Arena & Hurling Wall Official Opening

Official Opening of Pat Murphy Hurling Arena &

 

Liam Bennett Hurling Alley

 

 

 

 

Last Saturday evening was a momentous occasion in the history of the Faythe Harriers Hurling & Camogie Club, when the club officially opened the Pat Murphy Hurling Arena and the Liam Bennett Hurling Alley in their grounds in Parc Carman. Over 400 players, ex players, members, parents and friends of the club, along with members of other clubs, invited dignitaries and friends of the Bennett and Murphy families attended the event in splendid sunshine.

 

 

 

 

Pat Murphy was sitting Chairman of the Faythe Harriers when he died after a short illness in 2006, just a matter of short weeks after the tragic death of one of the club’s all team greats, Liam Bennett. The club committee decided to honour 2 of their most favourite sons and got the opportunity to do so during the continued development of their grounds and facilities in Parc Carman. The club have recently developed a state of the art all-weather floodlit playing arena, which has already been used this year by both the Wexford Senior football team and the victorious Wexford Senior Camogie squad, and have decided to name this arena in memory of a man who spent more then 40 years as either Secretary or Chairman of the club. At the opposite end of their grounds, they have also just developed floodlit hurling alleys and have decided to name this facility in memory of Liam Bennett, who was a member of the last Wexford minor hurling team to win an All Ireland title back in 1968 before going on to play in 2 Senior All Ireland finals for Wexford, losing narrowly to Cork in 1976 and 1977. Among those in attendance were His Worship the Mayor, Mr Joe Ryan, Leinster Council Chairman, Sheamus Howlin, Wexford County Chairman Ger Doyle, Secretary Margaret Doyle, as well as Tony Dempsey, Deputy John Browne, former Harriers stalwarts and players such as Ned Wheeler, Larry O’Gorman, Heffo Walsh, Club President Dr Bart Curtis, Con Dowdall, Tony “Sack” Walsh, Marty O’Connor, Packie Hayden, Timmy Scallen, Willie “The Hurler” Murphy, Seamus Cullimore and Liam Turner, to name but a few.

 

 

 

 

Proceedings opened when Leinster Council Chairman, Mr Sheamus Howlin, officially unveiled a plaque to honour Liam Bennett at the hurling alleys. His Worship the Mayor, Mr Joe Ryan, spoke of the tremendous work being carried out by the Faythe Harriers on behalf of the development of the youth of Wexford and said how proud the members of the club should be of their facilities on their grounds. On behalf of the Bennett family, Liam’s son John, spoke of the honour and pride of his family in having his father’s name memorised by the club. He said that he and his sisters, as well as Liam’s siblings and the rest of the families were delighted that their father’s name remembered in this way by the club.

 

 

 

 

Mrs Eileen Murphy, widow of Pat, then planted a tree in tree in his honour close to the pitch assisted by County Chairman Ger Doyle, Chairman of the Club Development Committee John Savage, as well as Pat’s granddaughters Laura Murphy, Louise Wilde and Izzy Wilde. County Chairman Ger Doyle spoke of his close association and friendship with Pat Murphy in his early days on County Board and complimented the club on its progress and vision. William Murphy, son of Pat, addressed the massive crowd and spoke of his family’s pride and appreciation at the fact that his father was being memorised by the club with this magnificent facility. He said that his father wouldn’t have wanted any fuss but would have been very proud to see the hundreds of underage members using the facility. Mr Sheamus Howlin then unveiled a plaque in Pat Murphy’s memory, assisted by Kevin and Dick Murphy, brothers of Pat and Pat‘s grandsons Dean Walsh, Josh Walsh and Shane Wilde. He spoke of his dealings with Pat Murphy in years gone by and said that they had often had their rows, but had always remained friends behind it all. He said that Pat Murphy and men like him were truly legends in their clubs and their vision and endeavours should always be treasured and respected by their clubs into the future. He also spoke fondly of his memory of Liam Bennett as being one of the true gentlemen of Wexford hurling and said that it was fantastic that his name would always be remembered by the club. The hurling arena was then officially blessed by Fr Hugh Byrne.

 

 

 

 

The celebrations continued long into the evening and early morning with a barbeque and bar in a special marquee erected by the club for the occasion. It was a great opportunity for old friends to meet up once again to discuss the old times. It was a fitting occasion to remember 2 such great servants to the club and fitting that so many of their families and friends were there on the night to remember them.