John Greene pictured at Croke House in Kilbrin with members of Croke House Restoration Committee.
It was a memorable experience to be present recently at what was a very entertaining interview with Peggy Thornhill at her lovely home in Buttevant. This was, of course, on the occasion of John Greene’s interview with Peggy on the life of Buttevant’s famous son, Batt Thornhill, for his very popular Sunday evening programme ‘Where the Road Takes Me’.
Peggy and her family are rightly very proud of all that Batt has achieved, not only for his county, but for the GAA in his native parish. But of course to them he was first and foremost a loving husband and father and this was very evident in the many family photos scattered throughout the house. John Greene found Peggy a very easy interviewee and being a great GAA fan, regarded it as a great privilege to hold in his hand not only the famous four-in-a-row hurley, but also that famous No. 3 jersey.
It was with a certain amount of surprise we heard that for quite a number of years, Batt kept his medals stored in an Oxo box. But it was prob-ably also typical of the man’s humility and of his unselfishness that he later donated those same medals to be part of the formation of a saborium for Buttevant’s Catholic Church.
As outlined in the recent recording, it was in 1939 that Batt Thornhill lined out in what was one of the most memorable All Ireland deciders of all time. World War II was erupting across Europe while Cork and Kilkenny played during a fierce thunder storm in what will forever in the annals of history, be known as the “Thunder and Lightning Final”.
A fitting intro to this part of the interview was when John Greene played a recording from the archives of the declaration of war. It was almost as if the echoes of that announcement were resounding around Croke Park on that memorable day. Of course 1941, 42, 43 and 44 were golden years both for Cork hurling and for Batt Thornhill. These were the years of Cork’s memorable 4-in-a-row.
Batt also had the honour of playing for Munster in three conservative years, ’42, ’43 and ’44. On all three of these occasions Munster were successful in capturing the Railway Cup. It was in 1945 that Batt Thornhill decided to retire from inter county hurling. It was post retirement that he decided to dedicate his time to Buttevant GAA Club. It was Batt and Fr. Condon, the priest in Buttevant at that time, that purchased Buttevant GAA grounds and trusted it to the board of the GAA club.
Peggy told John Greene of her many many fond memories of her life with Batt. She recalls all the many people who came into his barber shop in Buttevant, not always to get a hair-cut, and as she put it, it was all hurling, hurling and more hurling, he was always willing to share both his time and his experiences with people of all ages.
Batt’s daughter Melissa recalls that time when the CIE busses stopped outside the barber’s door at that time. The driver would have a chat with her father, especially if it was the week after a big match. Everybody wanted a chance to consult on the result with Batt.
I conclude this account with the relevant statistics of Batt Thornhill’s many great championship wins with Cork
All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
Winner (4) 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944.
Runner-up (1) 1939.
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Winner (4) 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944.
Runner-up (1) 1940.
National Hurling League
Winner (2) 1940, 1941.
It is fitting to see the Thornhill name reme-mbered each year when the young folk compete for the Batt Thornhill Trophy.
John Greene is very appreciative of Peggy Thornhill’s sharing of her memories and reflections on life with the great Batt Thornhill.
Next Sunday night’s edition of ‘Where the Road Takes Me’ will continue with a GAA theme when John will broadcast part two of a tribute programme to Archbishop Croke and the Croke family with contributors from Charleville and Kilbrin.
So tune into C103 at 7pm next Sunday night when Sr. Bernadette Marie Knopec who grew up not far from Croke House in Kilbrin, and who is now a Mercy Sister in Charleville, will speak about the two Croke sisters who entered Charleville convent. She is doing extensive research on their lives and also on the show will be Seán Kelly MEP, former president of the GAA who was very much involved at the restoration of Croke House in Kilbrin. Once again we will be hearing contributions from both Charleville and Kilbrin in what promises to be a very entertaining programme.