Loughgiel GAA historian Bobby McIhatton opened a new museum at his Corkey home on Saturday night where some of the older Gaels of the parish were joined by family and friends to view his great collection of memorabilia. Bobby has been collecting match programmes, old photographs, hurling sticks and jerseys for many years in a room in the house, but his collection was expanding so much that he decided to knock two rooms into one to show it off properly. Saturday night was an official opening of the new space with Canon Sean Connolly, a member of the Loughgiel championship winning team of 1956, doing the honours.
Canon Sean was joined by 1956 team-mate John McNaughton plus a good few stars of the great 1960s and 70s teams like Brendan McGarry, Seamus Richmond, Paddy McIlhatton, JP McFadden and PJ O’Mullan. PJ was of course also a member of the 1983 All Ireland winning team as was Seamus ‘Crow’ McNaughton who was there with his son James and daughter Lucia, members of the current Loughgiel hurling and camogie teams.
While a lot of the exhibits are of Bobby’s home club Loughgiel there is also a good spread of items about Antrim county teams and other clubs, including the jersey worn by the late Cushendall legend Danny McNaughton in the famous Antrim v Kilkenny All Ireland semi-final in 1987.
As is the case in all such events there were women working away in the background keeping everyone supplied with tea, coffee and food as the wider McIlhatton family put their shoulder to the wheel to make the evening a great success.
Overall a night to remember finished off with tales of great games, great players and great battles of yore.
