All-Ireland final always a poignant occasion for Ballyhaunis family

For many Mayo supporters, the 1997 All-Ireland Final defeat to Kerry is remembered as just another disappointing defeat on the county’s long-running quest to reclaim the Sam Maguire.

But for the people of Ballyhaunis, it has been remembered in a different and more tragic light for the untimely death of Noel Waldron, a deeply passionate Mayo supporter who died suddenly in Croke Park while cheering on his native county.

Noel came from a proud footballing family. Two of his three brothers, all of whom became priests, Fr Peter and Fr Jarlath played for Mayo. Noel was a brilliant footballer in his own right and played on the Ballyhaunis team that won the 1958 Mayo Senior Club Championship. He made an appearance for Mayo in the National Football League later that year, a 3-8 to 0-6 victory in Fr O’Hara Park, Charlestown against Westmeath.

He did not follow Fathers Peter, Jarlath and Kieran into the priesthood and would instead become the proprietor of Waldron’s Spar, Ballyhaunis. His death at age 69 and the circumstances surrounding it came as a massive shock to the people of the area and Mayo supporters around the county.

His son Martin, who runs West Craft Craft Co-Op in Knock, told the Western People about his father’s tragic passing at Croke Park. Martin was working internationally at the time and was based in Moscow when he received a call late one night from his father.

“The phone rang at 12 o’clock at night; ‘How are you, Martin?’ ‘How are you dad, how’s it going?’ He told me, ‘I got two tickets for the match from John Prenty, will you come?” 

“I said Dad, I have a child whose three, a child whose one and a child on the way. If I tell my wife I’m off to Dublin for the weekend, I’m excommunicated! So, I suggested he bring his brother Peter with him.” 

Martin explained that Noel had a dangerous heart condition. In 1986 he was the first person in Ireland to have a quintuple bypass surgery which had been performed by Dr Maurice Neligan and Dr Freddie Wood. There was a risk associated with attending a big game like the All-Ireland Final but Noel was determined to see Mayo win an All-Ireland and took steps to prepare for the big day.

“My dad was a contemporary of the 50/51 team, he was the same age as them. He played with them and against them. He played friendlies and challenge games for Mayo but never a championship game but he always had that longing to see them win another All-Ireland,” said Martin.

“He had the surgery in ’86 and the two famous surgeons, Wood and Neligan, said to him, we guarantee you 10 years and after that, it is between you and God.

“11 years later and he wanted to test the waters and went to two games in Croke Park that summer, both hurling matches. He took the bus in and worked out the logistics of getting up there. Could he climb up to the top of the stands? He wasn’t as strong as he was when he was younger.

“But he genuinely wanted Mayo to win in the final and knew he was taking a risk.” 

Noel and Fr Peter travelled to that fateful game in hope, surrounded in the stands by a good crowd from Ballyhaunis. Mayo went in five points down at the break but emerged defiant in the second-half.

“The next thing,” Martin said, “Mayo got a goal and two or three points in a short period in the second-half. Dad got overexcited and suffered a massive heart attack and died right there in the stand. He got his Last Rites from his own brother in the stand.” 

Martin said he and his family received a lot of support from the people of Ballyhaunis following this tragic event.

“The Mayo team came back down on the train the day after the match and the team and my dad’s funeral cortege met at the same time coming onto the bridge.

“One of the team was from Ballyhaunis, David Nestor, and they got off the train and formed a cortege on one side of the road as my dad’s coffin came up through Abbey Street.” He said his dad was a much-loved figure in the local community.

“It was the biggest funeral I’ve ever been at and one of the biggest Ballyhaunis has ever seen because my dad was a gentleman. That’s the best way to describe him, he was a gentleman. He worked very hard, often 70, 80, 90 or 100 hours a week back then. The support we got from everyone here in the weeks after that was huge.” 

Martin said he had no doubt that if his dad Noel were still alive today, he would do whatever he could to be in Croke Park this Sunday.

“He absolutely adored Mayo and followed every game over the years. If he were here today, he’d be 99 years old but he’d still want to be in Croke Park next Sunday,” he said.“I can’t watch a Mayo match without thinking about him.”