26.05.2026
‘Sticks Down’ as Inter Parish Hockey Makes a Comeback
The Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Inter Parish Hockey Tournament returned in a blaze of glory on Saturday evening (May 23) after a gap of 12 years. The sun shone on Corinthian Hockey Club as four teams – from Holy Trinity Rathmines, Whitechurch Parish and Wicklow Parish – took to the pitches for the mixed six a side competition.
A series of intensely competitive matches saw players from Wicklow Parish emerge both victorious and vanquished. The parish entered two teams, one of which included the only member of the clergy in action in the tournament, the Revd Jack Kinkead. Indeed, had things gone awry, the parish could have been without two key players on Sunday morning as Wicklow’s organist Klaas de Vries was also playing.
The parish brought home the much sought after Diocesan Hockey Challenge Cup which was presented to Dublin and Glendalough in 1995 by the then Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Donald Caird. They also returned to the Diocese of Glendalough with the less salubrious, less coveted Archbishop’s Chamber Pot, the wooden spoon prize.
Whitechurch Parish showed much promise bringing strong hockey credentials to the tournament including the umpires, and Jane Connolly and Gail Garry who joined the Diocesan Secretary Ian Walshe on the organising committee.
Holy Trinity Rathmines brought a large team with plenty of rolling subs and strong players and had there been award for best turned out team, they would have won it with their sharp branded polo shirts. Definitely ones to watch in future tournaments.
Archbishop Michael Jackson was on hand to present both the cup and the chamber pot. He thanked Ian Walshe for taking up the competition and giving it new life and new legs. He said the revival showed a promising start and the foundations were laid for future years.
Ian thanked all the umpires, Lucy and Josh Kelly and Mark Garry, for their hard work. The Archbishop’s Cup had been sitting on a shelf in the diocesan office for a number of years having last been lifted by Christ Church Bray 14 years ago. However, the search for the chamber pot involved some detective work, Ian recounted. Stillorgan were the last chamber pot ‘winners’ but a call to the Rector, the Revd Kevin Conroy, initially drew a blank. Persistence paid off and the chamber pot was recovered and dusted down in time for the big day.
Players were rewarded for their efforts in the heat with pizza and cake afterwards as thoughts turn to training for next year’s event.
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