August 7th will see a full day of events on the grounds of the Stormont estate. A day in which young and old, all stars and first timers can exhibit their sporting prowess.

Gerry Adams Blog

As well as the Carson competition and trophy the Poc Fada will also include senior men and women's competitions and an under 10 camogie and hurling Blitz which will be held on the top lawn in front of Parliament Buildings.

The senior women's and men's competition will have invited competitors.

What money is raised will be given to the 'The City of the Angels Foundation'.

This Foundation is run by Fr Pat Clarke, originally from Co. Clare. A month ago he visited Parliament Buildings and we talked for an hour about his work. The Foundation does amazing work in very difficult and dangerous conditions. It comprises a Centre for Art and Culture in a major shanty town (favela) in the Brazilian City of Sao Paulo, as well as a Centre for Art, Ecology and Spirituality situated in the Atlantic Forest two hours distant from the City.

Through the medium of the arts, the Foundation tries to prevent children of the shanty towns from falling victim to the drug culture, to violence and organized crime. Their website is www.cityoftheangelsfoundation.org

A worthy cause. So if you want to help good people trying to save children from the scourge of drugs and crime, or if you just want a great day out – then come along to the Stormont estate on August 7th.

Finally, a word of thanks to all of those who have helped make this possible: Maire Grogan, Catherine Murphy, Pat Maginn, Niall Maginn, Gerry McClory, Sean McGuinness, Denis Rocks, , Mary Herald, Bridgeen Heenan, and Martin Donnelly from M Donnelly & Co Ltd Dublin, specialising in Power tools and Accessories who are the main sponsor for the event.

[TransitVanMan]

Poor Gerry doesn't know whether he's coming or going these days. Still desperately trying to cling to the mantles of Gaelic and Republican, yet committed to a partitionist settlement.  It can't be easy trying to steer two ships.   

[glens abu]

Poor Gerry doesn't know whether he's coming or going these days. Still desperately trying to cling to the mantles of Gaelic and Republican, yet committed to a partitionist settlement.  It can't be easy trying to steer two ships.   

Don't you worry your wee head about him ,he will be OK has plenty of support in the community for his stance as the elections keep showing.

[TransitVanMan]

Poor Gerry doesn't know whether he's coming or going these days. Still desperately trying to cling to the mantles of Gaelic and Republican, yet committed to a partitionist settlement.  It can't be easy trying to steer two ships.   

Don't you worry your wee head about him ,he will be OK has plenty of support in the community for his stance as the elections keep showing.

Would that be the occupied six county elections? Certainly not the elections in the south.  And does that mean he had no support when he wasn't doing well in the elctions.

[glens abu]

Poor Gerry doesn't know whether he's coming or going these days. Still desperately trying to cling to the mantles of Gaelic and Republican, yet committed to a partitionist settlement.  It can't be easy trying to steer two ships.   

Don't you worry your wee head about him ,he will be OK has plenty of support in the community for his stance as the elections keep showing.

Would that be the occupied six county elections? Certainly not the elections in the south.  And does that mean he had no support when he wasn't doing well in the elctions.

Of course its the elections in the occupied six as thats were his constituency is[West Belfast].Has only ever lost one election since he 1st stood in 1983 and he still got 17,000 votes in that one so to answer your second question yes he still had big support within his own community even when he lost. 

[TransitVanMan]

Poor Gerry doesn't know whether he's coming or going these days. Still desperately trying to cling to the mantles of Gaelic and Republican, yet committed to a partitionist settlement.  It can't be easy trying to steer two ships.   

Don't you worry your wee head about him ,he will be OK has plenty of support in the community for his stance as the elections keep showing.

Would that be the occupied six county elections? Certainly not the elections in the south.  And does that mean he had no support when he wasn't doing well in the elctions.

Of course its the elections in the occupied six as thats were his constituency is[West Belfast].Has only ever lost one election since he 1st stood in 1983 and he still got 17,000 votes in that one so to answer your second question yes he still had big support within his own community even when he lost. 

Ah yes indeed, it's not about unity or 32 anymore is it, just being the big fish in the little pool is enough now it seems to subdue some unruly upstarts. For how long will the sheep blindly follow the forked tongued leader?

[Lecale2]

Gerry Adams hurls tribute at unionist icon Edward Carson with GAA trophy

A new GAA trophy has been named after the founding father of unionism.

Competitors in the first hurling event in the Stormont estate in Belfast will be playing for the Edward Carson trophy.

On face value, the Dubliner who led the campaign against Irish independence a century ago is an unusual choice for anyone looking to christen a prize for the nationalist sport.

But Sinn Fein MP Gerry Adams, who has helped organise the inaugural 'Poc ar an Cnoc' (Puck on the Hill) which will take place below Carson's famous statue in Stormont next month, thought otherwise.

"I discovered, much to my surprise, that Carson was a hurler in his days at Trinity College (Dublin)," he explained at Parliament Buildings yesterday.

He added: "He got an honourable mention in the Irish Sportsman (journal of the day) as having distinguished himself on the field, so we thought it would be a great idea to have an Edward Carson trophy."

The Poc Fada (long puck) will see hurlers hitting sliotars (hurling balls) up the mile-long Prince of Wales Avenue.

Point of order; This will not be the first hurling competition played on the estate grounds of Stormont.

There was a 7 aside interfirms tournament played in 2000 I think between Northern firms. There was also a gaelic football tournament played at the same time..

In the 1990s the Irish Civil Service played the NI Civil Service at Stormont in both hurling and football.

Edward Carson was prosecuting counsel in the trial of Oscar Wilde that ultimately brought about his demise.

Not correct. Be defended Lord Queensbury in a libel action take by Wilde that ultimately brought about his demise.

[Applesisapples]

I see the Transit Driver is from Londonderry, does that mean they get two goes at Sam or are they like Fingal and South Down only a National League Team?

It's good to see SF making Stormont more receptive to Gaelic Culture, it can only be done from with in.

[TransitVanMan]

Yes Londonderry,as in the new UK city of culture. The bid to become COCUK was strongly supported by Gerry's co-pilot, Gerry Fitt Martin McGuinness.

[Applesisapples]

Gota hand it to you that was a bit of a sellout. At least there's no London in Armagh!!

[glens abu]

Gota hand it to you that was a bit of a sellout. At least there's no London in Armagh!!

your right apples it was a massive sell out ok it will take us some time to get over it but sure the super Republicans in watties will sort it all out for us with all their hard work towards the republic

[bottlethrower7]

Edward Carson was prosecuting counsel in the trial of Oscar Wilde that ultimately brought about his demise.

Not correct. Be defended Lord Queensbury in a libel action take by Wilde that ultimately brought about his demise.

yep, you're right. And the p***k wouldn't take the case initially, until some henchmen of Queensbury had bribed and blackmailed a load of young lads to agree to testify against him. He gave that evidence to Carson and then and only then, when he was sure he couldn't lose, did he take the case. So, yes, initially (and technically) he was acting as defense for Queensbury, but the entire context of the trial changed around and he was acting more as prosecution, despite being in defense. Either way, f**k him.

[bottlethrower7]

double post

[TransitVanMan]

Gota hand it to you that was a bit of a sellout. At least there's no London in Armagh!!

your right apples it was a massive sell out ok it will take us some time to get over it but sure the super Republicans in watties will sort it all out for us with all their hard work towards the republic

[glens abu]

Gota hand it to you that was a bit of a sellout. At least there's no London in Armagh!!

your right apples it was a massive sell out ok it will take us some time to get over it but sure the super Republicans in watties will sort it all out for us with all their hard work towards the republic

I knew that would be lost on you,its called sarcasm