Michael "Gah" Ahern

    

Guests of Honour. 

The Blackrock Hurling Club was greatly honoured last Saturday to have as guests of the morning, members of the famous Michael "Gah" Ahern's family in attendance. Brothers Gah and Balty Ahern were renowned through Ireland in 1920s and early 30s for their hurling prowess with Blackrock and Cork. Balty won five All-Ireland medals while Gah obtained four medals, both played in the famous 1931 series of games and replays with Kilkenny.

Gah Ahern's son, Paddy Ahern, grandson, Patrick and great grandson Matthew and granddaughter Katie visited Church Road. Chairperson of Blackrock National Hurling Club Tom O'Sullivan presented Matthew with a framed photograph of his famous great grandfather. Matthew had completed a special project for Scoil Phadraigh Naofa (Bandon) in the schools Discover Cork History programme. This project will appear on the Blackrock website shortly.

Matthew's teacher Mary Murphy also attended the ceremony. Mary, who is a regular member of the Blackrock ladies coffee shop committee received a surprise presentation herself from the Blackrock Primary section. Mary plays the part of Bernadette in the Ken Loach film "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" which recently won the Palme d'Or award in Cannes and opens in Ireland on 23rd June 2006.

              

Back Row L-R, Ger O Mahony secretary Primary Section BHC, Sonny Kennedy 
BHC, Eamon O Donoghue Chairman Juvenile section BHC, Patrick Ahern Grand 
son of "Gah" and Mary Murphy Matthews teacher and a member of the cast 
of "The Wind That Sweeps The Barley".
Front Row L-R, Tom O Sullivan Chairman of Blackrock National Hurling 
Club, Matthew Ahern great grand son of Michael "Gah" Ahern, Paddy son of 
"gah" and Katie Ahern great grand Daughter. Pic Una Murray.

 

 

Members of the ladies committee pictured on the occasion of the 
presentation of a small token of recognition to Mary Murphy for her role 
as Bernadette in the award wining film "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" 
which will premier in Cork this Week.
L-R Eithne O Shea Mary Murphy Kathleen Laide And Lillian Daly.

Pic Una Murray

 

 

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The Two Brothers

They always played hurling 

Never got tired of the game 

They would play whatever the weather 

Their techniques were quite the same.

 

Michael was the better player 

When he was fit he was always chosen 

But both were unstoppable 

They had the hurling motion.

 

Michael died very young 

At the age of 42 

His funeral was one of the biggest in Cork 

A great-grandad, I never knew.

 

Composed by Matthew Ahern. 

6th Class Scoil Phadraigh Naofa, Bandon. 2006.

 

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The Late "Gah" Ahern.

He sparkled in the Gaelic sky 

A scintillating star 

His caman craft and artistry 

Won fame in foeld afar 

A forward fleet, of genius high, 

A raider without par.

 

Sleep on great Gael 

Brave "Rocky" sleep 

Both calm and deep, 

God's peace be thine. 

While camans clash 

And rings the ash, 

Thy name shall not fail. 

To fade-'twill shine' 

Great deeds entwine 

And everlasting keep.

 

Composed by Frank Doran, Clonakilty.

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Extract from the project on the life of Michael "Gah" Ahern and Paddy "Balty" Ahern by Matthew Ahern

Michael "Gah" Ahern and Paddy "Balty" Ahern.

 

"Michael was born in 1904 and Paddy was born in 1900. The love of their lives was playing hurling. They would do it in rain, hail or snow-no matter what was going on in the community around them.\

 

Michael relied on his wrist-work and stick work. He could hit the sliotar equally on either side.

 

Michael was a fantastic scorer and had the talent to turn around half chances. If he was given a chance to score he would have the ball in the net in a flash.

 

He died young. It happened suddenly in the end. He died on December 30th, 1946, aged 42.

 

Paddy lived to 71. Paddy had an incredible physique and great strenght. On the pitch he was strong and fearless. He was a left handed player, a ciotog. He normally played centre forward but also full forward sometimes. Paddy became the first man in either hurling or football to win senior All-Ireland medals spanning 3 decades on the field of play. He was the first Corkman to win 5 All-Ireland senior hurling medals and the first teenager to win an All-Ireland."