Big attendance at ‘59 Book Launch
Patricia Garett, Brian Kelly and Ann Hayes, at the Tower Hotel for the launch of 59 by Brian Kelly. Photos: Joe Evans
The ballroom of the Tower Hotel was filled to capacity on Thursday last for the official launch of Brian Kelly’s book “ ’59 AN EYEWITNESS ACOUNT OF HURLING’S GOLDEN ERA “. In attendance for the launch were the surviving players of that great Deise side in Larry Guinan, Martin Og Morrissey and Freddie O’Brien of Mount Sion while Cappoquin’s Mickey O’Connor was away on holidays but was represented by his brother Kieran. Also present was Joe Condon of Erins Own who captained Waterford to the 1963 All Ireland Final against Kilkenny and many family representatives of those involved but who have passed on.
The launch was hosted by former Meath football star Liam Hayes whose company Hero Books are the publishers and are well known in Waterford GAA circles having been involved in the recent publication of the Erins Own history and before that biographical publications of Martin Og Morrissey and Michael Ryan written by Dermot Keyes and Tomas McCarthy respectively.
The book itself is a nostalgic journey through Waterford and indeed all inter county hurling throughout the fifties and into the sixties with all the facts painstakingly compiled by Brian Kelly and brought to life from reports and commentaries of the games of the era, the after match quotes as well as the memories of those who took part, who are still with us and no longer with us.
Those who were too young to experience the great days but who were brought up on hurling stories of the times from their parents or grandparents will, on reading this book, have a greater insight into just what was achieved by that group of Waterford players and how they came to achieve the heights they did. The esteem in which the Waterford team of that time was held by opposing players and supporters from other counties is well documented in the book from interviews with star players from other counties and GAA commentators of that time and since.
One such player quoted in the book was none other than former Kilkenny great Eddie Keher who played against Waterford while still a minor in the replayed All Ireland final before going on to become one of the greatest forwards of all time. Eddie is quoted extensively in Brian’s book and he arrived in the Tower Hotel for the launch saying that he had a great admiration for theaterford team of that time and the brand of hurling they played and he could not miss the opportunity to meet players and the family members of players with whom he felt a special bond down through the years. He freely admits that Waterford deserved more than the one All Ireland won at that time.
As MC for the event Liam Hayes assembled a panel on stage for discussion comprising of author Brian Kelly, Eddie Keher. Tom Cheasty’s wife Kathleen, Kieran O’Connor, Donal Barron, son of De La Salle’s John Barron, and myself all answering questions on matters referred to in the book.
The launch event was a huge success as an occasion for people of a common denominator to meet and rekindle memories, experienced first hand or handed down, of great hurling events that meant so much at that time. One would hope that reading a book such as this would inspire players of today to follow the same path.
The book would be highly recommended as a Christmas present for anyone with a real interest in Waterford hurling or hurling in general for that matter.
