{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox GAA tournament | logo = | founded = 1913 | irish = Feis Tuadh-Mhumhan |image=Thomond Feis trophy.jpg |caption=Detail of the Thomond Feis trophy |trophy=Thomond Feis Shield | code = hurling | abolished = 1956 | region = Munster | no. of teams = 4 | most titles = Limerick | mostordinal = 14 }} The '''Thomond Feis''' {{IPAc-en|'|T|ou|m|@|n|d|_|f|E|sh}}, also referred to as the '''Thomond Shield''', '''Thomond Tournament''' or '''Thomond Feis Shield''',<ref>https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/nostalgia/540448/then-and-now-tradition-of-games-will-return-tom-aherne.html</ref><ref>https://carrigtwohillgaa.com/content_page/10062656/</ref> was an annual hurling competition organised by Conradh na Gaeilge (the Gaelic League) between 1913 and 1956 for four of the inter-county teams in the province of Munster in Ireland. It was always played in Limerick City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hoganstand.com/article/index/117240|title=Kilkenny aim to replicate Cork's four-in-a-row - HoganStand|website=hoganstand.com}}</ref><ref>Rouse, P. (2015). ''Sport and Ireland: A History''. United Kingdom: OUP Oxford.</ref><ref>https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/local-news/109232/President-of-the-GAA-to-unveil.html</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/cork/news/danno-mahony-a-charleville-great-honoured/27067339.html|title=Danno Mahony: a Charleville great honoured|date=11 December 2008|access-date=19 February 2012|work=The Corkman}}</ref> It was named for the ancient kingdom of Thomond (North Munster), which covered most of counties Limerick and Clare, as well as part of County Tipperary. {{GG|Cork|hurling}} also competed, despite County Cork not being part of historical Thomond.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corkviews/arid-41187379.html|title=Hurling final in July: Shame on GAA for ending proud tradition|date=20 July 2023|website=echo live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/news/town-mourns-one-of-the-greats-of-cork-hurling/27092301.html|title=Town mourns one of the greats of Cork hurling|date=29 March 2012|website=Irish Independent}}</ref>
The series of games were usually played in the summer months after the completion of the National Hurling League and before the start of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship. The prize for the winning team was a special set of gold medals for the winning team. The tournament was effectively a pre-season warm-up for Munster's top hurling teams and was played as a straight knock-out.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://limerickarchives.com/2024/01/14/limerick-thrives-in-thomond-feis-tournament-with-victories-for-hometown-and-tipperary/|title=LIMERICK THRIVES IN THOMOND FEIS TOURNAMENT WITH VICTORIES FOR HOMETOWN AND TIPPERARY|first=Gerard|last=Hannan|date=14 January 2024}}</ref> The competition was run by the Irish-language organisation the Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge), leading occasionally to conflict with the Gaelic Athletic Association who ran most hurling competitions.<ref>Moore, C. (2012). ''The GAA V Douglas Hyde''. Ireland: Collins Press.</ref>
The Thomond Feis was a pre-championship hurling competition, with large crowds attending games. Taken seriously by players, it offered a good indicator of a team's upcoming championship form.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/cork/localnotes/john-dan-omahony-honoured-for-service-to-rathluirc-gaa/27058632.html|title=John Dan OMahony honoured for service to Rathluirc GAA|date=31 January 2003|website=Irish Independent}}</ref> Over time, however, it fell out of favour and was eventually scrapped. The Shield awarded to winners is on display in the GAA Museum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20059539.html|title=Tributes pour in for Tipp legend Stakelum|first=Jim|last=O’Sullivan|date=5 April 2008|website=Irish Examiner}}</ref>
==Roll of honour==
{|class="wikitable" |- ! Team ! Wins !Years |- | 20px|border {{GG|Limerick|hurling}} | 14 |1913, 1920, 1922, 1925, 1928, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1944, 1945, 1947 |- | 20px|border {{GG|Tipperary|hurling}} | 8 |1915, 1916, 1924, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1949, 1951 |- | 20px|border {{GG|Cork|hurling}} | 7 |1914, 1926, 1936, 1941, 1948, 1952, 1954 |- | 20px|border {{GG|Clare|hurling}} | 3 |1929, 1946, 1956 |} The tournament was not played in 1917, 1918, 1919, 1921, 1923, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1953 or 1955. The 1950 tournament was unfinished, with Cork and Tipperary to meet in the final.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaa.ie/api/images/image/upload/t_q-best/t8bphnbixyanijooj1un.pdf|title=The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games: FULL GAA RECORDS FROM 1887 TO 2021 INCLUSIVE|website=GAA.ie|page=118}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}}
{{Munster Council}}
Category:Defunct hurling competitions Category:Munster GAA inter-county hurling competitions Category:1913 establishments in Ireland Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1913 Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1956