‘Look Small….Pull Big’ – the St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier Camogie Club history book – will be launched by Camogie Association President Aileen Lawlor in Hotel Curracloe Wexford on Friday, December 14th, at 8 p.m.
This 400-page full-colour publication has been three years in the making and celebrates the centenary of camogie in the parish of Castlebridge as the game was first played there in 1912.
It is primarily focused though on the growth and achievements of the St. Ibar’s club which was founded in 1960 and is thriving at the moment with strong participation in all grades from Under-8 all the way up to Senior.
With over 220,000 words and 450 photographs and images, this book is a comprehensive and fascinating account of how the game has developed and prospered in the club’s traditional catchment area of Castlebridge, Screen and Curracloe.
It features the many highs and few lows since 1960 in considerable depth and also includes a comprehensive records section as well as extensive coverage of Wexford’s All-Ireland triumphs down through the years.
The book is being launched at an appropriate time as earlier this month St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier were selected as Wexford’s ‘Club of the Year’ at the County Convention. 2012 has been memorable for many reasons, and the completion of the history book will be the icing on the cake.
Already the club contested its second Co. Senior championship final in three years, while the Juniors completed an ‘A’ championship and league double at the first attempt after doing the same in the ‘B’ grade in 2011. In addition, the Under-18, Under-14 and Under-12 teams all contested county championship finals, while club stalwarts Kate Kelly and Katrina Parrock collected third successive All-Ireland Senior medals and All Star awards.
St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier are one of the first camogie clubs in the country to produce a history book, and committee members are hoping to see a large attendance in Hotel Curracloe on December 14th to celebrate this special occasion with them.
The ‘Look Small….Pull Big’ title refers to a phrase used by long-serving mentor John Furlong to motivate his troops whenever they came up against a physically-stronger team and the odds seemed stacked against them.
For those unable to attend the launch, the book will be available in shops around the parish of Castlebridge or in The Book Centre, Wexford, and it retails at €25. Alternatively, you may secure a copy in the post by sending a cheque for €35 to cover postage and packaging, made payable to St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier Camogie Club, to the author: Alan Aherne, 88 Elderwood, Ballytramon, Castlebridge, Co. Wexford.
