Do you ever think of friend, departed for the bigger world and it just knocks you for six? I’m not talking in terms of immediate family or other relatives. Just somebody whom you perhaps didn’t realise the impact they had on your life until they’re not there anymore.
On Friday morning last, the late Derrick Buggle was that somebody for me. The connection between our respective families long predated either of us, but, I’d have known Derrick as a tidy hurler and soccer player when I was younger, but when the bond between us was really solidified he had moved on to the management of one of our club’s hurling teams.
Da was in his mid 80s by then, and Derrick very kindly became my hurling – and occasionaly horse racing – driver.
Thus, mention of the latter also recalls another routine we more or less fell into. I’m not even sure how it began, but, on a Thursday evening we’d meet in Mulvany’s Bar in the village to “Watch the last few races from Tipp”!
The significance of that being as follows. For as long as the occupant of this seat can recall, at the height of the national hunt season, it has been routine for Thursday fixtures to be alternated between Thurles and Clonmel.
Alas, like so much of what was once the best of life, as it stands, the rotating Thursdays will be no more. Following the thunderbolt news that Mrs Riona Molony and her family have decided to close their racecourse with immediate effect.
Yes, you did read that correctly, the Molony family have owned Thurles Racecourse since the early 1900s. Cementing the Moloney’s generations-long association with Irish Racing.
Now, aside from the passage of time and changing of family circumstances, it would only natural that the death of Michael O’Sullivan following a fall at the venue last January would have had a devastating, traumatising effect on the Molony family and indeed all connected with horse racing near and far and, as such, their desire to step away in such circumstances is wholly understandable.
However, the Molony’s decision to cease their involvement with the course shouldn’t have to – and hopefully won’t – necessarily lead to the cessation of horse racing in the birthplace of the GAA. The obvious solution is for the HRI to step in and assume control of the Durlas Eile venue. As they, of course, do with every other racecourse in the country. So, without being tongue-in-cheek about it, isn’t it the obvious solution to keeping the venue open.
Particularly in view of the fact that, as is my understanding, my dear friend Peter Roe left his role as the beloved manager of Fairyhouse Racecourse to assume a role as an overseer at three tracks – two of which I thought were Fairyhouse and, ironically, Thurles. Indeed, one wonders was Peter’s appointment somehow in anticipation of the most recent developments.
Aside from sentimentality, the fact is that Irish racing cannot afford the loss of Thurles. Not only concerning races like the Kinloch Brae Chase and the Michael Purcell Memorial Hurdle, which have been highlights of the racing calendar, not only in Thurles itself, but, in Irish racing in general.
Not to mention the fact that Thurles has often been the savior of Irish racing, in that – in the winter months especially. Simply because it tended to be raceable when most if not all other venues resemble quagmires at that particular time of the year.
It’s worth pointing out that what doesn’t feel like all that long ago, a consortium, which I believe included John Magnier, Dermot Desmond and JP McManus, had plans in mind to bring about the country’s second all weather racetrack somewhere in the Tipperary region.
Now could be just the time to reignite that very idea. Sure it’d nearly guarantee the base of the Michael Lowry statue at least!!
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