On Saturday the 25th May Geraldines Camogie Club Portglenone celebrated 80 years of camogie in the parish. The first meeting of the club was held on the 6th April 1944 and was called by Art O Kane who was then Secretary of Casements GAC who were formed 3 years earlier in 1941.
Present on the night was Marie McGlade (nee Scullion) who played at full forward in the first game Geraldines ever played.
The celebration was also attended by Hilda Breslin who has just ended her tenure at National Camogie president, Karen McCormick who is current Ulster Chairperson and a former Geraldines player, Geraldines most famous and decorated player Mairead Magill (nee McAtamney) was also in attendance as was the local PP Fr Joseph Rooney, Casement Chairman and Secretary Noel Kelly and Martin Kearney as well as Mr Eugene Mullan principal of St Marys Primary school.
The evening began with a champagne reception with music from the local members of Portglenone Comhltas members Kieran Convery, Dympna McDonnell and her daughters Caoimhe and Aoife playing in the background. An excellent video charting the path of Geraldines was an excellent piece of work produced by Sinead McKeever.
.Fir A Ti’s for the evening was the famous due around Portglenone ex Casement players Tony Convery and Micheal McCann.
A beautiful display of Irish Dancing was also a feature of the night by local dancers Eimear Smith, Elle Brown, Aoife McGroggan Grace McVeigh, Rose McVeigh and Hannah Friel.
Afte rinspirational speeches from Hilda Karen and club Chairperson Carla there were other comments from invited guests and the evening ended dancing to the music of Henry Doc Disco
