Lá na gClubanna
Our Lá na gClubanna celebrations were again an outstanding success in bringing the club’s community together in celebration. Events began at 11.00 when Pearse Corroon led the cyclists out the gates in Springfield; some opted for the 30km route, the more seasoned bike-men took on the more arduous 60km. Thankfully it was an accident free morning and all returned to Springfield fit and well. Others confined their morning exercise to the less stressful Walkway. Football games began in the afternoon and began with a full-scale match that included all the young boys and girls of the club. In the interval between the juvenile and adult match the Mullingar Town Band entertained.
The young, the old (and some who were very old), the brave (or maybe foolhardy) and the bold (at least one) then took the pitch for what has in previous years provided one of the day’s highlights. This year was no exception and the match gave another opportunity to many of the legendary Shamrocks players of the 1980s and 1990s to show what made them such a special bunch. Michael O’Reilly, Tom Ormsby, Ned Moore, Pearse Corroon, Spike Fagan (these five have 39 Westmeath senior football medals between them! …will we ever see the like of it again?), Eddie Casey, was there as were Micheál Burke, Adrian Keaveney, Shane Colleary and former Dublin and Erin’s Isle player Robbie Boyle who took to the field for the second time in a week (Dublin Papers please copy and Mickey Whelan please note). The beauty of this match is that it proves to be something of an annual family gathering and provides a rare opportunity for fathers and sons to line out on the same football pitch. Spike and Conor Fagan lined out on the same field for the first time as did Pearse and Ross Corroon and Pearse II. Ned, Eddie and Keith Moore were also prominent throughout the game as were Tom, Shane and Criostóir Ormsby and Michael O’Reilly and the lads. We were honoured to have Barry Kelly refereeing once again. As this was Go-Games for the big boys no score was recorded although Óisin Masterson survived a few big hits to emerge as one of the leading scorers of the day after landing a great goal to be the first to put his name on the score sheet.
The celebrations concluded with food and entertainment. Ross and Declan provided the rock set, Áine and Amy entertained with their tap dancing and finally Conor Moore of Conor’s Sketches and Joe.ie fame introduced the voice and faces of Joe Brolly, Ger Loughnane, Harry Redknapp and several others including his uncle Ned to the wonderful world of Mullingar Shamrocks.
The evening concluded with Mullingar Shamrocks Chairman Pearse Corroon announcing the wonderful news that Fagan Print and Design-Fagans’ Office Supplies had agreed to become the club’s official sponsor for 2017. The club would like to thank all those who contributed to the day’s success especially Pearly, Bill and Tom; Kim Magee and the Mullingar Town Band, those who helped with the catering during the day and all those who supplied sandwiches and goodies of all descriptions. As is usual on occasions such as this excess food was donated to a local charity group.
For a selection of photographs of the day's events check in to Mullingar Shamrocks Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mullingar.shamrocks/
