Cloney turns out in big numbers for Sister Lilly

The Acorn Centre at Cloney, Ahoghill was a hive of activity on Wednesday as upwards on 200 people turned up for the Antim launch of Sister Lilly Scullion’s life story ‘From Croke Park to Glencairn’. A fascinating story of a fascinating woman whose career path took many turnings during her 80 years. A former All Ireland medal winner with Antrim Camogs back in 1967 and an Ulster Club winner with her native Ahoghill in ’69 and with St Bridget’s Newry in 1975, she was a star on the field, with where no quarter was ask of given.

Sister Lilly Scullion with some of ther former club and county team-mates, plus others who have worn the saffron of Antrim over the years. Included are Carla Doherty, Olive Scullion, Doreen Graham, Helen McMullan, Angela Graham, Mairead Diamond, Mary McMullan, Anne Scullion, Catriona Graham, Kathleen McGowan, Mairead McAtamney and Grace Connolly.

Off the pitch though, she had a greater story to tell and having worked on the family farm in Ahoghill her career path meandered along from Gallaghers factory in Gracehill to becoming a youth worker in Belfast and in Newry. Those swings were mild though compared to the next move which after a moment of enlightening she decided to become a nun, a vocation that was to take over the rest of her life, which was spent in St Mary’s Abbey, Glencairn, Co Waterford, where she still manages the Abbey’s 250 acre farm.

A couple of years ago she was persuaded by a friend to put her fascinating story down on paper and after last week’s launch in Waterford she came home to her native Ahoghill for the big launch where she signed copies of her book for over two hours. Members of her extended family, former school friends, work mates and many of her former Antrim and Ahoghill players, who had lined out in the red and black of her home club, and the saffron of Antrim, came along to meet and greet her.

A night to remember for a woman the people of Cloney will never forget!