The annual charity game for the Thomas Lyndon Memorial Cup between Tarbert's "Oldies" and Tarbert's "Young Lions " was held on Tuesday, New Year's Eve 2002 at 2.30pm. Over 40 players - aged between 18 and 50+ - came together to honour the memory of a young local footballer that passed away on the 10th March 1999 at the age of 33 years. This Charity game has little or no significance in the usual terms of winning or losing but provides the footballers and supporters from the parish with an opportunity to come together to remember Thomas Lyndon and the issues that face all our young people on a daily basis. This poem is dedicated to his memory, his spirit and is intended as a message of hope to those of us still out there still trying to find some answers. The Samaritans are always there to help people who are still searching for these answers. Thomas's parents Ritchie and Kathleen Lyndon strongly encourage people to make contact with the Samaritans either through their website www.samaritans.ie or phone 1850.60.90.90 (Ireland). In the words of Dr. John Connolly, one of Ireland's leading anti-suicide campaigners, " Anybody feeling depressed should remember that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem."

My spirit flies freely through
A clear and crisp blue sky,
New Year's Eve, in my home place
I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Today I played a football game in the company of all-stars,
GAA patrons, soccer fans, dissenters but footballers all,
All together, just like it should be, in the Horse Park,
The holy of holies of not so long ago,
All that nonsense of should we play other codes or should we not
Is of little consequence to me or mine but the sad legacy of times past,
If Christy Moore sings in the Square at midnight he might just hum
"In nearby Kilnaughtin all footballers play the same game where
No offside or off the ball tackles are tolerated, under any name,
Shouts of 'down the line', 'far post' and 'let it go early' come together
In one raucous chorus where even our angels would fear to thread.

Some things never seem to change,
I smile, as even the names are still the same,
Yank, Skin, Seanie, Pa, Mike, Mathew, Kiely and many more,
Familiar names, just like memories, go on and on forever,
Dedicated disciples all with history, if without the symmetry,
All in their multicoloured kits and bibs,
The Parish's sons, daughters, supporters all,
Old scores set aside by footballers that stand so tall,
Some of you I never really got to know - my fault not yours
So my friends in this game of life and living
Some may say football is the real winner,
Or just another great match enjoyed by all,
You who may not know of life's real struggles
Alas may just have missed the point, like the penalty, completely.
ANON.