Ormond Historical Society talk to focus on diversity of This Sporting Life in Tipperary

Horse racing at Kylenagoona (Borrisokane) and Norwood (Nenagh). Fierce ditch-to-ditch hurling contests in Sunday rural fields. The crack of cricket bat and ball in several townlands. Rugby matches on the parade ground in front of Nenagh military barracks. Tennis tournaments - with pauses for strawberries and cream - on the lawns of our local Big Houses.

These were just some of the sporting events prominent in county Tipperary in the years stretching from the Great Famine to the foundation of the GAA in 1884.

Sport during that period is the subject of the Ormond Historical Society talk on Monday, February 12, in the Abbey Court Hotel at the usual starting time of 8 pm. The talk is titled, Sport in Victorian Tipperary and will be given by author and librarian Dr Pat Bracken.

The speaker will focus particular attention on the rich sporting heritage of the wider Nenagh area.

He will explain the origin and development of several of these sports and how some of them moved from their original homes in landed estate and military barracks into the wider community.

Dr Bracken is a librarian based in Thurles and is an expert on the development of sport in county Tipperary.

He did extensive study of the subject for his PhD degree for De Montfort University.

He has written two groundbreaking books, Foreign and Fantastic Field Sports: Cricket in County Tipperary (2004) and The Growth and Development of Sport in County Tipperary 1840-1880, published by UCC Press in 2018.

All are welcome to come along to the Abbey Court Hotel at 8pm for what will be an informative and entertaining talk.

Society members free as usual; non-members €10 admission.