Month / April 2020

by thesaffrongael

St. Joseph’s Ladies Covid-19 Walk

St. Joseph’s GAC’s Senior Ladies are raising funds for the Glenavy Covid – 19 response. They Have been covering “The Length of Ireland and Back” by walking, running and rowing. Malinhead to Mizenhead to Malinhead will be a journey of nearly 1000km and they have a week to complete the challenge. 

Started: Monday 21st April 

Ended: Sunday 27th April

Update Day 2 👣🧡🖤

So far Glenavy Ladies have travelled 365km as the crow flies they have travelled to Co.Cork! Well on target for covering the length of Ireland and back this week. 

So far we have had runners, walkers and even a rower as Geraldine still makes the KM’s with a broken ankle. 
Megan bumped into a few minions, while Natasha made friends with an Alpaca. 
Our mummies of the group recruted their little ones, starting them young.
Discussion around flattest route in the area and Bronagh reckons Chapel Hill is the best place to start.Update Day 3👣🧡🖤

Over 530Km traveller as the crow flies Glenavy Ladies have travelled all the way to Mizan Head and are coming back up North. We reckon they are probably somewhere around Co.Kerry by now! 

Orla McCambridge was 1st to get the steps in today all the way from some hillbilly town in Queensland Australia 🇦🇺 It’s got nothing on the Glenavy sunshine if you ask us! 
Cathy’s still raging she didn’t get a video of the sheep sneezing. Meanwhile Orlagh Mullan managed to spot a cow after days of claiming there was none to be found in Randalstown. Ellen and Chloe made the most of their afternoon danders, rumours have it there were even some deliveries along the way. Eva is yet to be seen on today’s activity, the weighted vest must have finally got the best of her. 

*Over £1000 raised and counting!* ✨
*Where will this money go? *
The funding will go directly to buying food and hygiene products for local residents. Each week the Glenavy Covid-19 group deliver food packages to families across Glenavy, from single elderly to families who have fallen on hard times. They are operating a food bank mainly made up of donations however these supplies wouldn’t be enough to put together meals. So the funding is being using to purchase items such as ham, cheese, eggs etc. Many people in our community are relying on these deliveries. Thank you for all the incredible generosity so far.Update Day 4👣🧡🖤

Over 730KM travelled as the crow flies Glenavy Ladies have travelled over 200KM today. Heading in around the Green and Red or Mayo. 

Can you spot where we’ve been today? Megan says the only thing she bumps into in Crumlin is a few sheep or Cathy. Eva must have heard us yesterday as she was spied doing early morning sprints at the Rock. Bronagh Forester may have managed to drag every member of her family out for some form of exercise today. Mary was doing laps to get away from the dissertation while Orlagh McClinton could be seen crawling her way to 10K down the Lough Road. Meanwhile Coach Declan became a Tour Guide for Glenavy Village. Orla Fay went for a run and a walk because her husband says he’s only donating for her running KM’s. Peter reminded us of the dreaded running last season at Mary Peters and Cristin sent a wee photo of the pitch looking as wonderful as ever (Thanks Gary and Gerard) Can’t wait to be back playing soon! 

The Covid Response group in Glenavy have had another pro-active day today delivering and purchasing goods for those in need at this time in our community. Due to our funding the delivery boxes are becoming more full and families are so grateful. Long may this continue.. If you or someone you know needs help at this time please do not be afraid to get in touch. We’re all in this together Update Day 5 Glenavy Ladies Covid19 Challenge 👣🧡🖤

As we start the weekend we are heading towards our target having totalled 860Km to date. Hitting the hills of Donegal today. 

A glorious day to with temperatures high, Eva had to leave the weighted vest at home. Edel lost signal somewhere around Magheralin but promises she got her steps in. Grainne ran her first 10k and said it’ll probably be her last, showing Orlagh up. However Megan said it looked suspicious when the map showed her half way across Lough Neagh, we didn’t know swimming was allowed. We had a few tour guides around Crumlin today. Cristin took some glorious pics as Cathy’s rolled ankle got the better of her.(Wouldnt be us if we didn’t have an injury) but she was in the right place, sure Mater Dai still looks well, not too much dust. Geraldine’s rowed so much that her little fan club at home have stopped cheering. Maeve Hamill is upholding the family name with her steps around Upper Ballinderry. Lots more KMs in the bag today,tough going in that heat! Great work girls, looking forward to the weekend antics. 

Nothing but good news from our Covid Response group. With your donations it is making a huge difference. If you or someone you know needs help at this time please do not be afraid to get in touch 

Final day Glenavy Ladies Covid19 Challenge 👣🧡🖤
We made it! The length of Ireland and back, then from Mizan head to Chapel hill for a few laps around the walking track. 

A fantastic team effort over the week, if only we had as good a turnout for training as we have for this! Final day brought competition out in a big way. Here’s the top 10 leaderboard. While Orla Fay was out showcasing Lambeg,Orlagh had been running 10K a day, Megan and Cathy managed morning and evening walks and runs. Courtney, Fiona and Natasha went quietly about their day. Mary reaches the leaderboard when her mummy beat her running time while Bronagh Forester had to make the cut when she dragged her family members out every day. It’s the final countdown for top place. Megan walked 18KM to knock Orlagh McClinton off top spot, (she’s raging claims she ran the most) with Cathy close behind she reached first place. Megan and Cathy can now be found somewhere around Crumlin walking to try and beat each other they both stand at top of the leaderboard, competitive much? 

Well done Girls! Big things expected when the season kicks off again! 

Over £1500 raised THANK YOU! 
You still have time to donate to the Glenavy Covid 19 fund!
If you or someone you know needs help at this time please do not be afraid to get in touch 
Mobile 07541819642  photos to follow

by thesaffrongael

Eddie Donnelly recalls……

In our continued coverage of Antrim’s 1970 All Ireland Intermediate final triumph, Denis O’Hara speaks with the Ballycastle legend Eddie Donnelly about his memories of that great campaign…. 50 golden years ago.

EDDIE DONNELLY was forced to endure a bout of high anxiety during Antrim’s countdown to the glamour 1970 All-Ireland Intermediate hurling final. He feared the worst, when suffering stinging hand damage in a county club tie against Belfast John’s.

The exceptionally powerful and influential centre-forward from Ballycastle dreaded missing the historic milestone match, when Antrim players were preparing to tackle an unknown factor in a talent-laden Warwickshire team of former southern county hurlers.

It was a close call for steady Eddie, who sustained a suspected broken finger during the club league clash against the Johnnies. He managed to gain the medical green light just in time for Antrim’s glory day of October 4, 1970.

Donnelly, an ever-reliable performer in the Antrim jersey for 20 years, was a key component in a strongly united county combination that swept through three high hurdles to reach the 1970 final. He had that special ability to pull the team forward through his tank-like robust runs and lethal finishing from centre three-quarters.

“Yes, I was really worried the finger damage would force me to sit out the All-Ireland final. I had to inform Antrim’s team manager Neilly Patterson, after I picked up the hand injury from a clash with Ger Cunningham of St John’s – the McQuillan’s club match held at Leyland Road shortly before the game against Warwickshire.”

A dynamic driving force in the Antrim attack, when the Saffrons overcame tricky ties against Down, Galway and Dublin, he added: “Fortunately, the finger wasn’t broken, and I didn’t have to withdraw from the Antrim panel. I was very relieved to be passed fit to play, as the hand healed just in time to join the Antrim action in Croke Park.”

A retired bank official, who surfaced as an outstanding talent as a 16 year old with the McQuillan’s senior team and hurled with distinction in 14 Antrim Senior finals – winning eight medals – he reveled in that 1970’s county landmark success.

Even though Eddie’s memory retention is not razor sharp he highlighted the All-Ireland quarter-final win (4-14 to 4-6) against Galway at Ballinasloe as THE crucial clash of the tournament.

The outstanding result gave the team members the confidence to march on and beat Dublin (3-15 to 2-11) in the semi-final, and then Warwickshire (4-10 to 3-6).

“It was a good tight, tough match against Galway. They had players who soon made the move to their senior side – such as Sam Storey. We had to get past that match. We had to play really well to win. We knew we had to produce our best that day. The semi-final against Dublin at Croke Park is not one I recall much about, while we were too good for Warwickhire in the final.”

Eddie Donnely in action for his club Ballycastle in the 1981 All Ireland Club semi-final against Ballyhale Shamrocks at Benmore Park.

Donnelly, named at full forward in Antrim’s hurling ‘Team of the Century’ in 1984 and a double All Star replacement in 1975 and 1977, brought all his experience and tenacity to the 1970 county success. He added: “Overall it was a brilliant run of victories, starting in the Ulster final against Down at Casement Park – then on to the difficult game against Galway.

“I do have one outstanding memory of the final against Warwickshire, and it is that of Niall Wheeler scoring a brilliant long-range point from around 100 yards. When I met Niall recently we joked about that score – the distance moving up by ten yards with every decade since. The point scored has increased to close on 150 yards! We had some marvelous times then.

“Niall Wheeler was a great wing back, and a year after our All-Ireland Intermediate victory he won an All Star replacement honour. Sadly, five members of the squad of 1970 are no longer with us – goalkeeper Johnny Coyle, our team captain Seanie Burns, Paddy McShane, Martin McGranaghan and Aidan McCamphill.”

by thesaffrongael

Creggan take Great steps in club initiative

Is 30 million steps achievable by a GAA clubs members in 5 days?

Well, the answer from Kickham’s Creggan is a resounding yes. The club was about to launch its latest fundraising drive in mid-March as they aimed to become the first GAA club to organise and run its own marathon called ‘Heart & Sole’. However the launch night coincided with the COVID-19 lockdown and unfortunately, the event had to be postponed.

Like all GAA clubs, Kickham’s and its members had to readjust and rather than preparing for matches, they focused instead on helping those most in need in their community with food deliveries, local pharmacies deliveries etc and have completed several other social media challenges.

However, last week some of the club members looked at the Heart & Sole initiative again and decided to organise a steps challenge to get the local community involved in something they could all support and focus on as one of the big goals of the marathon was to help people with their mental and physical well-being.

The response was phenomenal as over 300 people signed up within 3 days to form 30 teams, mostly in family and club team groups. Some individuals recorded 50,000 steps in a single day and other’s have walked and run the equivalent of marathons around their own homes. PRO and county hurling captain, Conor McCann commented “the event has been fantastic and created a real buzz amongst the members. We have complied with all social distancing rules and Department of Health guidelines and after 5 days over 30 million steps had been taken which is just amazing. The competition is intense but so has the craic with the obligatory WhatsApp groups providing plenty of good-natured banter about how some of the steps have been achieved!”

After the two days, the 30 teams were split into 5 divisional championships with the winners announced live via a Zoom call on Saturday evening. Conor commented that whilst we would all love to be out playing and supporting our teams, the GAA has an important role to play at this time and the steps challenge has brought the community together and has provided a real sense of pride in the local community with kids from 4 to pensioners of over 70 taking part.

7 of the McAteer family, otherwise known as The Lockdown Bandits who recorded over 1.6 million steps and topped the Senior Division.

The initiative is also raising funds for the NHS charity and local food bank, both of which have helped and are continuing to help our local communities.

If anyone wishes to join the Creggan GAA club and support these worthy causes, they would be very appreciative and delighted to pass on details of how you can donate.

So there you have it… can any other club surpass the achievement of over 30 million steps in just 5 days… maybe this is something other clubs could try.

See the Participation Board with all 30 teams steps recorded after the 5 Day Step Challenge. After 2 days, the teams were split into divisional sections.
  • Two teams from the Great Kickham’s 2020 Step Challenge maintain their social distance whilst out yesterday increasing the teams step score as they move into the final day of the challenge.
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by thesaffrongael

Cargin Gaels drive-past to join in club legend Brian’s birthday celebration

Cargin Gaels celebrated a special birthday for their oldest club man Brian Devlin on Saturday when in these extremely difficult times a ‘drive past’ as a cavalcade of cars suitably bedecked with the green and white colours of the Erin’s Own club made their way past his Shore Road residence.

Brian who has occupied more than a few posts in his beloved Cargin during his lengthy tenure as well as positions in the South West divisional board and at County level in which he still occupied a vice president role celebrates his 97th birthday on the day.

by thesaffrongael

My Red Hand Journey – Brendan McComb

How do you become involved with the club?

“I first got involved when I was 8-years of age- I had no family connections with the club or anything like that. I’d never even played Gaelic football before and I can remember Jim Brady came into our primary school (St Oliver Plunkett). He took us for a Gaelic session in Andytown Leisure Centre, after the session he asked me if I’d ever played before or did I    play for anyone – I said no and he gave me information about how to join, just go down to Greenways at the bottom of Lenadoon beside Suffolk Library”.

“We met there, and a bus just picked us up on a Saturday morning- I think it was 9 or 10’oclock on a Saturday morning. There was no child protection back then, you dandered down ay 8-years of age to the bottom of Lenadoon and a bus came to get you. I remember the bus too- Shakers bus- it was dodgy with no seatbelts, just two rows of seats up the sides of the bus where the windows were. When you hit the breaks, you would slide down the bus and there was a hole in the floor- you could see the ground when you were going up Hannahstown Hill. That was my first experience, the moment that I went up training- I was hooked straight away and was nearly 30-years ago now”

First recollection of underage achievement:

“I loved the summer schemes – they used to be a fantastic experience and you made lifelong friendships there. I had great craic, there were trips down to Newcastle and things like that- you always remember those kind of things”.

“In terms of playing more competitively, I remember playing in an U-12 B championship and winning that. I think it was in St Pauls and we beat the Aggies in the final in hurling and Barry Armstrong took those teams. That was my first experience of winning anything in the club. I can remember at underage level-winning a few individual player of the year, hurler of the year or footballer of the year at the Christmas presentation nights. They were always special events as well – those were my first experience of winning anything and earliest memories of enjoying the summers up at the club”.

U-12 hurling success and continuation to Div1 hurling:

“I’d say Cathal Kelly would have been playing in the that final for the Aggies – Cathal is obviously a club stalwart now but I think he joined us when he was U-16. The Aggies maybe struggled to get teams out, I know his brother [Diarmaid Kelly] still plays for the Aggies or at least did until recently”.

“That U-12 team, when we won our first championship – we’d have had the three Herron brothers [Ciaran, Brendan and Michael], myself, Christy Tum, Dan McGreevy, Charlie McCloskey and boys like that went onto hurl for about 20-years for our club. It was pivotal, even though it was U-12 B Championship- the work that Barry Armstrong with us through the years in terms of hurling development of the club was huge”.

“I know hurling in the club maybe isn’t going that great but for a period of time we did have success there and hopefully we can get back to that stage again at some point because those teams that Barry took- from U-10 right through to senior; we became a Division One club then and competed in Senior Championship. That was a massive, massive achievement for our club- the first time it’s ever happened. That meant a lot to be part of that to be honest, it’s one of the things I’m most proud of in my playing career – to be part of the development of hurling, bringing hurling to Division One, playing Senior Championship”.

“Winning the clubs only Intermediate hurling Championship and then a few years afterwards winning the Junior Championship and Ulster Junior was massive. Most of the things I won was towards the end of my career – which was even more satisfying as well. I was playing senior hurling from I was about 16 and you think I’ll win a load of things – but you don’t and it wasn’t until I was in my 30s that I picked up my first meaningful Championship silverware and it means more to you then at that stage of your career”.

Senior breakthrough:

“In terms of hurling –  we were obviously nowhere near as strong as we were in football. I made my senior debut in hurling when I was 16 and then probably within a year or two would have almost became a regular in the senior team. Back then you were playing with real characters: Paddy Tumelty and ‘Beansy’ Elliott [Brendan Elliott] were playing and guys like Marty Collins and Eamon McGarry and ‘Bruce’ McKiernan and people like that. I was just a child and these guys were real established club stalwarts and you looked up to them and learned a lot from them as well. They looked after you also but that was a long time ago”.

Who you looked forward to coming up against:

“In terms of senior football, I always had good tussles against the St Galls boys- I looked forwards to coming up against those boys because they were the benchmark for such a long time. I would have really looked forward to marking the likes of Kieran McGourty or Terry O’Neill, the likes of Kevin Niblock or those kind of guys. You wanted to test yourself against the best guys out there. In the league we might have got a result against them but come Championship- it wasn’t until the year we won the Championship that we managed to get over the line against them and that was a very, very special win for us because they beat us in so many Championships previous to that as well. There was a real healthy rivalry between us and them and they were always the games that you looked forward to, even if it was a league game – you were always guaranteed to get a good crowd at it. The Championship matches were always special”.

2016 and 2017:

“The 2016 junior hurling win was really, really enjoyable- it was kind of unexpected because a lot of my generation of hurlers; I played senior hurling for the guts of 20-years and a lot of my generation were coming to the end at that point. It was kind of a final ‘hurrah’, we’d been playing Senior Championship, went down to Intermediate Championship and won the Intermediate Championship and were down in Junior. Junior Championship wasn’t easy to win either, we beat a good St Teresa’s team and a very good Cushendun team in the final in Armoy”.

“Mt first son was actually born in the week that we played the Junior Championship final. He was born on the Wednesday and we played the final on the Saturday and I was seriously sleep deprived for the final. It was a bit of a blur in that regard, but it was a sweet victory as well and to go on and win Ulster – to go on and get that silverware at that stage, it was unexpected”.

“In terms of the 2017 and the senior football win – it was the holy grail. It was what you dedicated your life towards in terms of your involvement with the club for the guts of 20-years. I wouldn’t have established myself as a senior footballer anywhere as near as quickly as I established myself as a senior hurler. I had to work very, very hard to become an established senior footballer so it meant a lot to me when I had a jersey and it meant a lot to me once I had a jersey- I would have done anything to hold onto the jersey; always with the ambition to get over the line and win a Senior Championship”.

“I know what it means to men in our club that have been there and played their whole careers and never won one and maybe got beat in a number of finals. I referenced a few guys earlier that I played hurling with the likes of Paddy Tumelty, Kevin Murray, ‘Beansy’ Elliott and those kind of people- never got the medal they deserved. Even the class of 92 – they have Championship medals, but they were deprived of the opportunity to win it on the pitch.  I know for a lot of those people that I regard as club legends – it was unfair on those because they definitely would have had the team to go on and win that final in 92- the likes of Micky Boyle, Terry McCrudden, Bukey and people like that- who went onto manage me as a senior player. They never got that opportunity to win it on the pitch and I always felt that was unfair on them”.

“For me, it was emotional, it was relief, extasy, unbelievable it was just an unbelievable occasion. One regret in the aftermath of it- we might have enjoyed ourselves a bit too much and when it came to Ulster, we didn’t do ourselves justice and Cavan Gaels beat us comfortably enough down in Breffni Park. But the fact that we beat St Galls on that Championship run- something we had been trying to do for so many years and the fact it was an all-Belfast final against the Johnnies- it was very, very special indeed”.

“What it meant to people like Joe Finnegan, Shanty [Pat McCague], Fitzy [Frank Fitzsimons] in our club- to see their faces, that almost meant as much to me as to win it myself personally. To see what they got out of it and everyone in the club got out of it. To have my family around me that day- they’ve supported me and all the sacrifices I made to try and win a Senior club Championship- it meant a lot too”.

The Future:

“I would absolutely love to continue into coaching- obviously through my job as a teacher at St. Mary’s CBGS- I do a bit of coaching at school. Last year I helped out with Dodger [Colm McCambridge], Gerry [McAleer] and Brendan McCloskey and I really, really enjoyed it. But at the minute I’ve a young family – it difficult to dedicate the time to take a team of your own or being there all the time. My hands are full at home with a 1-year old and a 3-year old and it’s not always as easy as you’d like it to be to get out the house. Definitely in the future, I plan fully to give back as much as I’ve got from the club. If my own kids can get half of what I’ve got out of my involvement with Lamh Dhearg, then that would be something very special for them”.