The late Lar Dunphy

Born in September, 1929 Lar Dunphy of Oldtown Cullohill travelled and Ministered in many locations, hurled on many fields but his one wish was to return to Cullohill for his final resting place.
On Saturday last the Ashes of the former prelate were brought home from Enfield in England to be laid beside his brother Joe who was born eleven years before Lar.
St Tiernach's Church was crowded when the small coffin bearing his ashes was carried into the Church for Requiem Mass celebrated by his long time friend Fr. Michael Sinnott (Mal) of Wexford, who himself was held in captivity by terrorists in the Philippines only last year and the homily was given by a Columban Father- another long-time friend and companion.
Lar was the seventh child of Michael and Margaret (nee White). After attending Cullohill National School until 1934, his next port of call was that famous nursery in Kilkenny City, St. Kieran's College. Like many students before and after, Kieran's was to shape his future. Hailing from Cullohill/ Cannonswood hurling was in the blood.
When Lar was 13 years old, his older brother Pat lined out in a Leinster minor hurling final with Laois and wore the number 14 jersey and ironically, his direct apponent was his first cousin, Ned Dunphy, whose father Joe lined out on the Laois team of 1915.
On the field of play, Dublin won by 23 points but on n objection the Leinster Council awarded the game to Laois. Pat Dunphy went to become a Cistercian Priest (Lord Abbot) and today he still Ministers with the order in Porteglenonne in Antrim at the age of eighty five.
Meanwhile, Lar was studying in Kilkenny and shrewd hurling judges reckoned he could make it in Kilkenny. Somehow the Kilkenny County Board registered the young student and he was called into the Kilkenny minor panel.
Four years earlier Colleges hurling had commenced at All-Ireland level and not surprisingly Kieran's reached the first final and included in that team was five Laois players, Dick Grogan of Errill, Sean Collier of Camross, Dick Freeman of Cullohill, Michael Guerin of Borris-in-Ossory.
That team lost to St. Flannan's of Ennis, captained by Jim Minogue of Bodyke in Clare. Four years later they reached a second All-Ireland and surprise- surprise Lar was chosen as team was this the carrot to get him to wear Black and Amber rather than Blue and White. Lar was an outstanding ground hurler and in the opening game Kieran's beat Mount St Joseph Roscrea in a 12 goal thriller.
Marino of Dublin provided opposition in the final but the young man from Oldtown lifted the cup at the final whistle. Lar was hoping to meet up with Flannan's in the final who had claimed three All-Irelands and four Harty cup titles and included Jimmy Smyth winner of three All-Irelands, but the Clare team lost a replay to St Colman's of Fermoy and now it was Cork and Kilkenny in the final in Croke Park on May 2.
Cork began well and a future senior star Liam Abernehy was curtailed St Kieran's won comfortably.
Lar Dunphy played a captains role scoring 0-3 and a centre forward another Laois man Gerry O'Malley of the Square in Rathdowney shot a goal and two points. Keiran Crotty, later a Senator, was outstanding at full-back and another Cullohill man Jimmy Mahony wore the number 13 jersey.
Jimmy joined the Garda in Dublin and played his club hurling with New Irelands but returned to play with Cullohill in the 1956 County final when Borris-in-Ossory won their first title and denied Cullohill titles back to back. Incidentally Michael Guerin who played in the All-Ireland of 1944 lined out in goal for Borris in that final.
Lar lined out in the Leinster final with Kilkenny but Dublin denied him his only chance of a medal in the Kilkenny colours.
Lar paid tribute to trainers Sean Collier then a seminarian and Fr John Reidy who later spent many years as PP in Camross and presided when they won their first Provincial crown against James Stephens whose then Chairman was his Brother Liam. John Wilson, later to become Tanaiste, a teacher in the College also played a role in fashioning a famous first and only last month St Kieran's won a record seventeenth All-Ireland title.
From Kierans his next stop was Dalgan Park in Navan to study for the Priesthood. After his achievements with Kieran's he was in demand by the Laois senior team but under the rules then he was not allowed but he played under his brothers name Barney for Laois but missed out on a Leinster medal in 1949. A year later he was on the team beaten by Wexford in the final when his neighbour from Rathdowney Ned Wheeler inspired the Model County.
Cullohill was to benefit when he lined out against Kyle and was also team trainer in 1955 winning their first senior championship and although based in Tokyo in Japan he came home to help Cullohill win their second and last title defeating Camross by a controversial point in 1964 but his dream of a third was denied by the same opposition 12 months later.
After years abroad he returned and served as Curate in Ballyragget before moving to Enfield.
In 1973 he resigned from the priesthood but remained across the water.
Lar suffered a heart attack some years back but last year returned to Cullohill of his 80th birthday but last month took ill and passed away.
On Saturday, many of his former hurling colleagues formed guard of honour as his remains were carried to the final resting place in St Tiernach's cemetery. Chief mourners were Brother Pat ( Dom Aengus) in Porteglenonne, and the youngest of the family of six boys and two girls, Jack in Cullohill, nephews, nieces, cousins and many friends.

May he rest in peace.
Pat Delaney.

Courtesy of the Kilkenny People
April 23rd 2010 Tweet

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