Lorrha/Dorrha
 

Michael F Cronin (1902 – 1982)

 

Michael was a stalwart of the 1930 Tipperary All- Ireland Hurling Team. Michael was born in Lorrha on 26th September 1902 one of ten children, eight boys and two girls. His father Felix had come to the parish as a National School teacher from Kilgarvan Co .Kerry. Two of his brothers made their names on the hurling field Gerald for Clare and played against Mick; Phil played for Dublin.

Michael F Cronin (1902 – 1982)

Mick was educated in Lorrha national School where his father was principal and went to secondary school at De La Salle Waterford. He received a fine gold medal in recognition of his position as De La Salle Hurling Team Captain 1922. On completion of his Teacher training he got a job in Lorrha and succeeded his father, almost immediately, as principal. He was conferred with a B.A. in Education in 1932 and received his Higher Diploma in Edeucation the following year. He received an M.A. in 1935 and was a fluent Irish speaker.

Mick appeared on the Lorrha team in 1923, captained by Tom Duffy, the following year Lorrha won the North Final by a large margin over Nenagh but Cronin’s name does not appear nor on the North selection that year or in 1925.

He played in the All Ireland Junior hurling Semi final at New Ross on 12 December 1926 beating Wexford 5 -3 to 1- 1. The following year Mick Cronin graduated to the senior ranks, Tipperary beat Kilkenny, limerick, Cork and Clare in the opening rounds. In June Cronin travelled to London with Tipperary to play Cork. In the first round of the County League, Lorrha beat De Wetts by 13 points to 5 and mainstays of the victors are Tom Duffy and Mick Cronin. On October 16th the match against Dublin created great excitement and in a preview the Tipperary Star commented: “M.F. Cronin Lorrha plays on the 40 yard mark, a position which he filled with credit in all National League and other games during the past season. A fast and accurate striker he is always safe for a record when in possession”. 1927 saw Mick Cronin win a Great Southern Railway Cup Medal with Munster.

1930 was the high point of Mick Cronin’s hurling career when he won an All-Ireland medal. The Tipperary team went to the U.S. on 8 September 1931,
Mick Cronin was one of twenty players who made up the Tipperary party for that nine week tour. Mick Cronin continued to play for Tipperary until 1935 and played for Lorrha until 1938.

He was also an outstanding handballer as indeed were all eight Cronin boys. They had fierce contests at the local alley before large crowds. Mick was a delegate from Lorrha for many years in the twenties and thirties to Divisional and county conventions. After his playing days were over he found a new interest Politics. He was on one of the early members of Clann na Poblachta and fought two elections on their behalf. He was first elected to the County Council in September 1950 and remained a member until 1967. He was a member of the Library committee and the Vocational Education Committee.

He married Madge Hoctor Sharragh in 1938 and had three children Clare, Felix and Mairead. He was also a great racing enthusiast with a day at the races his idea of relaxation. He was a well-informed man whose opinion was respected not only on the subject of hurling but on a wide variety of subjects.