By Kevin Herron
Hanahstown club present history evening
Gaels from Antrim and afar are invited to Lamh Dhearg on Sunday evening as the Hannahstown club is hosting a chat-show on its unique history .
Legendary club greats such as Sean McElhatton, Pat McCague, Frank Fitzsimons snr and Joe Finnegan will form the panel for the evening – and there is guaranteed to be some fantastic and hilarious tales of Lamh Dhearg through the years.
McElhatton, an Anglo-Celt winner with his native Tyrone in 1973 dawned the red hand jersey in 1970 – having moved to Belfast to pursue a career in teaching in 1967 and explains how he was ‘persuaded’ to play with the Hannahstown club.
“I had the pleasure of playing with Dungannon Clarkes when I young and then I went to teacher training college in Belfast in 1967” explains McElhatton.
“Then in 1970 I was invited – in inverted commas – to join Lamh Dhearg and ever since then I have been associated as a player, a mentor, a coach or maybe just an old retiree at Lamh Dhearg. It’s a short story but a long story in many ways. You’ll hear a lot more on Sunday evening no doubt. When the others boys and myself are allegedly talking about the history of the club – there will be lots of stories, lots of anecdotes and lots of things to tell”.
McElhatton also paid tribute to his fellow panelists for the evening and believe they typify everything that is good about the GAA
“I’ve known these boys all my playing live and not only are they great characters – but they’re also great GAA individuals” McElhatton reflects.
“If you cut any of them – GAA blood would put out of them, particularly red and white Lamh Dhearg blood. They are the best of fellas and best of friends – they typify everything that’s good about the GAA in terms of camaraderie and friendship over many, many years”.
Sundays event will begin at 5 o’clock after the conclusion of the All-Ireland football semi-final between Tyrone and Kerry. Later on in the evening there will be an auction in aid of the development of the clubs second pitch – with many attractive prizes on offer and Seamy McPeake will provide the music entertainment for the evening. So it is an evening not to be missed !