Scor in Boyle: Boyle was an active Club in Scor in the initial decade from ’69 to ’79This was a period when Boyle had a National reputation as a centre for traditional music and song. This was highlighted by the great All-Ireland Fleadhs of 1960 and 1966. There were also a number of successful Connacht and Roscommon Fleadhs. Boyle was also an active participant in the Comhaltas, Scoraiocht, competition.
As a result of this there was a crossover of participants to Scor and such was the dual participation that both competitions have become somewhat confused in the memories of the participants of thirty years ago. This was exemplified by the confusion over an outing in Ballyleague Hall in the early to mid seventies when a Boyle Set Dance Group, including Christy Slein and Paddy McGarry, while losing out on technicalities won on the clapometer!
Regular Club representatives were the Morris family who were well known in traditional music circles in Comhaltas. Mrs. Morris, a noted traditional fiddle player, participated in the All-Ireland at the R.D.S. in 1972. She participated again in 1978 in the music group with members of her family, Anthony and Anne.
In 1976 Boyle represented Roscommon in the All-Ireland Finals in Leisureland in ‘The Novelty Act’ and ‘Ballad Group’. Sean Young, a fine singer, participated in both. The ‘Ballad Group’ had stiff competition in this period from Roscommon Gaels group, while Sean remembers a P.J. Shine orchestrated Clann na Gael, as always being to the fore in ‘The Novelty Act’. The Ballad Group featured in an RTE highlights programme.
Sean remembers an incident, with an adjudicator, in Ballinameen Hall, when the adjudicator, though commending his solo singing of the song ‘Sliabh Gallion Brae’, referred to it as a Scottish song. Sean was quick to clarify the issue by informing the adjudicator that he grew up in the shadow of the said Sliabh, in South Derry.
The internal Club competition, was, for a number of years, of a high standard. This competition was held in The Tennis Pavilion where a spirit of friendly rivalry prevailed.
The Bolger family from Corrigeenroe were the backbone of any dancing entry. Among the other Scor regulars were Barry Feely, P.J. and Maureen Keane, Rosaleen Moran , Una Beirne and Paddy McDermott. Scor, with many other social outings centred around music and song, give to the decade of the seventies a kaleidoscope of memories, colouring a very different world, for the small group of participants from Boyle. (For a County Scor publication Sept. 2005).
Handball The Golden Age in Boyle: Perhaps there are other parallels in sport but I don’t know of them,so it can be confidently proposed that for the decade of the 1930s’ Boyle was the heartbeat of handball in Ireland. This was due to the efforts of one John Casey who ran his ball-alley, Casey’s Alley in Patrick Street Boyle. From it came one of the great champions of any sport and I contend Roscommon’s greatest ever sportsman. His name was Paddy Perry. With Perry in the lead there was a supporting cast of other fine handballers such as Paddy Reid, the Gaughrans, Clarkes, Kennedy, Devine, Dooley and Gibbons. Perry won his first All Ireland, a Junior softball singles and accompanied by Tommy Gaughran they also won the doubles, at the Horse and Jockey alley in Tipperary in 1929. In 1930 Paddy won the first of 8 All Ireland Senior softball titles in a row, 1930 to 1937 incl. For a long time it was felt that this would never be equalled but it has been by Kilkenny handballer, Duxie Walshe. Perry with Austin Mullaney, son of a schoolteacher from outside Boyle and later a teacher himself in Glinsk, Co. Glaway, won the Senior All Ireland Softball Doubles in ’32 and ’33. In ’36, Paddy, with his friend Paddy Reid of Tawnanaden, Boyle, they took the All Ireland Senior hardball doubles title. In nine years he won 13 All Ireland medals along with a host of Provincial and Garda honours as well as the prestiguous Tailteann Games Singles and Doubles (with A. Mullaney) in 1932. He was awarded the G.A.A. Golden Jubilee Year Trophy for 1934.
There is a reference to him being selected for an Irish handball team to participate at the !932 Olympics at Los Angeles and of the team being unable to travel due to lack of funds. While a case is being put to have handball (as we know it) included today I was not aware that it was part of an Olympic programme previously.
Perry was to be succeeded by another great champion whose father came from Boyle but was domiciled in Kilkenny, John Joe Gilmartin. They met in October 1937 at Clogh, Co. Kilkenny. Noted handball authority and referee, Tom McElligott, wrote evocatively, in his 1984 book on handball, on this game:
“ Like the meeting of two great players in any sport, while the match did not answer all the questions, it was still a memorable occasion. It showed Perry at his masterly best. It showed Gilmartin who still had a bit to go to attain similar mastery. Perry was then a commanding figure, fast-moving with a deceptively easy way of hitting a decisive ‘kill’. His beautiful service that ran only inches below the board at the top of the side-walls meant that Gilmartin rarely put him out in his return of service. Gilmartin, only coming on the scene, showed breath-taking speed and rapier drives down the side- walls. Perry came out the winner by the odd game in five. On the homeward journey none of us had any doubt but that we had seen a match that would not be surpassed in our time’.
Paddy went down to John Joe in 1938 with the most disappointing feature being that the game was in Boyle. “ I didn’t mind losing as much to John Joe, because he was one of the greatest I ever played but to lose in my home town was naturally disappointing” Perry later recalled. They remained friends and long afterwards discussed with admiration and envy the quality of the new glass courts of Croke Park.
That Paddy Perry remained in Ireland at all was a close run thing. He was due to go to an uncle in the States but was persuaded by General Eoin O’Duffy to join the Guards in line with his policy of getting prominent sports people into the force.
Membership of the force led to a unique and probably never to be equalled accolade for Paddy Perry in that he was to win three Dublin senior championships on the one day representing the Garda. It was in 1934. In the football final they defeated St. Joseph’s. He was persuaded to play in the hurling Final against Faughs, which they also won. Paddy sustained a badly injured ankle and rib and was strongly advised not to play for some time. However on that evening he defeated Peter Berry (a prominent Civil Servant in the early 70s’) in the handball final. This made his injuries worse but he later felt the uniqueness of his achievement made it worthwhile.
Paddy played Gaelic football for Boyle and Roscommon. He played with the Garda and won Dublin Senior Championships in ’33, ’34, ’35. He won a Leinster Senior medal with Dublin County in ’34 and was on the Dublin panel which disposed of Kerry convincingly in the Semi-final at Tralee but were defeated by Galway (Connacht’s first Senior Football win) in the All-Ireland Final.
He also played soccer for Sligo Rovers under the name ‘Mickey Rooney’.
In recalling his most memorable moments he nominated his return to Boyle after his victories in the All Ireland Junior singles and Doubles with Tommy Gaughran in 1929.
“They laid rockets on the railway track which announced our homecoming. There were bonfires blazing and we were carried shoulder high down the town accompanied by the town’s ‘Brass and Reed’ band. We were young and really enjoyed it all.’
Paddy Perry was the second person to be honoured with a Hall of Fame award in Roscommon in 1969. (The previous year Tom Shevlin was similarly honoured).
He served in the Garda from 1931 until retirement, on his birthday March 17, 1972, with all his service being in Dublin. He was born on Patrick’s day 1909 and died in April 1983 aged 74 years.
His life-long friend, fellow Boyle man and handball champion Paddy Reid paid him this tribute;
‘during his time as Champion he met many very great players throughout Ireland but none of them could compete with the brilliance of the great Champion Paddy Perry was. I have witnessed many great games during and since that time and I can truly say that his superiority and brilliance have never been and are never likely to be equalled. He was a credit to his county and country and to the Garda Siochana in which he served with distinction for 41 years”
PADDY REID:
Paddy was born in Townanadden, Boyle. As an older child he was sent to live with his mother’s relatives, the hunts of Moygara near Gurteen, Co. Sligo. His cousin Jim Hunt an R.I.C. man was a handballer and had won Munster titles while stationed there and Connacht Softball Singles subsequently. Jim Hunt left the R.I.C. and was involved in the Independence with which Paddy Reid also became involved on leaving school. Paddy applied to join the new Civic Guards and was inducted in Dublin in February 1923 and was posted to Newtownforbes in July. In 1924 Paddy with Jim Hunt won the All Ireland Senior Softball Doubles title for Sligo, beating the Meath representatives at Kells. (For a County GAA Publication)
County Colours: The Story of the use and origin of Roscommon’s GAA colours Blue and Gold (sometimes referred to as ‘Primrose and Blue’).
In the early years counties were represented by clubs and wore club jerseys. Roscommon seem to have used black jerseys probably because the dominant club, Elphin, had those colours, The first county team picture, with players from different clubs, 1915, (Ros. Hist p. 34) has a mix of ‘black with an unusual crest (3) ’, ‘black with a shamrock’ (goalie), ‘black with a diagonal band’ (1), and vertical bands of black and maybe green (10).
The 1916 team (p. 36) has a couple of black with crest, one with shamrock and the remainder black.
The 1925 team (p 45) has the vertical black and maybe green band in toto.
The 1932 team (p. 50) has the black jersey, with green horizontal hoops.
The ‘black with green hoops white collars and cuffs’ is given in ‘The Irish Independent GAA Golden Jubilee Number, Easter, 1934, as the official Roscommon county colours. (Nemo Rangers wear this kind of combination today).
This obtained until 1939 and the beginning of the ‘new’ colours.
In 1937 Tarmon (just outside Castlerea) and Castlerea Clubs combined. The agreement was that, the name Tarmon would be the name of the amalgamated Club but the Club colours would be that of Castlerea, blue and gold/primrose/yellow.
Castlerea got their colours, and by connection Roscommon County, as follows.
In the 20s’ the fortunes of the Castlerea Club were low and a group of young fellows were ‘doing the town’ collecting money to buy a set of jerseys and a football. They came to a Mr. Callaghan who owned a bakery (no relation of J.P (Doc) Callaghan). He told them to continue to collect for the football but that he would ‘sponsor’ a set of jerseys for them so long as the colours were those of the painting of a nearby shop, ‘primrose and blue’. This was no problem to the collectors and so the subsequent Castlerea colours were thus.
Returning to the county scene in 1939. Roscommon had no Senior team and were graded Junior and reached the All Ireland final. They wore the County colours of ‘black and green’ against Mayo, Limerick (Co. Hist. p. 74) but were beaten by Dublin in the Final.
The Minors also were also featuring in a run that won the county its first All Ireland title. The county had only one set of jerseys, it is assumed. Dan O’ Rourke County Chairman since ’35 was the N.T. in Tarmon and a Tarmon official. The Minors, we assume, wore the Tarmon jerseys, blue with yellow hoops (Ros. Hist. P. 70 and 72 ).
Because of the success of this team and their colour of ‘blue and gold’ being ‘lucky’ for them and perhaps with a better look input ‘the blue and gold’ colours were adopted by the county Board in 1940.
We see these jerseys on pages 76 (All Ireland winning Juniors), 78 (Minors All Ireland winners again) up to and including the 1943 All Ireland Semi-final winning team V Louth 1943.
Roscommon now faced Cavan also with blue, in the All Ireland final. At Central Council it was said to Dan O’Rourke, Roscommon’s delegate that Roscommon being the ‘new’ team. Mr. O’ Rourke said that they would change the jerseys but retain the colours. Yellow/primrose dominated the jersey for the Final. Yellow with blue cuffs and collars. These are still the county colours with style adoptions. The old yellow with blue band is regarded as the alternative Roscommon jersey and has been used on a number of high profile occasions eg. All Ireland Semi-final 1977 and ’80 V Armagh. That is the story and I’m going to stick to it. This will now become the ‘authorised’ version on the topic. If it is a legend, print it anyway there are few to possibly contradict it! (May ’03).
As a result of this there was a crossover of participants to Scor and such was the dual participation that both competitions have become somewhat confused in the memories of the participants of thirty years ago. This was exemplified by the confusion over an outing in Ballyleague Hall in the early to mid seventies when a Boyle Set Dance Group, including Christy Slein and Paddy McGarry, while losing out on technicalities won on the clapometer!
Regular Club representatives were the Morris family who were well known in traditional music circles in Comhaltas. Mrs. Morris, a noted traditional fiddle player, participated in the All-Ireland at the R.D.S. in 1972. She participated again in 1978 in the music group with members of her family, Anthony and Anne.
In 1976 Boyle represented Roscommon in the All-Ireland Finals in Leisureland in ‘The Novelty Act’ and ‘Ballad Group’. Sean Young, a fine singer, participated in both. The ‘Ballad Group’ had stiff competition in this period from Roscommon Gaels group, while Sean remembers a P.J. Shine orchestrated Clann na Gael, as always being to the fore in ‘The Novelty Act’. The Ballad Group featured in an RTE highlights programme.
Sean remembers an incident, with an adjudicator, in Ballinameen Hall, when the adjudicator, though commending his solo singing of the song ‘Sliabh Gallion Brae’, referred to it as a Scottish song. Sean was quick to clarify the issue by informing the adjudicator that he grew up in the shadow of the said Sliabh, in South Derry.
The internal Club competition, was, for a number of years, of a high standard. This competition was held in The Tennis Pavilion where a spirit of friendly rivalry prevailed.
The Bolger family from Corrigeenroe were the backbone of any dancing entry. Among the other Scor regulars were Barry Feely, P.J. and Maureen Keane, Rosaleen Moran , Una Beirne and Paddy McDermott. Scor, with many other social outings centred around music and song, give to the decade of the seventies a kaleidoscope of memories, colouring a very different world, for the small group of participants from Boyle. (For a County Scor publication Sept. 2005).
Handball The Golden Age in Boyle: Perhaps there are other parallels in sport but I don’t know of them,so it can be confidently proposed that for the decade of the 1930s’ Boyle was the heartbeat of handball in Ireland. This was due to the efforts of one John Casey who ran his ball-alley, Casey’s Alley in Patrick Street Boyle. From it came one of the great champions of any sport and I contend Roscommon’s greatest ever sportsman. His name was Paddy Perry. With Perry in the lead there was a supporting cast of other fine handballers such as Paddy Reid, the Gaughrans, Clarkes, Kennedy, Devine, Dooley and Gibbons. Perry won his first All Ireland, a Junior softball singles and accompanied by Tommy Gaughran they also won the doubles, at the Horse and Jockey alley in Tipperary in 1929. In 1930 Paddy won the first of 8 All Ireland Senior softball titles in a row, 1930 to 1937 incl. For a long time it was felt that this would never be equalled but it has been by Kilkenny handballer, Duxie Walshe. Perry with Austin Mullaney, son of a schoolteacher from outside Boyle and later a teacher himself in Glinsk, Co. Glaway, won the Senior All Ireland Softball Doubles in ’32 and ’33. In ’36, Paddy, with his friend Paddy Reid of Tawnanaden, Boyle, they took the All Ireland Senior hardball doubles title. In nine years he won 13 All Ireland medals along with a host of Provincial and Garda honours as well as the prestiguous Tailteann Games Singles and Doubles (with A. Mullaney) in 1932. He was awarded the G.A.A. Golden Jubilee Year Trophy for 1934.
There is a reference to him being selected for an Irish handball team to participate at the !932 Olympics at Los Angeles and of the team being unable to travel due to lack of funds. While a case is being put to have handball (as we know it) included today I was not aware that it was part of an Olympic programme previously.
Perry was to be succeeded by another great champion whose father came from Boyle but was domiciled in Kilkenny, John Joe Gilmartin. They met in October 1937 at Clogh, Co. Kilkenny. Noted handball authority and referee, Tom McElligott, wrote evocatively, in his 1984 book on handball, on this game:
“ Like the meeting of two great players in any sport, while the match did not answer all the questions, it was still a memorable occasion. It showed Perry at his masterly best. It showed Gilmartin who still had a bit to go to attain similar mastery. Perry was then a commanding figure, fast-moving with a deceptively easy way of hitting a decisive ‘kill’. His beautiful service that ran only inches below the board at the top of the side-walls meant that Gilmartin rarely put him out in his return of service. Gilmartin, only coming on the scene, showed breath-taking speed and rapier drives down the side- walls. Perry came out the winner by the odd game in five. On the homeward journey none of us had any doubt but that we had seen a match that would not be surpassed in our time’.
Paddy went down to John Joe in 1938 with the most disappointing feature being that the game was in Boyle. “ I didn’t mind losing as much to John Joe, because he was one of the greatest I ever played but to lose in my home town was naturally disappointing” Perry later recalled. They remained friends and long afterwards discussed with admiration and envy the quality of the new glass courts of Croke Park.
That Paddy Perry remained in Ireland at all was a close run thing. He was due to go to an uncle in the States but was persuaded by General Eoin O’Duffy to join the Guards in line with his policy of getting prominent sports people into the force.
Membership of the force led to a unique and probably never to be equalled accolade for Paddy Perry in that he was to win three Dublin senior championships on the one day representing the Garda. It was in 1934. In the football final they defeated St. Joseph’s. He was persuaded to play in the hurling Final against Faughs, which they also won. Paddy sustained a badly injured ankle and rib and was strongly advised not to play for some time. However on that evening he defeated Peter Berry (a prominent Civil Servant in the early 70s’) in the handball final. This made his injuries worse but he later felt the uniqueness of his achievement made it worthwhile.
Paddy played Gaelic football for Boyle and Roscommon. He played with the Garda and won Dublin Senior Championships in ’33, ’34, ’35. He won a Leinster Senior medal with Dublin County in ’34 and was on the Dublin panel which disposed of Kerry convincingly in the Semi-final at Tralee but were defeated by Galway (Connacht’s first Senior Football win) in the All-Ireland Final.
He also played soccer for Sligo Rovers under the name ‘Mickey Rooney’.
In recalling his most memorable moments he nominated his return to Boyle after his victories in the All Ireland Junior singles and Doubles with Tommy Gaughran in 1929.
“They laid rockets on the railway track which announced our homecoming. There were bonfires blazing and we were carried shoulder high down the town accompanied by the town’s ‘Brass and Reed’ band. We were young and really enjoyed it all.’
Paddy Perry was the second person to be honoured with a Hall of Fame award in Roscommon in 1969. (The previous year Tom Shevlin was similarly honoured).
He served in the Garda from 1931 until retirement, on his birthday March 17, 1972, with all his service being in Dublin. He was born on Patrick’s day 1909 and died in April 1983 aged 74 years.
His life-long friend, fellow Boyle man and handball champion Paddy Reid paid him this tribute;
‘during his time as Champion he met many very great players throughout Ireland but none of them could compete with the brilliance of the great Champion Paddy Perry was. I have witnessed many great games during and since that time and I can truly say that his superiority and brilliance have never been and are never likely to be equalled. He was a credit to his county and country and to the Garda Siochana in which he served with distinction for 41 years”
PADDY REID:
Paddy was born in Townanadden, Boyle. As an older child he was sent to live with his mother’s relatives, the hunts of Moygara near Gurteen, Co. Sligo. His cousin Jim Hunt an R.I.C. man was a handballer and had won Munster titles while stationed there and Connacht Softball Singles subsequently. Jim Hunt left the R.I.C. and was involved in the Independence with which Paddy Reid also became involved on leaving school. Paddy applied to join the new Civic Guards and was inducted in Dublin in February 1923 and was posted to Newtownforbes in July. In 1924 Paddy with Jim Hunt won the All Ireland Senior Softball Doubles title for Sligo, beating the Meath representatives at Kells. (For a County GAA Publication)
County Colours: The Story of the use and origin of Roscommon’s GAA colours Blue and Gold (sometimes referred to as ‘Primrose and Blue’).
In the early years counties were represented by clubs and wore club jerseys. Roscommon seem to have used black jerseys probably because the dominant club, Elphin, had those colours, The first county team picture, with players from different clubs, 1915, (Ros. Hist p. 34) has a mix of ‘black with an unusual crest (3) ’, ‘black with a shamrock’ (goalie), ‘black with a diagonal band’ (1), and vertical bands of black and maybe green (10).
The 1916 team (p. 36) has a couple of black with crest, one with shamrock and the remainder black.
The 1925 team (p 45) has the vertical black and maybe green band in toto.
The 1932 team (p. 50) has the black jersey, with green horizontal hoops.
The ‘black with green hoops white collars and cuffs’ is given in ‘The Irish Independent GAA Golden Jubilee Number, Easter, 1934, as the official Roscommon county colours. (Nemo Rangers wear this kind of combination today).
This obtained until 1939 and the beginning of the ‘new’ colours.
In 1937 Tarmon (just outside Castlerea) and Castlerea Clubs combined. The agreement was that, the name Tarmon would be the name of the amalgamated Club but the Club colours would be that of Castlerea, blue and gold/primrose/yellow.
Castlerea got their colours, and by connection Roscommon County, as follows.
In the 20s’ the fortunes of the Castlerea Club were low and a group of young fellows were ‘doing the town’ collecting money to buy a set of jerseys and a football. They came to a Mr. Callaghan who owned a bakery (no relation of J.P (Doc) Callaghan). He told them to continue to collect for the football but that he would ‘sponsor’ a set of jerseys for them so long as the colours were those of the painting of a nearby shop, ‘primrose and blue’. This was no problem to the collectors and so the subsequent Castlerea colours were thus.
Returning to the county scene in 1939. Roscommon had no Senior team and were graded Junior and reached the All Ireland final. They wore the County colours of ‘black and green’ against Mayo, Limerick (Co. Hist. p. 74) but were beaten by Dublin in the Final.
The Minors also were also featuring in a run that won the county its first All Ireland title. The county had only one set of jerseys, it is assumed. Dan O’ Rourke County Chairman since ’35 was the N.T. in Tarmon and a Tarmon official. The Minors, we assume, wore the Tarmon jerseys, blue with yellow hoops (Ros. Hist. P. 70 and 72 ).
Because of the success of this team and their colour of ‘blue and gold’ being ‘lucky’ for them and perhaps with a better look input ‘the blue and gold’ colours were adopted by the county Board in 1940.
We see these jerseys on pages 76 (All Ireland winning Juniors), 78 (Minors All Ireland winners again) up to and including the 1943 All Ireland Semi-final winning team V Louth 1943.
Roscommon now faced Cavan also with blue, in the All Ireland final. At Central Council it was said to Dan O’Rourke, Roscommon’s delegate that Roscommon being the ‘new’ team. Mr. O’ Rourke said that they would change the jerseys but retain the colours. Yellow/primrose dominated the jersey for the Final. Yellow with blue cuffs and collars. These are still the county colours with style adoptions. The old yellow with blue band is regarded as the alternative Roscommon jersey and has been used on a number of high profile occasions eg. All Ireland Semi-final 1977 and ’80 V Armagh. That is the story and I’m going to stick to it. This will now become the ‘authorised’ version on the topic. If it is a legend, print it anyway there are few to possibly contradict it! (May ’03).
Abbey Park; A new dawn:
The Abbey Park, Boyle, has long been associated with the playing of Gaelic games. Boyle had traditionally been a location for inter-county games for decades up to the late forties. From 1913 to 1919 there were 6 Connacht Senior football Championship games in the town; in the 20s’ there were 6 also; in the 30s’ there were 3 and in the 40s’ 5. The games in the 40s’ included the memorable draw and replay with Sligo in ’44 when Roscommon were reigning All-Ireland Champions and saw the introduction to senior ranks of Boyle’s best known player, John Joe Nerney. He won an All-Ireland medal that year and went on to win 5 Connacht Championship medals. Two other Railway Cup players played with Boyle in the early 50s’, Timmy Lynch and Dr. Bill McQuillan.
From ‘Castle Gardens’ to GAA ground:
I’ve heard of the Abbey Park being referred to as ‘the castle gardens’ as the Abbey itself was used as ‘a castle’ in post-clerical times with the adjacent area being designated as the ‘castle garden’.
In 1905 the ground passed from the land Commission to Major J.F. Murphy. Presumably before that it was part of the Rockingham lands. In 1916 it passed interestingly to a group called the ‘Boyle Improvement Co. Ltd.’. From 1929 to 1940 it was owned by James and later John Feely, who were in business in Green Street. It was available for games of note in that period but not for practise. A regular duty of some of ‘the committee’ was to seek the permission of the owners for upcoming games. This seemed to be generally and generously forthcoming. The next duty of the committee was ‘the preparation of the grounds for the upcoming match’. One of the problems, which many people will remember, is that the wall at the Abbey end was so low and above the level of the pitch that it afforded a ‘grandstand view’ without a grandstand fee. This necessitated crude improvisation to obscure this view with sheets of canvass being put in place. The Show Committee also dealt similarly with the ‘problem’.
In 1940, the property was bought by an avid GAA enthusiast, Martin Regan, from Corrigeenroe, who had a bicycle shop in Patrick Street. With the end of World War 2 and improved transport and big crowds saw the Provincial games moving towards central vested GAA venues, with greater accommodation, such as Tuam, Castlebar, Carrick-on Shannon, Ballymote and Roscommon.
Club Purchase of Abbey Park:
In 1968, the then Father Dodd purchased the grounds on behalf of the Diocese of Elphin and St. Mary’s College, Boyle. Shortly afterwards Father Dodd ‘swopped’ the Abbey Park, with, ‘The Termon and Warren Trustees’, for lands closer to the college. That the local GAA should attempt to purchase ‘the park’ was a regular issue but the it was not until the 70s’ that the necessary initiative emerged. With the goodwill of ‘The Termon and Warren Trustees’ and a dedicated and most competent committee the Abbey Park eventually became GAA property in January 1977. A considerable effort was then made to bring the grounds up to standard with levelling, draining, fencing and the provision of improved rooms. Eventually the ground was opened with an inter-county game between regular opponents of the time Roscommon and Armagh.
Contribution of club Members down the years:
Today the club caters for teams at under 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, Junior and Intermediate levels. There are currently around 120 under-age players and around 40 adult players. Some of the most prominent recent players include David Casey of the current Roscommon team. Also there was Tom Ryan, Gary Wynne, Niall, Owen, Rory and Mark O’ Donohoe, Gerry Cregg, Mark McGovern, John Healy, Ml. Smith, Gerry O’ Dowd, Kit O’Connor, Sean Daly, Pat Clarke, Pat and John Nicholson, Rory Ahern, Paddy Conlon and Paddy McDermott, plus numerous minor and under-sixteens with selectors and refereeing representatives. The great Mayo star of the fifties, Ned Moriarty, is also from Boyle. On the administrative level Boyle has had its share of contributors including the current County secretary, Tom Mullaney and a most able past County Chairman, Micheal O’Callaghan. Sean Young has contributed as a County trainer.These contributions go back through Henry Feely and Jim Clarke to the first President of Roscommon GAA Jasper Tully. While this is meant as a reference and not a historical record of the Club, the role of Boyle as a great handball centre in the 30s’ with Paddy Perry, the Gaughrans, Reids and Paddy Kennedy might be mentioned.
Future Plans:
The Armagh game was 26 years ago and though a stand and additional rooms have been added the standards of today have moved on. It is now more than time that the Abbey Park be upgraded. A town the size of Boyle is expected to have grounds and facilities of a high standard. Such facilities have been developed by adjoining clubs, Ballinameen, St. Michaels and Shannon Gaels. For Boyle to reassert itself as a prime regional location for Gaelic games requires proper modern facilities. These games have been a considerable asset to the town in terms of identity, regional focus and commercial input. So in a town that is lacking in high standard recreational facilities it is of the utmost importance that this historic sports ground be returned to its previous proud position.
To this end the current committee have embarked on a vigorous and ambitious redevelopment programme. This is planed to proceed on a phased basis over a number of years and has already begun.
Phase one involves, the re configuration, levelling, draining and fencing of the existing pitch. Also there will be the provision of training lights, dug-outs, and netting. In addition to all this will be the provision of an, ‘all-weather’ training area/ juvenile pitch.
Phase Two, will provide new dressing rooms and parking. (For pitch re-opening progamme April '05).
The Abbey Park, Boyle, has long been associated with the playing of Gaelic games. Boyle had traditionally been a location for inter-county games for decades up to the late forties. From 1913 to 1919 there were 6 Connacht Senior football Championship games in the town; in the 20s’ there were 6 also; in the 30s’ there were 3 and in the 40s’ 5. The games in the 40s’ included the memorable draw and replay with Sligo in ’44 when Roscommon were reigning All-Ireland Champions and saw the introduction to senior ranks of Boyle’s best known player, John Joe Nerney. He won an All-Ireland medal that year and went on to win 5 Connacht Championship medals. Two other Railway Cup players played with Boyle in the early 50s’, Timmy Lynch and Dr. Bill McQuillan.
From ‘Castle Gardens’ to GAA ground:
I’ve heard of the Abbey Park being referred to as ‘the castle gardens’ as the Abbey itself was used as ‘a castle’ in post-clerical times with the adjacent area being designated as the ‘castle garden’.
In 1905 the ground passed from the land Commission to Major J.F. Murphy. Presumably before that it was part of the Rockingham lands. In 1916 it passed interestingly to a group called the ‘Boyle Improvement Co. Ltd.’. From 1929 to 1940 it was owned by James and later John Feely, who were in business in Green Street. It was available for games of note in that period but not for practise. A regular duty of some of ‘the committee’ was to seek the permission of the owners for upcoming games. This seemed to be generally and generously forthcoming. The next duty of the committee was ‘the preparation of the grounds for the upcoming match’. One of the problems, which many people will remember, is that the wall at the Abbey end was so low and above the level of the pitch that it afforded a ‘grandstand view’ without a grandstand fee. This necessitated crude improvisation to obscure this view with sheets of canvass being put in place. The Show Committee also dealt similarly with the ‘problem’.
In 1940, the property was bought by an avid GAA enthusiast, Martin Regan, from Corrigeenroe, who had a bicycle shop in Patrick Street. With the end of World War 2 and improved transport and big crowds saw the Provincial games moving towards central vested GAA venues, with greater accommodation, such as Tuam, Castlebar, Carrick-on Shannon, Ballymote and Roscommon.
Club Purchase of Abbey Park:
In 1968, the then Father Dodd purchased the grounds on behalf of the Diocese of Elphin and St. Mary’s College, Boyle. Shortly afterwards Father Dodd ‘swopped’ the Abbey Park, with, ‘The Termon and Warren Trustees’, for lands closer to the college. That the local GAA should attempt to purchase ‘the park’ was a regular issue but the it was not until the 70s’ that the necessary initiative emerged. With the goodwill of ‘The Termon and Warren Trustees’ and a dedicated and most competent committee the Abbey Park eventually became GAA property in January 1977. A considerable effort was then made to bring the grounds up to standard with levelling, draining, fencing and the provision of improved rooms. Eventually the ground was opened with an inter-county game between regular opponents of the time Roscommon and Armagh.
Contribution of club Members down the years:
Today the club caters for teams at under 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, Junior and Intermediate levels. There are currently around 120 under-age players and around 40 adult players. Some of the most prominent recent players include David Casey of the current Roscommon team. Also there was Tom Ryan, Gary Wynne, Niall, Owen, Rory and Mark O’ Donohoe, Gerry Cregg, Mark McGovern, John Healy, Ml. Smith, Gerry O’ Dowd, Kit O’Connor, Sean Daly, Pat Clarke, Pat and John Nicholson, Rory Ahern, Paddy Conlon and Paddy McDermott, plus numerous minor and under-sixteens with selectors and refereeing representatives. The great Mayo star of the fifties, Ned Moriarty, is also from Boyle. On the administrative level Boyle has had its share of contributors including the current County secretary, Tom Mullaney and a most able past County Chairman, Micheal O’Callaghan. Sean Young has contributed as a County trainer.These contributions go back through Henry Feely and Jim Clarke to the first President of Roscommon GAA Jasper Tully. While this is meant as a reference and not a historical record of the Club, the role of Boyle as a great handball centre in the 30s’ with Paddy Perry, the Gaughrans, Reids and Paddy Kennedy might be mentioned.
Future Plans:
The Armagh game was 26 years ago and though a stand and additional rooms have been added the standards of today have moved on. It is now more than time that the Abbey Park be upgraded. A town the size of Boyle is expected to have grounds and facilities of a high standard. Such facilities have been developed by adjoining clubs, Ballinameen, St. Michaels and Shannon Gaels. For Boyle to reassert itself as a prime regional location for Gaelic games requires proper modern facilities. These games have been a considerable asset to the town in terms of identity, regional focus and commercial input. So in a town that is lacking in high standard recreational facilities it is of the utmost importance that this historic sports ground be returned to its previous proud position.
To this end the current committee have embarked on a vigorous and ambitious redevelopment programme. This is planed to proceed on a phased basis over a number of years and has already begun.
Phase one involves, the re configuration, levelling, draining and fencing of the existing pitch. Also there will be the provision of training lights, dug-outs, and netting. In addition to all this will be the provision of an, ‘all-weather’ training area/ juvenile pitch.
Phase Two, will provide new dressing rooms and parking. (For pitch re-opening progamme April '05).
No comments:
Post a Comment