The function room in the Marine Hotel, Ballycastle was packed to the rafters on Saturday night as Carey Faughs celebrated a very special year for the club, a year filled with extreme highs and extreme lows.
On the field the club had one of their best ever years. winning the Division 2 League title, the Antrim Intermediate Hurling title and the Ulster Intermediate title. On the low side the club and parish suffered a terrible blow when one of their greatest supporter, eight year old ‘Wee Joe’ Heggarty, tragically lost his life in a terrible farm accident. On top of that former player Jimmy Black, father of one the club’s greatest ever players James ‘Rocket’ Black, sadly lost his life through illness during the Ulster championship run. Among the guests of honour were County Chairman Seamus McMullan, former National Hurling Development Officer Martin Foggarty from Kilkenny and Marcas O’Doherty of Kevins Hurling Club in Dublin.
The Saffron Gael went along to capture some special memories
Antrim county chairman Seamus McMullan presented the League, county Intermediate and Ulster Intermediate cups to vice captain Paddy Butler and team captain Shay Hunter (right).Carey Faughs chairman Sean McBride presents a Merit Award to Carey PP Fr Con Boyle at the club’s awards dinner in the Marine Hotel.Sean McBride presents the Supporter of the Year award to Ciaran McCarryAndrea and Michael Heggarty receive a special Supporter of the Year award on behalf of their late son ‘Wee Joe’ Heggarty from committe member Michael McBridePaddy McIlroy (eflt) receives the Clubman of the Year award from committee member Michael McBrideJimmy Joe Burns receives the Junior Hurler of the Year award from Dazza McVeighEoin and Conleth McKinley present the Danny McKinley award in memory of their late father, to Andrew McGarryMarcas O’Doherty of Kevin’s GAC Dublin, who has a holiday home at Murlough Bay, was one of the four members of his club who travelled up from Dublin for the dinner. Marcus is seen here making a special merit award to club legend Chris Campbell, who received a hurl which was signed by the Carey Faughs Championship winning teamThe Carey Faughs team who won the 2024 Division 2 League, the Antrim Intermediate Hurling Championship and the Ulster Intermediate Championship are seen here at the club’s awards dinner in the Marine Hotel.Club chairman Sean McBride makes a special presentation to the senior management team of Dazza McVeigh, Eddie McCloskey, Benny McCarry and Kevin MurphyCalum Cane who captained the Naomh Padraig team who won the North Antrim B Hurling Championship in 2024, receives the cup from Naomh Padraig sponsors Ciaran CampbellThe wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Andrea Heggarty delivered a touching tribute to her son ‘Wee Joe’ and read a poem she had written in his memory.Club chairman Sean McBride (centre) with county chairman Seamus McMullan (left) and former National Hurling Development Officer Martin Foggarty
The family of the late Jimmy Black, his wife Susie, daughters Catherine (left) and Helen, son James and Susie’s sister Eileen Mulholland (2nd left) at the Carey Faughs dinner in the Marine Hotel
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