RIP: Hurler Adam Kirwan is fondly remembered at the awards night for MIC Thurles

One of the hurlers of our time was remembered fondly in Thurles last night at an emotional ceremony. Earlier this year Adam Kirwan won a Ryan cup with MIC Thurles where he was a student but less than two weeks later he passed away following a car accident. A new award in his memory was presented to his family members last night.

 A huge round of applause rang out in the Anner hotel in Thurles as Adam's family stepped forward to receive the award on his behalf. The hurling team manager in the college, Cian Treacy, says it was a special night in Thurles:

"It was a powerful night because Adam was a great lad. He was a real warrior in the middle of the field when he hurled for us and Adam was the heartbeat of our team. Last night was an awards night and it was a really nice night just to commemorate his memory. It was the Adam Kirwan senior hurler of the year award and he was awarded it for his performances this year, rightly awarded it.

"It was lovely to have his dad Paul, his mam Lorna and Marie his sister as well as his extended family there to accept the award on his behalf," the Thurles Sarsfields club man said. 

The Laois minor star lined out at centrefield for the college side that made history by winning the Ryan cup in college hurling. Based in the heart of Thurles, St. Patrick's College by the banks of the river Suir has become a focal point for learning and education in the area. The Ryan Cup winning manager says there is a family feel about the place:

"It is a really close knit college. There are just over 500 students so everyone knows each other and the team in a similar fashion was a real family unit. They lived together and went around the town together and did everything for each other on the field. As you can imagine in that environment, to lose one of your family members is very hard for those that knew him.

"Look for us it is extremely difficult and we always say we will remember him and carry him with us. As long as hurling is played in MIC Thurles we will remember the name Adam Kirwin but really it is the family who are left with the long lasting legacy. His mam, dad and sister live with it every day and we were just delighted that we got an opportunity to meet them last night and commemorate Adam. They are going to be a part of the college forever and they are down there today as well meeting a lot of the head guys and more friends of Adam. We miss him terribly but it is his family we feel for every day," he said. 

The reality is that there is someone missing in Thurles day to day now. The Ryan Cup team in Thurles includes county players such as Dessie Hutchinson (Waterford), Shane Walsh (Kilkenny), and Arron Dunphy (Laois). They are now eligible to become the first Thurles side ever to play in the Fitzgibbon cup next season or they can remain in the Ryan cup for another year. When they won their first ever Ryan cup this spring time against TUD, Adam Kirwan lined out at midfield.

The Trumera hurler put in a top class effort across the campaign and it is a sense of pride for all involved that they won that trophy. The Laois midfielders name will ring out in the corridors of MIC for years to come as the new award will be one of Adams legacies, says Cian Treacy:

"It gives us great solace now. It gives the family great solace that eleven days before Adam died we won the cup. His family were at every game we played for the last two years. His name will always be synonymous with the college. Hopefully many other great county hurlers win that award like Dessie Hutchinson and Shane Walsh. For years to come Adam's name will be there on the halls of the college. We miss him and we will remember him. The memories and the jokes and the smiles and photographs are gold now."