Memo to the Bertie Bowlers:try snagging a field of turnips

NOW that we have been given the comforting news that private investors may put the Bertie Bowl back on track, perhaps the following, culled from page 12 of the official programme for the 1954 All-Ireland hurling final (Corcaigh v Loch Garmain), may be of some benefit to concerned parties:

"The Gaelic Athletic Association is a voluntary organisation. Its strength depends on the number of young men who play hurling, football and handball and who help by their voluntary labour to promote the Games. Each club desires to acquire its own pitch but often this is an expensive burden on the club, as it involves high initial costs and heavy annual expenses.

"A club not too far from the Suir overcomes all these difficulties by repaying 'in kind' the annual rent to a local farmer. The hurlers and footballers have undertaken instead to thin for him a field of root crops each year. This is an ideal arrangement and one in keeping with the spirit and ideals of the Assocation. Other clubs would do well to follow the example of these hurlers from the Decies go n-eirighidh leo."

Humphrey Twomey,

38 Lotabeg Road,

Mayfield,

Cork.