by Adrian Henchy

It was a great honour to be in the Shoreline Hotel on Sunday November 13th for the official launch of the book “ The Story of Hockey in Portrane” marking the 100 years of Portrane Hockey Club from 1919-2019. Wonderful to see so many great friends and players from down through the decades who gave their all to the purple & white of Portrane Hockey Club. My own memories and joy from playing and been involved in this great family and community club is just immeasurable. Great credit to the author of the book Mr. James Bennett for the painstaking work that went into putting the book together “ The story of hockey in Portrane”. He received enormous assistance and encouragement at all times from my own father Paschal or “ Percy” Henchy as they call him in hockey circles. As we mark and celebrate the last 100 years of Portrane Hockey Club many of those years just about surviving to where we are now today in 2022 one of the fastest growing hockey clubs in Leinster, fielding 7 Adult teams in the Leinster hockey leagues and almost 300 juveniles from our academy right up to our Under 16s, ensures a very bright future for Portrane Hockey Club. Family names like the Neville’s, Byrne, McCann, Conway, Henchy’s that are connected all the way back to the foundation of the club continue to this day. and the club are also indebted to new families into Donabate like the Van Dreumel, Patterson, Lloyd, Shoebridge and McCarthy families who together with so many others have the club in such a strong and healthy position in 2022. Portrane Hockey Club were delighted to welcome Jack Chambers Minister for Sport, Howard Mahoney Mayor of Fingal, our own Club Development Officer Cllr. Adrian Henchy and Kenny Carroll from Hockey Ireland along with many Former and Current players, Committee members and supporters to help launch our book. It was also wonderful to be joined on this occasion by former local TD and legendary Portrane Hockey Goalkeeper Mr. Sean Ryan. The book is available to buy from the club on Amazon.portranehockey.clubzap.com/products/9852/purchases/new Here’s to the next 100 years and many more great club memories and friends made.