Tradition and Grassroots Loyalty Kept Kilkerrin-Clonberne Strong
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66 Wednesday December 6, 2017 www.tuamherald.ie Jim Carney This Sporting Life Tradition and grassroots loyalty kept Kilkerrin-Clonberne strong MYTH in sport is that status. Williamstown published O'Keanes, Kilbannon de Glenamaddy and in all grades have enough sidecars and donkey winning is everything. their club history back in 2011; it Mandevilles, Caherlistrane St for Kilkerrin-Clonberne. He is carts, a group of players borrowed AThere's a lot more to was written by one of their greatest Patricks, Corofin Colonel Nolans, one of the many interviewed on a hearse! sporting life than losing a stalwarts down through the years, Tuam Stars, Killererin John Dillons, video by Ger Finnegan and John Back in the old days too, young game, even the final of a major Leo Finnegan, and they too will be Moylough, Newbridge, Caltra and Mannion keen to acknowledge the players' age eligibility was often competition. determined to build on this year's Mountbellew Emmets. massive contribution made to the a vexed issue in the GAA. Paddy For example, this year's good work on and off the fields of It would be impossible to tell promotion of Gaelic football in the Concannon from Cloonkell was Galway Intermediate Football play. the whole story here. That's told, area by the late, great Lal Fallon. the minor (U-18) team's goalkeeper Championship was well contested One aspect of the Kilkerrin- vividly, in the Kilkerrin-Clonberne John Mannion of Royal Rock and - at the age of 26. And as he said, and often very exciting. The Clonberne story that interested me club history book (see end of this Liosbán Industrial Estate fame also with a hearty laugh, in his filmed county semi-final replay between was the success of the twinning, column for details of availability). helped very significantly to keep interview recorded ten years ago, Claregalway and Kilkerrin- for Gaelic football purposes, of the It comes with a wonderfully his home club alive and well with "I wasn't the oldest on that team!" Clonberne was an epic encounter, two half-parishes. That was their innovative memory stick that has a 20 years of sponsorship. I would encourage all Clonberne which went to extra-time. I caught status in Church administration whopping nine hours of interviews Ger Finnegan discovered in and Kilkerrin people to support it 'live' on local radio and as a Kerry down through the years: the with players and various club his travels around Ireland and the publication of their GAA Club's man told Michael O'Hehir back in Parish Priest would reside in either people whose memories span England, armed with a camera and history and the production of the the early 1940s, explaining why Clonberne or Kilkerrin and there nine decades, starting with Paddy microphone, the full extent of the filmed interviews' compilation. he didn't travel up to Croke Park would be at least one curate in Gormally from Keade, Clonberne, human loss caused by emigration, It's also hoped that the very for an All-Ireland final involving each place. In a large, sprawling a member of the team who won from the 1930s to the '80s, but at successful ladies football club will the Kingdom, I saw it on the radio. but not heavily populated area of a junior final against Killasolan in home and abroad people were put the story of their achievements Galway Bay fm commentator north-east Galway it made sense to 1939. One of Paddy's clubmates made of strong, resilient spirit; life into print at some time in the Tommy Devane and analyst Barry join forces. that year was Mick Ryder, winner went on and playing sport did not future. It's too early at this stage, Cullinane brilliantly conveyed Remarkably, the club will be 130 of an All-Ireland SFC medal in lose its unique appeal in adversity. for while they have been enjoying the thrills and spills and the years old in 2018; it was founded 1938 alongside Mick Higgins, the "What I found remarkable," a golden era there's much more to atmosphere. It went to extra-time in Clonberne in April 1888. Two Cloonkeen, Kilkerrin man who Ger told me, "was that so many come. and Claregalway were two-point teams emerged: Clonberne Davitts, captained Galway to All-Ireland very young people, lads and * Book and memory stick (nine winners, 3-12 to 2-13. They went on named in honour of the Land glory in 1934 and he won Sigerson girls, emigrated from the West hours in duration), price €30. to win the county final against a League founder Michael Davitt, Cup and Galway SFC medals with of Ireland in the 1940s and '50s, For sale in Clonberne: H&M gallant Williamstown team, 1-12 to and Kilkerrin United Brothers the great UCG team of that decade. many of them only 16 or 17 and Stores, Maddens, Country Inn 0-12. On those two days, Kilkerrin- commemorating two 1798 martyrs, Fran Ryder, the former Dublin some even at 15, but our own and Tony Rafterys. Kilkerrin: Clonberne and Williamstown had brothers Henry and John Sheares, star forward, was interviewed and people I met in Britain have great Mees' Shop and Conneelys one thing in common: they lost sons of a wealthy Cork man. The spoke with pride about his father, memories of home and a great pub. Glenamaddy: Meehan’s no honour in defeat. Their loyal Davitts were first into action, in late Mick. sense of place and roots. They Londis, Heneghan's Super-Valu, followers would discover that May, playing neighbours Cortoon The club gave Johnny Geraghty nearly all remember great games Mattie Potter's, Divillys Leitra. after the pain comes the pride and Shamrocks at Lavally Lake in front and Christy Tyrrell to the Galway of football in the National Schools' Dunmore: Howleys' Eurospar, certainly in the eyes of the families of 1,000 spectators. Six months Three-in-a-Row team, and in 1998 competitions, in particular." Hannon's; Tuam: Quinns, Bishop and friends of the players, winning later, Davitts accepted an invitation John Divilly won an All-Ireland SFC We learn in the book that St. Moylough: Loftus SPAR, wasn't everything. to visit Kilkerrin for a game. medal four years after he played although football declined Clancy's Centra, Moylough Post It was great for the Kilkerrin- Also in the early years there for the St Jarlath's, Tuam Hogan everywhere in Ireland in the early Office and Boyles' pub, Laught. Clonberne club to make a big were games involving many Cup winning team. Many other 1940s because of deprivations Mountbellew: Cunninghams' Shop impact this year after the launch other new clubs: Dunmore clubmen won All-Ireland medals at caused by World War II, Kikerrin- and Mountbellew Post Office. of their lovely book, Fifty Green MacHales, Cloonfad Davitts, various levels in inter-county and Clonberne continued to field Ballygar: Tierney's. Newbridge: Fields, and undoubtedly they will Creggs Ballyhooleys, Williamstown colleges football. teams. When transport for away Cunninghams and Newbridge Post be strong again next year and Emmets, Glenamaddy William One of the leading GAA writers games became a big problem it Office. Also from Tom Walsh (087 ready to take another giant leap Smith O'Briens, Lisheenaheltia at national level, Martin Breheny, was necessary to improvise; for 2326239) and Ger Finnegan (087 towards regaining their senior Wolfe Tones, Milltown John played for Coláiste Seosaimh, one game when the team didn't 2248412). KILKERRIN-CLONBERNE 1963. At back: John Feeney, Jackie Burke, Oliver Dowd, Petie Geraghty, Bill Higgins, Mattie Glynn, Joe McLoughlin, Mickie Rabbitte, Jimmy Higgins, Joe Feeney, Frank McLoughlin, Mickie Devaney, Mick Dowd. In front: Jack Sweeney, Bob Collins, Joe Daly, Johnny Pettit, Christy Tyrrell, Eddie Geraghty, John Mannion, Tom Glynn, Tom McCarthy..