Kilkenny’s seven victorious All-Ireland hurling and camogie teams and Hurling Manager Brian Cody were the guests of honour at an historic civic reception on Saturday night.
The city’s new state-of-the-art sports and recreation facility ‘The Watershed’ was the perfect venue for the first civic reception of its kind to be held by Kilkenny County Council.
Senior hurling manager Brian Cody, and the captains of each of the seven teams, including the under-16 and under-18 camogie teams, intermediate camogie team, minor hurling team, under-21 hurling team, intermediate hurling team and senior hurling team were presented with a sealed scroll from members of the council.
Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Tomás Breathnach said that the civic reception was not simply a measure of recognition on behalf of the county council but also a measure of recognition and thanks from the people of Kilkenny, who they represent.
“By honouring these achievements, we are not merely honouring the teams of 2008, but paying tribute to the teams that went before and created this tradition for which we are so grateful,” he added.
Speaking at the event, the Kilkenny senior hurling manager Brian Cody said he was ‘very grateful’ and ‘very humbled’ by the occasion.
“Two weeks ago, I was honoured with the Freedom of the City along with Seamus Pattison, and I am very grateful to Kilkenny County Council to be here tonight.” He added, “ it is right and fitting that all teams are being honoured for their achievements.”
Looking back on his time in charge of the senior hurling team, he said that he felt he had achieved what he set out to do.“When I started in 1999, I had one real ambition and that was to build a spirit within the hurling community in the county to enable the teams to go ahead and be successful and that has happened.”
Fine Gael Cllr Mary Hilde Cavanagh noted how unique a year 2008 was, as the first year any county had completed a clean sweep of All-Ireland hurling titles.
Mr Cody also pointed out that the remarkable achievement of winning seven All-Irelands wouldn't have been possible without the help and support of so many people throughout the county who give up their free time for sport and made a particular mention of the county board and his own backroom team.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Lanigan remarked how the senior team's performance against Waterford in this year's All-Ireland final did not come about by accident.
“It was the culmination of months and years of training and dedication under the Stewardship of Mr Cody. And for that reason alone, it is timely that we mark the end of 2008 as an appropriate time to honour Brian Cody for the role he played in his team’s excellence.”
The county’s abundance of talented camogie players weren’t forgotten either on Saturday night. Mr Cody commended the excellent achievements of the camogie teams and said that he was sure the players were now looking forward to the challenge of bringing the O'Duffy Cup back to Kilkenny.
“As the longest-serving female member of this county council, I could not let the occasion pass without congratulating our three victorious camogie teams,” added Cllr Cavanagh.
