Mary I Launch Purcell Cup Weekend..

Eamonn Cregan, MIC Camogie Team Coach, Orna Neville, Team Captain, President of MIC, Prof. Peadar Cremin at Purcell Cup Press Launch, Mon 2nd Feb

Mary Immaculate College
to host the prestigious Purcell Cup for the first time in a decade.

Mary Immaculate College, the inaugural winners of the Purcell Cup in 1977, is to host the Purcell Cup on the 14th & 15th February at various venues around the city, including Mary Immaculate College grounds, with the final being held on Sunday in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.

The Purcell Cup, the 3rd level Camogie Championships was established in 1977, when Limerick woman Agnes Purcell and her husband Paddy donated the cup in an effort to promote the game.  Mrs. Agnes Purcell, nee Hourigan, was originally from Ballingarry, Co. Limerick.  She attended UCD from 1938 – 1941 during which time she won 4 Ashbourne medals.  She also played at county level for Dublin and won an All Ireland medal with them in 1937.  During her life time Agnes served in many roles such as the first ever President of  Cumann Cam¾gaÝochta Ard Oideachais, CCAO (formally known as the CCIA), President  of the Camogie Association from 1976 – 78 and Chairperson and PRO of the Leinster Council and President of the Camogie Association in 1976.  In addition she wrote on camogie affairs on a weekly basis for many years providing copy for newspapers and radio.  Her husband was Gaelic Games correspondent for the Irish Press.

Speaking at the announcement of Mary Immaculate College to host the Purcell Cup later this month, Lynn Kelly, current Uachtarßn of CCAO said “”As a Limerick woman I take great joy in continuing to promote the legacy of Agnes Purcell, a fellow Limerick woman whose contribution to Camogie was immense.  Also as a Limerick woman I am especially delighted that this year’s Cup is being hosted by Mary Immaculate College, the College who won the first ever Cup in 1977 and have gone on to win it four times since””.

Purcell Cup action got underway when Mary Immaculate College met with last year’s Cup holders, Queens Belfast at Maynooth last weekend resulting in a win for Mary Immaculate College.  Other teams partaking this year include Institute of Technology Tralee, Athlone Institute of Technology, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin City University, Maynooth and St. Pat’s, Dublin.

For further information of times and venues of the games please see CCAO section on this website. Admission  to all games on Saturday 14th February is free.

For further information contact:

Ciara NÝ Sh·illeabhßin
Marketing & PR Officer
Mary Immaculate College
South Circular Road
Limerick
Ireland
T: + 353 61 204595
E: Ciara.NiShuilleabhain@mic.ul
W: www.mic.ul.ie

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