Featured image: The organising committee of All Saints 50th Anniversary Gala Ball with special guests, Dublin Footballers, Dean Rock and James McCarthy.
In 1975 when Fr. Fergus Jordan called for interested people to gather to discuss the formation of a GAA club in Ballymena he did so having learned that local people were regularly heading beyond the parish boundaries to watch Gaelic games elsewhere. The result of his call was the establishment of the All Saints club and the rest as they say is 50 years of history.
Five hundred members, friends & supporters gathered in the Tullyglass House Hotel on Saturday evening to pay tribute to those founding members and to celebrate 5 decades of providing Gaelic sport in the parish of Kirkinriola.
Master of Cermonies, Mark Sidebottom interviews special guests, Dean Rocks and James McCarthy.
Superbly co-ordinated by Master of Ceremonies, Mark Sidebottom, the evening brought all in attendance on a journey that included the successes, near misses and challenges experienced by the club … all of which began on the parish field at Hugomont 50 years ago. Memories of an All Ireland Scor na Nog title, football championships won and hurling & camogie successes were revisited and shared on stage by members of the various teams from across the years.
A club song specially written for the occasion by local musician Johnny Murphy and sung by former player Declan McNally led the audience through the twists and turns of the All Saints journey. Accompanied by a video the compilation provided a summary of the club’s illustrious past and the role played by its people. A further visual told the story of the All Saints family and the pastoral role the club plays in times of difficulty. The video was a tribute to all former members no longer present and in telling their story featured former coach Orlaith O’Kane who passed away in 2018.
Club President Denis Martin was in attendance. At 93 years young and with 50 years of membership behind him Denis was well placed to sum up his thoughts and feelings on the evening. As one of the loyal band of early volunteers he informed all in attendance that when the journey started they “couldn’t have foreseen how far the club would develop over the years”.
All Saints chairman, Jim Brady addresses the 500 guests who attended the clubs 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner while county chairman, Seamus McMullan gives his address.
Guests of honour were former Dublin footballers James McCarthy and Dean Rock. With an incredible 17 All Ireland medals between them they had plenty to share with those in attendance. As MC Sidebottom switched to sports journalist mode amongst other revelations he teased from the lads were the inner secrets of the Dublin training regime.
Saturday brought the club’s anniversary year to a close and club chairperson, Jim Brady, took the opportunity to pay tribute to the 50th Commemoration Committee for all they had organised and achieved over the last 12 months. Singling them out for special mention he acknowledged the range of events and activities they had organised including the club celebration Mass, the Return to Hugomont day and the Bank Holiday Marquee Weekend in August to name but several.
Looking to the future he outlined the timeframe for the completion of the club’s new £650k capital development programme that will see facilities enhanced to include a club gym, ball wall, floodlit juvenile 3g training area and a community hub. Scheduled to complete just before Christmas the project marks another 2025 milestone achieved.
A night of nostalgia and friendships rekindled, with plenty of craic thrown in for good measure for the 500 guests saw the Saints live up to the words of their celebration song – Ballymena Hear Our Call!
Club President and founder member, Dennis Martin is interviewed by Mark Sidebottom and right: Members of the All Saints All Ireland winning Scor Group from 46 year’s ago who were guests at the dinner.
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