(N.B. WE WILL HAVE THE NEW LINK TO MSN GALLERY UP AND RUNNING SHORTLY, OR YOU CAN GO DIRECTLY TO  abbeyfeale.multiply.com )

John Ward retired as General Manager of Tralee Greyhound Track at the weekend.

John, from Main Street in Abbeyfeale, joined the Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon) as a Stipendiary Steward in 1975.

He worked in a number of greyhound stadia across the country, and in 1981, he was appointed Racing Manager at Tralee Track, succeeding Kevin Laide. He was promoted to General Manager in 2006.

It was during John’s stewardship that the new Kingdom Greyhound Stadium was built and opened in 1997, just as greyhound racing began to experience a purple patch as a leisure sport among the general public.

Tralee Track has enjoyed a lot of success in its palatial new home since then, and the record sponsorship is very much a testimony to John’s efforts. He took particular pride in bringing Mike Cronin Readymix on board and making possible the first ever greyhound classic at the Tralee venue.

The Mike Cronin Readymix juvenile classic is a huge event, which carries a winner’s prize of € 25,000 and a total prize fund of € 47,000. It gets underway on next Friday, March 6. The trainer of the winning dog will collect a € 100,000 bonus, if the winner goes on to win this year’s Irish Greyhound Derby. This is sponsored by the Browne Bookmaking Firm of Listowel.

John has been responsible for securing many other outstanding sponsorship deals at Tralee Track and it is now the envy of many other tracks in this respect.

John’s father, Dan, ran the chemist shop on Main Street for a long number of years. He bred many great greyhounds and also had a lifetime involvement with Abbeyfeale Coursing Club.

We wish John a long and happy retirement.

*And we came across the following little snippet written by “Inside Lane” in The Kerryman this weekend and we thought it worthy of inclusion. It may rekindle fond memories for some of our older greyhound enthusiasts.

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“As I attended Tralee track on Tuesday night last and looked at all the bookies plying their trade, my mind went back almost half a century to their counterparts of that era.

At that time, Tunny Galvin held the prime pitch and his motto was “A cheerful layer and a smiling payer”.

Next was Johnny Moriarty, of Listowel, who made few mistakes when it came to making a book.

The Sugrue brothers, Joe and Bob were next in line. Joe’s put-downs were legendary, especially when the results favoured the punters. Bob’s favourite phrase was “Great God Almighty Above Tonight!”.

Then there was Jack McEllistrim from the famous doggie dynasty, whose father Jerry was big into the longtails.

Sado Walsh along with sons, Jerome and Mick, all had pitches. The Walsh trio allowed their judgement to affect their odds. If they didn’t fancy your choice, you were sure to get a good price, but if they fancied something, Sado would wade in with serious cash. Win or lose, he never lost his cool.

Mick O’Connell, who owned the Slieve Mish Bar, also laid the odds at Tralee before emigrating.

Finally there was Killarney man, Mickey Quinlan, who also ran the Malachy Skelly office in Listowel.”

IRELAND 14 ENGLAND 13

Brian O’Driscoll turned in a man-of-the-match display as his second half haul of a try and a drop goal helped inspire Ireland to a hard-earned 6 Nations victory over England at Croke Park at the weekend. The result leaves Ireland two points clear at the top of the Championship table.

Scorers: Ireland: Try: Brian O’Driscoll; Pens: Ronan O’Gara 2; Drop: Brian O’Driscoll
England: Try: Delon Armitage; Con: Andy Goode; Pens: Toby Flood, Delon ArmitageOTHER RESULTS; France 21 – Wales 16. Scotland 26 – Italy 6

ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

Preparations are continuing for the Abbeyfeale St Patrick’s Day Parade which takes place on Tuesday 17^th, March, starting from the Convent at 4pm. Committee members will visit various business establishments this week and distribute leaflets inviting people to take part in the parade. We hope that all of the various sporting and cultural organizations will also take part. A Church Gate collection will be held before all Masses on next weekend, 7^th and 8^th March to help with insurance costs, etc. The next meeting will take place in St Ita’s Hall on Monday 9^th March at 7pm. All are welcome.

FIANNA FAIL AGM

The AGM of Abbeyfeale Fianna Fail Cumann and Cahir Fianna Fail Cumann will take place at the Community Centre, Abbeyfeale on next Thursday 5^th March at 8pm. T.D.s, councillors and local representatives

PLAY:

Abbeyfeale Drama Group’s presentation of Philadelphia, Here I Come continues at the GAA Clubhouse until Saturday 7^th March.

GAA

WEST U21/AFC: Father Caseys 0-8.  Sean Finns 1-3Allianz NHL Div 1: Cork 1-11 Galway 4-16; Limerick 1-11 Dublin 0-12; Tipperary 0-23 Clare 0-16; Waterford 2-17 Kilkenny 1-16.
Div 2: Antrim 4-16 Wexford 4-12; Laois 3-12 Carlow 2-11; Offaly 4-20 Kerry 0-8; Westmeath 4-10 Down 4-18;
Div 3 Section A: Armagh 1-13 Kildare 1-12; Derry 1-13 Meath 1-17; Wicklow 0-16 Mayo 2-15.
Div 3 Section B: Louth 2-14 London 3-18; Roscommon 3-20 Donegal 1-11; Tyrone 0-13 Longford 1-9;
Div 4: Cavan 2-14 South Down 1-9; Monaghan 0-13 Leitrim 0-12; Sligo 0-15 Fermanagh 2-11;

 SOCCER:

Abbeyfeale Utd Ladies defeated Rathkeale 1-0 in the Desmond Cup Final.

RUGBY;

Munster U/18 League semi-final: Abbeyfeale 6. Highfield 15. U/14 West Munster league final; Abbeyfeale 18. Charleville 15.