AS EXCITEMENT mounts in Kilkenny and Waterford ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final, the Liam MacCarthy Cup has been sent for repair.
However, the jeweller charged with the task has scotched rumours that he was asked to drill holes in the base of the cup to deter excessive alcohol consumption during the post All-Ireland final celebrations.
GAA officials had earlier dismissed the reports as "without foundation". Speaking in Kilkenny yesterday, goldsmith James Mary Kelly said the cup had been delivered to his workshop for "rehabilitation" and repairs ahead of its scheduled appearance at Croke Park on Sunday.
The original Liam MacCarthy Cup is now in the GAA Museum and Mr Kelly's firm, JMK Gold & Silversmith's, produced the current replica version in 1992. He said the 5kg (11lbs) silver trophy, based on the design of an old Irish drinking vessel, was "a bit like [ singer] Amy Winehouse since it has been partying too much".
By tradition, he explained, the cup is taken on a tour "which never stops" of the winning county and is seen in "pubs, schools, hospitals and even at funerals". He estimated that the cup could hold "about 5 litres" but when full "you wouldn't be able to pick it up".
Silversmith David Byrne, who assisted with the repairs, said the cup's handles had been damaged "after so much use" and the base had to be stone-polished to remove the names of over-enthusiastic fans who had etched their names into the silver.
GAA president Nickey Brennan is expected to collect the refurbished cup from the JMK premises at the Kilkenny Design Centre this afternoon.
The trophy is named after Liam MacCarthy, born in England to Irish emigrants from Ballygarvan Co Cork, who became president of the London County Board in 1898.
The original cup, which cost £500 was made in 1922 by Edmund Johnson, a Grafton Street jeweller. According to GAA records the trophy was first presented to Limerick who defeated Dublin to win the 1921 All-Ireland final. However, the match actually took place in 1923 "because of the disturbed political situation".
