About
For many years, as a boy, I spent my time sketching with pencils.
It all stuttered to a halt at about the age of 18.
I was just eighteen then, when that last sketch of a robed and bearded gentleman, underneath, from the East, was done.
However, having come across a couple of pencil drawings from 1962, which my wife liked, and thought them good enough to want to hang in the hallway, the wish to take part in this revealing, absorbing and refreshing activity resurrected itself.
Sixty four years later, he now looks at me enigmatically from the hallway wall.
During the years in between, I had attended many hurling matches, not only because I'm a hurling fan, of the teams and of the followers, but because it gave me direct connection with people from Wexford, my home county.
I'm a huge fan of Hurling People.
They're a breed.
Followers of this noble sport have as much respect for the wiles and skills of the opposition as they have for their own, and they're big-hearted enough to say so.
There isn't a match I ever attended, which when won, lost, or drawn, that I didn't leave the venue with a renewed Faith in human nature.
The winning of a game sets the glow of pride in team and county, and the sense of identity is palpable.
But there is also an undercurrent of consideration for the vanquished, when sometimes the win or the loss could have gone either way, and this fact pervades the win as a grounding. Winners generally don't lose the run of themselves.
A poor performance doesn't always translate into a morbid depression. Whatever the depth of that disappointment, there prevails in the psyche of the hurling community an optimism that carries to the next training session, the next game, the next season.
Life goes on.
If you 'd like to purchase any of the sketches or coloured paintings you see on this site, get in touch on 087 2321128, or [email protected]
Jersey colours can be altered to your club or county preference.
Signed Originals are €155.00 Signed prints are €35.00
Or you may like a picture, or a collection of pictures, with appropriate captions. Let me know.
353 87 2321128. [email protected]
Jersey colours can be altered to your club or county preference.
Signed Originals are €155.00 Signed prints are €35.00
Or you may like a picture, or a collection of pictures, with appropriate captions. Let me know.
353 87 2321128. [email protected]
Back in 2004, when Rory McCarthy scored a goal in the dying minutes of an All-Ireland semi-final, a young man from London, on holiday here, and accompanying me at the match as my guest, was horrified to see at the start of the game that we were surrounded by Cork jerseys, our adversaries on that day.
Mine was the sole Wexford jersey in the sea of red that occupied that part of the stand.
Where he came from, fans of opposing soccer teams were segregated.
Violence was the order of the day.
This young man thought that this was the form for hurling matches too..
However, the action started and quickly got into rhythm as one of the most hotly contested games of the season. My companion was amazed at how supporters not only roared on their own teams, but acknowledged too the merits of the opposition.
When Rory's goal billowed Donal Og Cusack's net, and levelled the teams to a drawn game, the visitor grabbed my arm in alarm.
'Are we ok? Are we safe?' he asked with quiet urgency.
I reassured him that we were and that we didn't have to run for the exit or call Security.
He was doubly amazed when the row of Rebel supporters in front of us, as they left their seats and filed out to the end of the row, shook my hand and uttered, without exception, 'Well done, boy! See you next week.'
While I was proud of the Yellowbellies' hurling performance, I was equally proud of of my fellow-country mens civic performance.
As I said, hurling people are a breed.
Mine was the sole Wexford jersey in the sea of red that occupied that part of the stand.
Where he came from, fans of opposing soccer teams were segregated.
Violence was the order of the day.
This young man thought that this was the form for hurling matches too..
However, the action started and quickly got into rhythm as one of the most hotly contested games of the season. My companion was amazed at how supporters not only roared on their own teams, but acknowledged too the merits of the opposition.
When Rory's goal billowed Donal Og Cusack's net, and levelled the teams to a drawn game, the visitor grabbed my arm in alarm.
'Are we ok? Are we safe?' he asked with quiet urgency.
I reassured him that we were and that we didn't have to run for the exit or call Security.
He was doubly amazed when the row of Rebel supporters in front of us, as they left their seats and filed out to the end of the row, shook my hand and uttered, without exception, 'Well done, boy! See you next week.'
While I was proud of the Yellowbellies' hurling performance, I was equally proud of of my fellow-country mens civic performance.
As I said, hurling people are a breed.
You probably see by now that this site is a celebration of a group of people. There are two main segments in that group; the players and the followers.
If you have stories about games, players, followers or others that you think could add to the quality and stature of this spectacular and splendid game, let's have them.
Perhaps they could be used to reinforce and reward the unstinting efforts and commitment of the players and the devoted and wondrous support of the followers.
353872321128 [email protected]
If you have stories about games, players, followers or others that you think could add to the quality and stature of this spectacular and splendid game, let's have them.
Perhaps they could be used to reinforce and reward the unstinting efforts and commitment of the players and the devoted and wondrous support of the followers.
353872321128 [email protected]