Patients, staff and visitors at St Luke’s General Hospital in Kilkenny were treated to a pleasant surprise on Friday October 3 last, when the Liam McCarthy Cup and three other All Ireland hurling championship trophies were on show.
Kilkenny senior hurler Jackie Tyrrell (one of the stars of Kilkenny’s three-in-a-row success last month ) and Michael Walsh (the HSE’s Household Services Supervisor at St Luke’s and also manager of the victorious Kilkenny Under 21 hurlers ) were on hand to meet everyone during the tour of the hospital.
Reflecting the dominance of the “Cats” on the hurling pitch, Jackie (winning captain in 2006 ) and Michael were able to show off the Liam McCarthy Cup, the Cashel Cross trophy (awarded to Kilkenny’s All Ireland Under 21 hurling champions ), the Irish Press Cup (awarded to Kilkenny’s All Ireland minor hurling champions ) and the cup awarded to Kilkenny’s All Ireland intermediate hurling champions. The hurling personalities and the four trophies tour included well-received visits to medical wards, the coronary care, paediatric and medical assessment units in St Luke’s and the Dept of Psychiatry which is also located on the campus.
The HSE staff social club in St Luke’s also took the opportunity to make a presentation to one of their own members, Michael Walsh, marking their appreciation of his central role in the recent All Ireland Under 21 success. Michael is a former All-Star goalkeeper for Kilkenny, holder of two All Ireland hurling medals (1992/93 ) and son of legendary goalkeeper Ollie Walsh (who also led Kilkenny to success as a manager ).
