CUSHENDALL got themselves a new hurling recruit last weekend when Commander Chris Hadfield, who shot to fame for his singing and photofrom space, dropped in for a puckabout with the Ruairí Ógs. The astronaut, who recently tookup a role as an ambassador for Irish tourism, visited the Glens of Antrim
last weekend and was treated to an exhibition of hurling at the club.
According to senior team m...anager and former Saffron star Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton, who hosted their esteemed visitor, the Canadian was already pretty au fait with the camán code. "He’s a lovely fella, really down to earth. There was a genuine interest in the sport because he has been to a
few games. His daughter is at Trinity so she took him to a few games, he’d seen the YouTube video about the US Marines who set up a hurling team in New Hampshire after their stopover in Shannon, so he knew a bit about it... about Kilkenny being dominant and about Clare having won last
year.”
Sambo insists that he struck up a strong rapport with Commander Hadfield, who is also on a book signing tour of the North, and that the honorary 'Dall hurler is welcome to make a return visit any time he finds himself back in the Glens. "Our parents taught us good manners here in the Glens, good manners are easily carried and it’s only but right to be hospitable to people when they come about the place. We took him for dinner and he presented me with his book, which I’m looking forward to reading. He told us some stories about the fight he had to get to where he is, he plays in a rock band and I’d be into my music, so we had plenty in common. He’s a lot more talented than I am, but we are both looking forward to Springsteen’s new album being released. "The club presented him with a jersey I’m not sure about keeping in
touch... he’s on Twitter and I’m not. It’s fair to say that he might be a bit better with the technology than I would be!”
c.woods@gaeliclife.com
last weekend and was treated to an exhibition of hurling at the club.
According to senior team m...anager and former Saffron star Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton, who hosted their esteemed visitor, the Canadian was already pretty au fait with the camán code. "He’s a lovely fella, really down to earth. There was a genuine interest in the sport because he has been to a
few games. His daughter is at Trinity so she took him to a few games, he’d seen the YouTube video about the US Marines who set up a hurling team in New Hampshire after their stopover in Shannon, so he knew a bit about it... about Kilkenny being dominant and about Clare having won last
year.”
Sambo insists that he struck up a strong rapport with Commander Hadfield, who is also on a book signing tour of the North, and that the honorary 'Dall hurler is welcome to make a return visit any time he finds himself back in the Glens. "Our parents taught us good manners here in the Glens, good manners are easily carried and it’s only but right to be hospitable to people when they come about the place. We took him for dinner and he presented me with his book, which I’m looking forward to reading. He told us some stories about the fight he had to get to where he is, he plays in a rock band and I’d be into my music, so we had plenty in common. He’s a lot more talented than I am, but we are both looking forward to Springsteen’s new album being released. "The club presented him with a jersey I’m not sure about keeping in
touch... he’s on Twitter and I’m not. It’s fair to say that he might be a bit better with the technology than I would be!”
c.woods@gaeliclife.com