We continue our build-up to the Eugene McNamara St. Stephen’s Day Tournament by profiling the Gallow’s Hill (aka Turnpike) team. Everyone knows Phily Walsh as our senior hurling goalkeeper who also has been coach to many underage teams in the Academy. On the field, he is always barking out orders and instructions to his defence (and sometimes the opposition too 😊) while off the field, he is always ready with a quick quip and ready smile.

Phily Walsh minding the net for Eire Og

Phily hails from the Gallow’s Hill adjacent to the Turnpike in the heart of town. No social history of Ennis is ever complete without mentioning Turnpike. History records as far back as 1733 as the year a toll was introduced to the area and travelers had to pay for the use of the road as it was the main route into town. Some great names of houses and buildings are and have been associated with the Turnpike - Charlie’s Hope, Ivy Cottage, Knapsack Cottage, The Dispensary, and Fahy’s, Sharry’s and Darcy’s pubs along with the Sruthán Lane and the Rocky Road. Shops and businesses have always been an integral part of the Turnpike and continue to this day. This all recorded in the book “The Turnpike” by Flan Hehir, a native and resident of the Turnpike, who has charted the history of the area and the people who lived in the old and present Turnpike. Clearly, Gallow’s Hill/Turnpike is “old Ennis” and the folks from there have deep roots in the town.

Old photo of Turnpike, Ennis.

This is evident in the Turnpike team too, who are stocked with 6 Russells (5 ladies and Ciaran) and 3 McMahons (Claire, Niall & Danny). With all those Russells and McMahons in the Turnpike team, it ensures that Turnpike team are always competitive and, in the mix, when it comes to determining who will bring home the Eugene McNamara Cup. They must be considered one of the pre-tournament favorite's and are the team that every other team wants to avoid in the open draw scheduled for 8 pm this evening in the Library in the Temple Gate Hotel which will be broadcast live on our club Facebook page.

Elizabeth, Jodi & Amy Russell

In addition to the Russells and McMahons, Phily can call upon the high scoring inter-county footballer, Mark McInerney and the young mercurial talent, Fionan Treacy (who will be making his adult Stephen’s Day debut) ably assisted by the veterans – Rory Hickey and Mark Fitzgerald. It will be interesting to see does the doyen of the Russell clan, Tom, pull on his boots to make a guest appearance. Come along to the Clonroad on St. Stephen’s Day and see can anyone stop the Turnpike machine.

Claire McMahon & Tom Russell

Here’s Phily Walsh’s assessment of the Gallow’s Hill team and their chances this year –

Team Captain -

1) Name – Phily Walsh

2) Eire Og Team you play on –Senior Hurlers

3) Plans/hopes for the future -To be still playing the St Stephan’s day tournament when I’m Tom Russell’s age

Your Team –

a) Team Name – Gallow’s Hill/Turnpike

b) Your part of Town is famous (infamous) for - Alymers Rest, A bag of chips in Yvonne’s, After party at the Russell’s, Back-room city

c) How many are committed to playing – 26

d) Who are your Star Players – Ciaran Russell and Mark McInerney

e) Who is your Rising/Young Stars – Fionan Tracey and Rachel Raphael Russell

f) Who are your “Veteran” players– Mark Fitz, Tom Russell, and Rory Hickey

g) Who are the Ladies on your Team – Alana McInerney, Claire McMahon, Sinead McCarty, Rachel, Jodie, Amy, Leanne and Elizabeth Russell.

h) Any injury worries/absentees - We’d be worried about getting a few lads out of the pub other than that we should be fine, Rory Hickey is rehabbing a bad hip and Danny McMahon is struggling with tennis elbow, so we’ll have to check on their fitness closer to the 26th.

i) What’s your Strategy/Plan for the tournament – Long ball to Mark Fitz at full forward and be as loud as we possibly can (we’ll win that award)

j) How far has your team gone in the past tournaments - Winners in 2018, drawn finalists in 2019 when the light got the better of us

k) A good day on St Stephen’s Day is one where - Nobody ends up in A&E and we see bonfires blazing in McNamara Park .... Hon the Pike

Turnpike back in 2019