Tipperary’s Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher and Offaly’s Millennium Man Brian Whelahan Launching the Festival of Finals in St Brendan’s Park, Birr. Picture: Ger Rogers/HR Photo.
WE’VE COME A long way, baby… as hurling fan FatBoy Slim once wrote.
Some of the game’s biggest names are planning to get together at the end of the month to mark the 125th anniversary of the first All-Ireland Hurling Championship final, which took place in Birr, Co, Offaly on 1 April, 1887.
How? They’re going to get dressed up — like current Tipp star Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher Brian Whelahan above – and re-enact the game.
The ‘Festival of Finals’ will take place from July 27-29 in the town with the re-enactment set to feature the likes of Dáithí Regan, Michael Duignan and the aforementioned ‘Millennium Man’ Whelahan.
