O'Duffy link to Mayo recalled at special event
Residents from Kilawalla at the celebration of the return of the Sean O' Duffy Cup to Killawalla National School last week. Pictures: Frank Dolan
An important historical and political figure who was born in a West Mayo village was fondly remembered at a special event last Friday.
In his lifetime, Killawalla native Seán O’Duffy experienced some of the formative events of the modern Irish state and would later play a leading role within the GAA as a founding member of Crokes GAA club. He would become known for his persistent work promoting camogie, famously donating the O’Duffy Cup, which was presented to the winners of the first-ever All-Ireland Camogie Championship and every winner since.
O’Duffy moved to Dublin as a teenager and lived in the Harold's Cross area. He became an electrician and had a keen interest in sport, becoming a referee in soccer. He was present at the reorganisation of the Camogie Association in 1910 and was one of the people who sponsored the movement to have the Jones Road Sportsground dedicated to Archbishop Thomas Croke and henceforth known as Croke Park.
He would also become involved in political work, taking part in the Dublin Lockout strike led by Jim Larkin in 1913. He joined the Irish Volunteers and took part in the Easter Rising in 1916. He was arrested and imprisoned for his role in the Rising until August of that year. In 1917, he was promoted to captain and assisted Michael Collins with his intelligence work.
O’Duffy joined the Irish Republican Army from 1919 until 1921 before returning to civilian life, joining the Civil Service of the new Irish Free State in 1925. He married Kathleen McKeown, a camogie referee from Co Louth, in 1940. He died in 1981.
The Mayo native's legacy in Irish political life and sport was recalled at Killawalla National School last Friday where the O'Duffy Cup was brought for a 'return visit', having been first brought to the school in 1996 when Galway won it for the first time. The Tribeswomen won the trophy for a fifth time last summer after a thrilling victory over Cork.
Killawalla NS principal Teresa MacEvilly welcomed distinguished guests, including National Camogie Association President Brian Molloy, Galway Camogie Board Chairman Paul Kelly, members of the Westport GAA camogie team and Imelda Hobbins, who captained Galway to their first All-Ireland camogie title in 1996. The school students performed music and gave details about Seán O’Duffy’s life.
Mr Molloy said it was an honour to be in Killawalla, the home of Seán O’Duffy, who understood the importance of the female game being promoted.
Galway camogie stalwart Frank Kearney, who helped to organise last Friday’s event, said it was an opportune time for the O’Duffy Cup to come back to its namesake’s homeplace. He said that Seán O’Duffy was an important figure in Irish history who should not be forgotten.
“He was one of the unsung heroes of Irish politics we never hear about,” he said.
When the cup last visited the school in 1996, a plaque was unveiled in honour of O’Duffy. Special tribute was paid to local man Michael Walsh, who passed away last year and who played a key role in keeping the link between Seán O’Duffy and his native Killawalla intact, including the organisation of the 1996 event. His wife Maureen was present at the event.
“Michael Walsh was one of a handful of people in the parish who knew that Seán O’Duffy was born here in Killawalla and helped to keep that link alive,” said Mr Kearney. “It is so great to see Michael’s wife Maureen here today. We always really appreciated the support her husband gave us."
