When one looks at the Turloughmore Team of today, one family name stands out - that of Burkes. Down through the years different families of the Burke Clan have given sterling service to Turloughmore teams.
In the early years, names like Martin Burke - Cregmore, Michael - Knockdoe, Paddy and Tom - Coolarne and William - Cahernashelleeney made a significant contribution to sport in the parish. From the forties to the sixties the names of Burke families in Lackagh, Knockdoe and Coolarne came to prominence with the name of Pakie Burke standing out above all the rest. Pakie played Minor for Turloughmore in the early fifties and went on to have a long and distinguishd hurling career, having played full-back for Galway Senior Hurling team from the mid-fifties to the mid-sixties.
In more recent years Pakie’s sons have made a huge impact on the hurling scene with Denis, Padraic and Jimmy having already seen All Ireland Finals with Galway at Underage - Jimmy was recently appointed to the Galway Senior Panel. Tom, Cregmore, Pat & Willie, Lackagh, and Gerry, Coolarne have followed in the footsteps of their forebearers while another Burke who has made a huge contribution to the Club and County is the Club’s first All-Ireland Senior Hurler Medal winner - Frank Burke of Knockdoe. Frank first started hurling seriously at the Presentation College, Athenry, and went on to win his place in the Galway U-21 team in 1972. Frank has won All-Ireland U-21 and Senior medals with Galway, two All Star Awards, R.T.E. Goal of the Year, National League, Railway Cup and Oireachtas Medals, but it wasn’t until 1985 that Frank won his first county medal when he captained Turloughmore to victory in the Senior Hurling Championship. The Burkes have stayed in the parish since the Battle of Knockdoe in 1504, and long may they continue.