Local Notes: Eastern Gaels launch new publication
Pictured at the launch of Eastern Gaels 'A Club Of Our Own' were, from left: Michael Murphy, Michael Kelly, Luke Murray, Seamus Owens and Seamus Horan. Picture: Snap Happy Photography
The 40-year history of Eastern Gaels, one of Mayo’s youngest GAA clubs, was recounted at a special launch event for a booklet documenting the events and figures central to the rise of a club that serves the parish of Bekan.
Luke Murray, co-author of the history, titled ‘A Club of Our Own’, told the launch party in the GAA Connacht Centre of Excellence that “there is no limit to my pride in the club”, which was founded in 1984.
“I played in both codes and it’s only when you’re togged out in your own club that you reach completion,” said Luke.
He recounted school days at St Colman’s College in Claremorris where he “listened to lads from Garrymore, Claremorris and Kilmaine talking about the derring dos of the previous day and all I could do was listen”. Luke got his wish for a club representing his own parish when Eastern Gaels was founded in 1984 with leading football figures from Bekan, Brickens, Logboy and Tulrahan involved in the establishment.
Welcoming a large attendance to the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence (a more recent addition to Bekan parish) for the launch of ‘A Club of Our Own,’ club secretary Michael Murphy remembered past members while also pointing to the club’s future, saying a focus in recent years on underage players is “now paying dividends”. The club’s junior team came “tantalisingly close” to a final in 2024 and will aim to complete the quest in 2025, said Michael.
The club secretary also cited investment in a new stand, reseeding works and a gym (shared with Ballyhaunis Rugby Club) as recent signs of progress at Eastern Gaels. The club is now working on plans for an astroturf pitch as part of a wider village redevelopment project in Brickens, he added.
Future challenges facing the club were also referenced by the club secretary. Demographic change - smaller families - is leading to rural depopulation, said Mr Murphy. The number of children sitting the Leaving Cert has started to decline locally and nationally, he said.
Welcoming special guest Keith Higgins to launch the book, Eastern Gaels chairman Seamus Horan told the launch that it was a “huge honour” to be chairman at the 40th anniversary of the club. He had great memories of playing for the club, adding that “the good ones outweigh the bad ones". He thanked neighbours Joe and Breege Nolan for bringing him to his first match.
Mr Horan explained how co-author Luke Murray had taken on the book project in October 2023 and “put the right people around him”. The publisher of the booklet meanwhile is Emu Ink whose co-founder is Logboy native Brian Cleary: a former player with Eastern Gaels, his father Enda was also on the founding committee in 1984.
Luke Murray’s co-author – also his cousin and neighbour - Michael Kelly explained he had watched the club progress over the years and travelled to matches from Dublin where he worked as an official at the Department of Agriculture.
He also recalled being co-opted to play on a wet night by club legend and manager Joe Gilmore.
“It was a wet winter night. Kelly, you’re picked! he said.”
Ever-reliable club man Jimmy Tully spoke of how Eastern Gaels played a big part in his life since his early playing days with the club, and now in retirement from An Post, travelling to matches.
“I played under five different managers,” explained Jimmy, who also recalled with fondness his teammate and colleague Michael John Ronayne who has passed away. He likewise remembered Noel McGuinness and Joe Clancy.
“Joe worked in construction in Dublin and he’d take the bus or the train down from Dublin to matches.”
Looking back, he shared a special memory of a match in Moygownagh on a hot bank holiday where he served as water steward to manager Joe Gilmore.
“Our lads were dehydrated after the long weekend. I remember Joe Gilmore saying ‘The fittest man on the pitch today is Tully!’”
Long-serving player John Nolan described himself as “jealous” of club players.
“Nothing beats playing. I am passing that pitch every day and my heart sinks knowing I’m not playing. In my head I am still playing, though my body said no.”
He recalled fondly travelling in 1991 as an 18-year-old to Kiltimagh for a game against Charlestown B.
“Michael John Ronayne was playing, Frank Fahy was playing and Kieran Byrne (RIP) was managing us.
“We were in Division Four and there was a bit of a buzz to get lads organised. Luke Murray and Jimmy Tully were managing. I was picked as captain. We had 28 lads togged. We went unbeaten in Division Four and made the county final via a semi-final against Belmullet.
“Back then there was no club casual gear or WhatsApp group... you had to ring so and so about the match.”
Mr Nolan also paid tribute to men who, in leaner times, “dug deep in their pockets to keep the affiliation fees paid".
In an eloquent intervention from the floor, club stalwart Frank Fahy from Kilnock described how the club evolved from a challenge game between Bekan and Brickens, a venture dreamt up over pints in Flanagan’s of Brickens and Ronan’s of Bekan.
“Then Michael John Ronayne said he heard Fr [Edmund] Garvey mention it at mass and we knew it was on.”
The teams played in jerseys borrowed from Claremorris and Ballyhaunis.
“It was played on All-Ireland Final day. There was a lot of cobwebs and rust on the field but there was some good football too.”
He recalled meetings at Brickens Community Centre where Tom Waldron (RIP) came in and helped put structure on the nascent organisation.
“He sent someone to Flanagan’s with a notebook, he said we had to put some structure on the thing.”
There was also the matter of a name and a competition to play in.
“South Mayo was very competitive. We went to the East Mayo Board and we said we’d call ourselves Eastern Gaels. Eastern Harps had been suggested also...”
Eventually moving to its pitch in a hill-top field opposite the graveyard in Tulrahan, the club won the East Mayo title in 1985. Frank Fahy, then playing outside the parish with the Ballindine-based Davitts club, was keen to join his fellow parishioners. He remembers games that were played on summer evenings when television sets tuned to Argentina beating England in the 1986 World Cup.
“I was at the end of my career. Then I had ad hoc jobs as manager. We won the Canon Henry Cup in 1987. We had been training like hell, we beat good senior teams that year.”
Eastern Gaels’ birth was a hit to some of the local clubs, especially Ballyhaunis, said Frank.
“We were playing in Division Four, we got up to Division Three nearly. We were doing nicely."
He recalled a hard game in Moygownagh: "They were tough. The man marking me said ‘Fahy I’ll put your jaw in a sling!’”
Frank Fahy also paid tribute to Cloonbook-based John Clancy for securing sites for the club grounds, and his neighbour Micheal Waldron for giving the club’s first playing field in Tulrahan.
“The field in Brickens is naturally draining. Other clubs have had to spend millions on draining theirs.”
Representing perhaps the club’s upcoming 40 years, a panel of current players speaking at the launch included Mayo minor captain Tom Hession, former Mayo minor Michael McGarry as well as Katie Concannon and club PRO Ronan Forde. Laura Regan spoke as captain of the Mothers and Others, which draws over 30 to training. Michael McGarry spoke of “coming very close” to a county title for several years and willed the club on to finish the task in 2025.
Ballyhaunis Community School celebrated its annual Intercultural Day on December 5th as part of the school’s Wellness Week. As a home to students from 44 diverse cultural backgrounds, “the school transformed its gym into a vibrant carnival of colour and celebration,” according to teacher Orla Macken.
“Students proudly showcased their heritage through stories, traditional foods, music, and history, creating a rich tapestry of global traditions. Traditional attire and national jerseys replaced uniforms, as the entire school community joined in the festivities. Lively dances and heartfelt cultural expressions brought everyone together in a spirit of joy and unity.”
All students participated in the initiative ‘Show Racism the Red Card’ by wearing red to stand in solidarity with its powerful message of rejecting racism.
“The school was awash with colour, reflecting its ethos and bringing its motto, ‘Unity in Diversity', to life in the most meaningful way," said Ms Macken.
Young Tooreen singer-songwriter Ethan Henry will be the show-opener for a special Christmas concert appearance by James Kilbane at the Community Hall on December 29th.
Ethan’s song ‘Lost in Space,’ written from his personal experience of watching a loved one suffer from dementia, has received widespread acclaim. Also singing during the opening of the show will be talented local teenage singer Magda Manke. The concert, which starts at 7pm, is a fundraiser for the renovation of the hall gallery and tickets are available at 087 9777899 and ballyhauniscommunitycouncil@gmail.com.
Congratulations to Katie and Lexi Fadian, from Achill, winners of €460 in the Ballyhaunis GAA 50/50 draw on December 8th on an envelope sold in Curley's.
