Leitrim Sports Star Awards 2015

29th November 2015

Special guest John O’Mahony

Pitching for Peace

Shannonside Regional Campus

One of the projects that the Leitrim Sports Partnership is involved with is the Pitching for Peace cross border program. This came about through the County Leitrim PEACE III program for cross border cooperation in conjunction with Omagh District Council. It helped to identify the need for a top quality sporting arena to service the greater Carrick-on-Shannon area. Over the past two years, a small but determined committee have assisted in putting together a vision for this facility.

The key features of this project are:

Full size 3G GAA pitch : o Wide enough to have 2 soccer pitches across it o Also lined for Rugby Floodlit and fenced 400 meter 8 lane tartan track Space for all field athletics (Discus, Javelin, Hammer etc.) Sports Hall for indoor events Dressing Rooms

If you would like to get involved with this project, contact the Leitrim Sports Partnership [email protected] or 071 9650 498.

Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. Their 1.4 million members perform valuable service in 210 countries and geographic areas around the globe. Lions are friends, family and neighbours who share a core belief:

Community is what we make it

The first Leitrim Chapter of the Lions club was formed in 2014 To date it has raised money for a number of worthy causes: • €4,500 worth of food was collected in Tesco Carrick-on-Shannon & Ballinamore for SVP • Carrick-on-Shannon Family Life Centre • Carrick-on-Shannon Dyslexia Workshop • St. Ciaran's Services for Adults & Children, Carrick-on-Shannon • National Learning Network, Manorhamilton • ASIST Suicide Prevention Training • Rainbow Programme for children affected by the death of a parent or family member • North West Hospice

Traditionally at the awards, we nominate a charity and ask patrons to make a small contribution in the envelopes provided on the tables. Thank you

Raffle Prizes Sponsored by

Bernadette Glancy

Cox’s Pharmacy

The Dock

Sásta Fitness

Victoria Hall Restaurant

Ladies Team of the Year Award Leitrim County Enterprise Fund assist and support small and medium sized enterprises in job creation by offering low interest loans within the County. The Board also run the Hive Enterprise Centre .

Leitrim Ladies U16 (Ladies Football) Leitrim Ladies Intermediate (Ladies Football)

The U16 ladies reached the All-Ireland C final where they were gallantly defeated Won the Connacht Championship, beating Sligo by Wexford. in the final.

Breda Travers and Bríd Sullivan (Golf) Kiltubrid Ladies G.A.A. (Ladies Football) In 2015 the club won their first ever

Winners of the Daily Mail Foursomes Golf Leitrim Senior Ladies Championship title. Competition. Over 250 teams competed in Won an All-Ireland 7's Shield title at the Annual this national event. Bríd and Breda won six Ladies Gaelic 7's in Portmarnock. knock-out rounds to get to the semi-final. On Monday 7 September in Powerscourt, Reaching a first ever Connacht Senior Final after Co Wicklow, the girls beat Castlecomer, Co beating Sligo champions Geevagh in the semi- Kilkenny in the semi-final and went on to final. beat Ballycastle, Co Antrim in the final. This was the second time in three years for the Ballinamore girls to win.

Mens Team of the Year Award CF Consulting provides a range of services and has worked witth Leitrim Sports Partnership for a number of years delivering education programs throughout the county. In addition CF Consulting produced the current Stategic Plan for Leitrim Sports Partnership 2014-17. Mohill Senior Football (Gaelic Football) Ballinamore Senior Hurling (Hurling)

The Mohill outfit has gone from strength Won the County title for the first time since to strength, this year capturing both 1978 defeating Carrick on Shannon in an league and Championship titles. exciting final by 3-10 to 3-9.

Melvin Gaels Intermediate (Gaelic Fooball)

Regained their Senior status by winning the Intermediate Title. They reached the Connacht final.

Volunteer of the Year Award Leitrim Sports Partnership : “Towards a Fitter and Healthier Leitrim”, our main objective is to build on the theme of increasing the participation in sport and recreational activity for the people of County Leitrim. . Simon and Siobhan McGuinness John Connolly

Simon is the manager of Mohill U16 G.A.A., Mohill N.S. and Mohill ladies U12 as well as coaching in Mohill athletics club. He also serves in an administrative capacity as John has been coaching athletics in Carrick-on- assistant chair for the athletics club and Shannon for 25 years. A number of his protégés treasurer of the local community games. have gone on to compete internationally. He Together with Siobhan they manage the coaches on 5 days each week. John has also U14 Ladies football team in GAA and served as secretary and PRO of the local community games competition. athletics club as well as being chairman of the Connacht athletics board.

Gabrielle Early She has been involved in Leitrim Water Safety for over 19 years. Gabrielle is a Water Safety Examiner and teaches trainee instructors as well as upskilling current instructors. She visits each venue to advise during Water Safety Weeks and examines pupils on their knowledge. Other tasks which Gabrielle takes on: o Organise outside examiners assist in examines. o Water Safety Designated Liaison Person o Deliver National Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children o Train instructors in use of Automated external Defibrillator (AED) as per PHECC standards

Her motto :

"Every person a swimmer every swimmer a lifeguard".

Juvenile Team of the Year Award Sásta fitness is a weight loss and fitness studio using the locally manufactured, patented Sásta fitness pod which provides clients with an exercise opportunity that gives guaranteed results in 4 weeks. The short 30 minute workout caters for all fitness abilities from the unfit to the elite athlete. With 7 studios across Ireland and recent openings in the UK and Spain Sásta fitness invites you to call in for your free trial of the Sásta experience. . Ballinamore U10 Community Games Football Manorhamilton Community Games U12

A remarkable 5th title in a row for the U12 ladies of Manorhamilton in the community games.

The U10 boys brought national glory to Ballinamore when they won the Community Games title in the football competition.

Melvin Gaels Minor Footballers St. Manchan’s Minor team

th For the 4 year in succession, the most St. Manchans showed the club had a bright Northerly club in the county won the Minor future when capturing the league and “B” Championship. 3 players were incredibly championship double this year. winning their 4th title at this age grade. They went on to compete in the inaugural Connacht club minor championship where they beat Caulry-St. Josephs before losing out to Oranmore-Maree in the semi-final.

Sports School of the Year Award

Aura Leisure Leitrim is based in Carrick on Shannon and operates a fully equipped gym, 25m swimming pool and two AstroTurf pitches as well as offering a range of programmes for groups such as boot camps, boxercise, indoor cycling etc.

Carrick-on-Shannon Community School St. Caillins, Fenagh

-1st year basketball All-Ireland Champions -Compete in Connacht Colleges Football The school encourages all children to Competitions at all age groups from 1st year to participate in sporting activities including Senior Gaelic football, swimming, soccer and -Compete in all Golfing Competitions annually different athletics competitions throughout -Compete in all provincial Athletics competitions the year. We strive to place emphasis on – Elise Brune made the Connacht representative participation rather than winning. team this year. Girls - Cumann na mBunscoil division final Boys - Cumann na mBunscoil shield final Connacht finalists in cross country and competed in sports hall athletics program.

Four Masters N.S. Kinlough Very active school in all activities including: - National Indoor Athletics – Boys & Girls finished 6th & 7th - 7-aside football - “North Leitrim” winners - Boys & Girl 15 –aside “North Leitrim/South Donegal Cup” runners up - Leitrim Sportshall Athletics winners - Self Financed through Skipathon

Unsung Hero Year Award

Jonathan Costello & Karol McNern Fundraising for Northwest Hospice.

Jonathan & Karol trained for 8 months through hailstones, rain, wind and the odd day of sunshine.

To help with fund raising we held various events culminating in April with a 14 hour cycle lapping Lough Melvin.

“On the main event we had a brilliant team of 7 along with ourselves helping us everything from food to sun cream to quick massages”.

In June they cycled over 800 kms from Mizen hed to Malin head and back into Kinlough were they were met by a roaring crowd.

The lads managed to raise just over 10,000 euro for the hospice and are deserving winners of the award.

Juvenile Team of the Year Award

The Landmark Hotel is a 4 Star Fáilte Ireland and AA rated, multi award winning hotel renowned as a venue for weddings, conferences and a top quality dining experience.

Conor Hession Dearbhla Rooney

Dearbhla claimed her third Irish boxing title earlier in the year when she won the Girl 4 54kg final at Dublin’s National Stadium. Dearbhla is a member of the Sean McDermotts boxing club in Manorhamilton. Weight lifter Conor is an Irish international in this growing sport. He holds an incredible 6 Irish record in his age group and has also set a world record for the dead lift at that age.

Eanna O’Hara Dearbhile Beirne All-rounder Dearbhile had another busy year lining out with Leitrim ladies as well as a myriad of individual events. She scored a last Promising swimmer Eanna from Kinlough minute equaliser took a number of prestigious titles this for her club Shelbourne in the ladies FAI year as well as representative honours Cup final as well as winning caps at U17 & for Ireland. He won Irish and Welsh titles U19 level for Ireland. for the U14 breaststroke 200m as well as Gold in the 50m freestyle at the community games.

Individual Senior Award

The Landmark Hotel is a 4 Star Fáilte Ireland and AA rated, multi award winning hotel renowned as a venue for weddings, conferences and a top quality dining experience.

Áine Tighe Donnacha Holmes

Áine was central to her club Kiltubrid’s County Final win as well as winning an O’Connor cup with UL. Her performances saw her nominated or an all-star. Donnacha’s star continues to rise and he broke the magical 10 hour mark for the ironman triathlon in Austria this year. He finished 103rd out of a huge field of 2900 competitors. This gruelling event saw Donnacha swim 3800 metres and then completing a 180 km cycle before running a full marathon.

Eanna Madden Gerard O’Donnell

Eanna is the National U23 200m 60m hurdles Champion. Achieved 3rd Champion. He also took bronze in the fastest time for an Irish man in the event as Senior event. He represented Ireland as well as 5th fastest 110m. Represented part of the 4x100m relay team. Ireland in European indoors championship in Prague.

Individual Senior Award

Nigel McHugh Breege Connolly

Nigel became the first Leitrim Man to ride the Rás Tailteann and finished 6th in the Irish National Pursuit Championships and 8th in the Irish National Scratch Race Championships. Breege, ran the London marathon in April this year achieving a time of 2:37:24, running within the Olympic qualifying time of 2:42:00 and a personal best. Her aim is to be selected on the team for Rio

Table Names This year, we have named each of our tables after Irish sporting heroes

Katie Taylor Olympic Boxing Gold medallist Catriona McKiernan Former London marathon and World Cross Country Champion Roy Keane Assistant manager to Martin O’Neill and former Irish captain A.P. McCoy Legendary jumps jockey who retired this year Ruby Walsh Top jumps jockey Jack McCaffrey Footballer of the year Annalise Murphy Olympic Rower Anna Geary recently retired camogie player Rory McIlroy One of the top golfers in the world Paul O’Connell recently retired Irish Rugby Champion Derval O’Rourke Former champion hurdler Niamh Briggs Irish Ladies Ruby Captain Nicolas Roche One of our top cyclists Sonia O’Sullivan Olympic medallist

Special Achievement Award

Leitrim Development Company, with its head office in Drumshanbo provide services to a range of groups from community to people who are unemployed, youth and marginalised groups.

Breifne Early Michael Cornyn

Breifne took part in an 18,000km cycle circumnavigating the earth. His aim was to use the cycle to increase suicide awareness and promoted the message that “It’s ok not to feel ok”.

Michael achieved a lifelong ambition when he represented Ireland at the European cross country championships in Tuscany. He won two national titles at 200m and 400m. A native of Ballinaglera, Michael is currently attached to Dunboyne AC in Co. Meath.

David Downes David took part in arguably the toughest endurance race on the earth - the Marathon des Sables. He ran 240 km over 7 days – the equivalent of almost 6 “regular” marathons. The race is run in the Sahara desert where temperature regularly exceed 50 degrees. The only provisions are a tent and 9 litres of water per day.

Hall of Fame Award

Lough Rynn Hotel is is one of the most luxurious Castle Hotels in Ireland, the ancestral home of the Clements family and the legendary Lord Leitrim. The entire estate comprises over 300 acres of an Ireland that is idyllic, rich in history and charmed with natural beauty.

Packy McGarty

This article first appeared in the Hogan Stand magazine in 1978

Connacht Railway Cup semi finalists 1959. Front L-R: Jack Mahon; Cathal Flynn; PACKY MC GARTY; Sean Purcell; Willie Casey; Tom Dillon; Jackie Coyle. Back L-R: John Nallen; Mattie McDonagh; Gerry O’Malley; Nace O’Dowd; Gerry Kirwan; Frank Evers; Mick Greally; Aidan Brady.

Leitrim’s greatest ever footballer- a man who remained ever loyal to the north west county

A Tribute From His Old Opponent Jack Mahon Of Galway

It’s a dangerous game naming anyone as the greatest ever. A writer can only cover what he saw himself, his own lifetime. Leitrim won the county’s only Connacht Senior Football Championship title in 1927 and that was five years before I was born. That team is special in Leitrim and men like Tom Gannon the captain, Ned Dolan, Willie Martin, “Nipper” Shanley, a much revered player to this day, Peter Blessing, Paddy Carey and Jack Bohan are still talked about.

Subsequently, Leitrim sometimes fielded a Junior team only, winning the 1938 All-Ireland (Home) title before losing to London in the final proper – a team captained by Mick Kilkenny and including veteran, “Nipper” Shanley, an outstanding place-kicker. I saw Leitrim destroyed by Mayo in the Connact Final of 1949 in Roscommon. They were over-awed and yet I admired the determined play of John Heslin particularly with memories too of Ray Beirne, Hubie Reynolds, Petie Dolan, Frankie Mitchell a great friend of my late brother Fr. Paddy and Sean Mulvey. Subsequently, Leitrim were regarded Junior again and in 1952 lost in the All-Ireland Junior Home final to Meath powered by Leo McAlinden, a princely player and an absolute sportsman, Alo Blessing, Frank Quinn, Ciaran Shanley and Eugene Boland. At left corner forward on this team was a youngster named Packy McGarty, still a Minor, about to become a national figure and already establishing himself as a footballer fit to rub shoulders with elders.

Unusual Debut Born in Garvagh, just outside Mohill, Packy was a schoolboy hero in 1943 helping Mohill to win a Leitrim Under 14 title, attributing much to the tutelage of Mark Keegan N.T. and winning two Leitrim Minor Football titles in the company of such as Cathal Flynn, Eddie Rowley and Jim McKeon in 1951 and ’52. But believe it or not, the bould Packy played Senior football for his native county before ever playing county Minor. The occasion was a National Football League game versus Offaly in Mohill late 1950. Leitrim football was in dire straits then and they could only muster fourteen players. Finally, they called on a sprightly youth who was distinguishing himself in a pre-match kick-around goal, very much a feature of the scene then, handed him a jersey which he pulled on over his clothes and in the course of that unusual debut, the great Packy scored one goal and a point. This was Packie’s first appearance in a Leitrim jersey and he never looked back after that, giving absolutely brilliant and loyal service to his county in a football life span of 22 years. No man could do more for his county. In fact, for me, Packy has always epitomised county loyalty to the fullest degree. In an interview with the legendary John D Hickey in 1958, Packy said “no matter where I am, I will never play for any county only Leitrim as long as they will have me. Winning is not everything – not for anything would I part from my Leitrim team mates“ Greater loyalty and love of county no footballer ever had.

I played against Packy for the first time in 1953 in the Connacht Senior Football Championship in Roscommon. It was my debut for Galway in the Connacht Senior Football Championship. Packy had still to make an impression. The Leitrim men, I remember from that game, were Brian Sweeney, Tony Hayden and Leo McAlinden. But in 1954, when Packy was selected for Connacht at the age of nineteen and travelled from Donegal where he worked to Tralee to face Munster, and his immediate opponent, Kerry’s 1953 All-Ireland winning captain, James Murphy – a towering figure – little was expected of the diminutive Mohill man. Let Packy take up the story – “my most enjoyable game was the 1954 Railway Cup semi-final against Munster in Tralee – my first match for Connacht. I was working in Letterkenny at the time and on the journey to Tralee, I was overawed with the prospect of playing with forwards like Padraic Carney, Sean Purcell, John Nallen, Tom Langan and Eamonn Donoghoe. I felt I would be completely out of my class. And to be marking a giant of a man like James Murphy really made me feel it was all up with me. I must pay tribute to the big Kerryman, although he had all the physical advantages, he played me fairly and squarely like a sportsman. I had worried I might let down Connacht and Leitrim, but Padraic Carney brought me into the game and I could scarcely believe afterwards that I had scored 1-4. We won and I was on my way to Croke Park for the first time.” Packy was to go on to play for Connacht for many years, winning Railway Cup medals in 1957 and 1958 as a player and in 1967 as a substitute. In the 1958 semi-final versus Leinster in Balinasloe, Packy and Cathal Flynn between them shot 1-9 out of 1-11 of Connacht’s total – a remarkable contribution from this footballing duet. Packy was selected for Ireland in the Annual Representative game versus the Combined Universities for three successive years. Years afterwards, he was honoured with Leitrim’s G.A.A. Hall of Fame Award and is often invited back to this day for some function or other. But statistics are cold.

It was my pleasure and at times discomfort to be Packie’s immediate opponent in the Connacht finals of 1957 in Galway, ’58 in Roscommon and ’59 in Sligo. He was then in the zenith of his career. He had the elasticity of a rubber ball, could turn on a sixpence, was an impeccable sportsman, kept coming at you toe to hand, toe to hand, was indomitable, irrepressible, a born footballer. ’58 was his greatest honour. I remember being as delighted to see the rain fall before the end feeling I’d have a fielding advantage, which I had. One incident from that game, refereed by Johnny Mulvey, is still with me. Early in the game, Sean Purcell and myself sandwiched him between us and a knowing nod between us suggested the end of the threat of McGarty that day. He bounced up from being winded to take the free, got on with the game and played the game of his life. There are many other memories not least his great hospitality to me in London when I travelled there in the mid sixties with Dunmore McHales. We had tea together, relived many memories and cemented a relationship which spanned more than a decade.

For most, if not all, of his footballing life, the jovial McGarty lived outside Leitrim. Mostly in Dublin with a sojourn in London in the late fifties and early sixties, before returning to Clondalkin, where he established a successful business and now lives. In his early day, he played his club football with Sean McDermotts in Dublin then with Taras in London, where he had many Leitrim exiles including two brothers as team mates and finally with Round Towers in his Clondalkin days. So his loyalty in unquestioned and sacred. I remember clearly the 1959 Connacht final in Sligo. I had been injured in a clash with Packy just before the full time whistle and for one reason or another didn’t meet him after the game. I had to drive my brother Brendan to catch the boat to England from DunLaoghaire. Having bid goodbye to my brother, who raced down the pier almost the last to catch the boat, bag in hand, but the bould Packy? A quick shake hands, no time for chat, but I really admired this man who had to be in time for work in London the following morning. It was around this time that Packy was the victim of a vicious frontal charge after he had kicked the ball in a club game with Taras. A rotten facial injury required eleven stitches and the culprit, well-known in the London scene, got off scot free. Another lesser mortal would have given it all up. Not Packy. This greatest of all Leitrim men had more to give to his native county.

Packy played in six Connacht finals in all, losing all six – five to Galway in ’57, ’58, ’59, ’60 and ’63 and one to Mayo in ’67. Leitrim were unlucky to be at their best during Galway’s golden era in Connacht in the era 1957-’60 particularly. At another time, Leitrim would have won a number of Connacht titles. Their backline couldn’t handle the football skill of Sean Purcell. Bernie Doyle did a great job of handling Sean in 1958. One had to admire the football ability of Josie Murray, Frank Quinn, Paddy Dolan, Cathal Flynn, Tony Hayden, Tom Colreavy, Jim McKeon, jimmy O’Donnell, the late Leo Heslin, the late Eddie Duffy, Michael McGowan, Jimmy Reynolds, Paddy Reilly, Columba Cryan, Noel Blessing, (how nice to see him in the audience at Mick Murphy’s Winning Streak show on R.T.E. very recently – greying now, but still with the broad smile).

Since those days when Leitrim’s support never forsook the county team despite all the reverses, Leitrim’s football interest has not waned. In fact, despite a dwindling population, interest was never higher. P.J. Carroll did much to raise the spirit when he came down from Cavan to steer the Leitrim football ship. Their All-Ireland B success in 1990 was the start, then a very successful National Football League campaign saw Leitrim become a top football force. Gone was much of the inferiority complex of the past. Players like Micky Martin, Micky Quinn and Declan Darcy have become folk heroes though not to the same extent as McGarty. John O’Mahony of Mayo has now taken over from P.J. Carroll and there is great confidence in the guidance of the Mayo teacher. A healthy Supporters Club has helped to up morale and generate finance largely controlled by the County Board as is right and helped considerably by Leitrim’s many exiles. I have watched Leitrim’s great attempts to crash the Connacht barrier over the past few years. They came close last year in Roscommon, over-elaboration was their downfall. One of the men now reaching the veteran class, Ollie Honeyman, is another who made a great contribution to Leitrim’s recent upsurge. County officials like George O’Toole, Tommy Moran and Tony McGowan have helped no end to fuel the flame. Moran is a communicator par excellence and is yet another marvellous admirer of McGarty. Packy is still keen on the game, very loyal to Leitrim, a hard working businessman in Clondalkin and will never be disposed as “the greatest Leitrim footballer of them all.”

Special Guest John O’Mahony

John O’Mahony comes from Kilmovee in County Mayo - just outside the town of Ballaghadereen.

He was first elected as a T.D. in 2007 before regaining his seat in 2011. He had previously taught as a secondary school teacher in St. Nathy’s College – his Alma Mater. In his youth he played for Mayo and won two All-Ireland titles at minor and U21 levels.

However it is a manager that he is best remembered, coming up just short of an All-Ireland title in 1989 with his native county, he took up the reigns in Galway in 1998 and led them to two All-Ireland titles. He later returned to Mayo and his also won All-Ireland titles with St. Nathys.

However he is best remembered here for bringing Leitrim only their second ever Connacht title in 1994 and doing it the hard way by having to beat Roscommon, Galway and Mayo to claim the title.

John is married to Gerardine and they have five daughters.

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