They have contributed more than their share …

For those that don’t recognize the people in this photograph we have (L to R) Paul McGrath, Dan O’ Dowd, Colm Connaughton, Paddy Cole, Kevin Higgins, Noel Daly and John Mulvihill.

Paul McGrath was a member of the Mullingar Shamrocks championship squad in 1966 one of several who completed the minor-senior double that year. Paul’s contribution to Mullingar Shamrocks was substantial and his advice and support was crucial when Mullingar Shamrocks made a number of successful applications for Sports Capital Funding in the 2000s and 2010s.

Dan O’Dowd captained Mullingar Shamrocks to win the 1966 senior title and also played in the 1964 title winning team with his brothers Terry and James and was also a panelist when Pearses won the 1962 senior hurling title and Shamrocks won the junior football title. Dan also served the club as an administrator and was Treasurer and Secretary at different stages in the 1970s

Paddy Cole was the first superstar of Mullingar Shamrocks football and had an extraordinary playing record with the club that stretched to over twenty years as well as playing for Westmeath for over a decade. Paddy became the only Mullingar Shamrocks player to play in a Railway Cup final when he lined out for Leinster in the 1968 final against Ulster. After winning minor titles in 1960 and 1961, Paddy played in the 1962 junior final when Shamrocks made the breakthrough to senior and was midfield in 1964, the year Shamrocks also won the under-21 title, and 1966 senior title winning teams and was still there in 1979 when Shamrocks returned to the big county final stage – this time as player manager on the team that lost to Athlone. He continued to play senior football for Shamrocks until 1983 and his versatility was such that he was equally at home in defence, mid-field and attack.

Kevin Higgins uniquely played in goal for Westmeath and Leinster but never for Mullingar Shamrocks. He was wing-back in the 1964 and 1966 county champion teams. He was sensational in the 1963 All-Ireland minor football final against Kerry when playing in goal for Westmeath. Kevin Higgins became the first Shamrocks player to gain inter-provincial honours and the first Westmeath player selected to play in goal for Leinster when he played and kept a clean sheet in the Railway Cup semi-final match against Munster. Injury kept him out of the final against Ulster where he was replaced by the great Martin Furlong.

Dual player, Colm Connaughton has the same title winning collection in hurling and football as Paddy Cole and was leading scorer for Shamrocks in the 1964 championship campaign with 1-9 and joint leading scorer (with minor star Tony Keegan) with 3-4 in 1966 after scoring 2-1 in the final. One of Westmeath’s finest ever hurlers, Colm was instrumental in Westmeath winning the All-Ireland B title in 1975, in what was one of Westmeath’s finest hurling teams.

Noel Daly was goalkeeper on the minor and senior county title winning team in 1966 and later served the club as Chairman and was Trustee for several years until the club recently opted for the Corporate Trustee format.

John Mulvihill was a 1966 panellist and an Under-21 medal winner in 1964 who also served the club as Secretary and Treasurer in the 1960s.