Emotional day in Charlestown as Taoiseach cuts ribbon on Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch
An Taoiseach Simon Harris with Colm Horkan's father Marty Horkan at the opening of the pitch. Photo Conor McKeown
Taoiseach Simon Harris was in Charlestown yesterday to officially open the Colm Horkan Memorial Pitch and Community Walkway at the grounds of Charlestown Sarsfields GAA club.
The state-of-the-art pitch is an all-weather and flood-lit facility.
The pitch has been opened ahead of the fourth anniversary of the death of Colm Horkan. The 49-year-old Detective Garda was murdered in the line of duty during in incident in Castlerea, Co Roscommon on June 17, 2020. He was a native of Charlestown and former player with Sarsfields.
The Taoiseach was joined the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, Minister of State Dara Calleary and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris for the event which took place at 1pm yesterday.
After the ribbon was cut by the Taoiseach and Colm's father Marty Horkan, Father Tommy Johnson blessed the memorial pitch. The pitch then hosted its inaugural match, an exhibition game between past and present Charlestown Masters players, many of whom played alongside Colm, and an All-Ireland Masters team featuring some of GAA’s top talents.
The players were led out onto the field by Colm’s brother Padraig, who donned the last pair of Gaelic football boots Colm owned, and the game was preceded by a rousing rendition of Amhran na bhFhiann, performed by Colm’s sister Deirdre.
The Charlestown Ladies senior team then played a selection of players currently training at Templemore Garda College before the final game of the day between the Charlestown Men’s senior team and an All Star An Garda Siochana selection.
A truly great and emotive day for the town was wrapped up with live music on Barrack Street throughout the evening.
