Coaching – Congratulations to Tara Quinn and Seamus Duffy who completed their Level 1 Coaching Certificate recently at Entekra – Monaghan GAA Centre of Excellence. There will be more foundation courses coming in January. Please remember it’s now the law that all those involved in coaching must have at least their foundation cert completed. They also must be fully garda vetted. For details about the coaching courses please contact Cormac Duffy and for Garda Vetting please contact Children’s Officer Donal Mc Adam.
Volunteer Appreciation and Recognition Night – last night Wednesday the 12th of December in the Four Seasons Tommy Mc Ardle was recognised for all the work he does around the club – here was the citation that appeared in the booklet on the night.
Tommy is gifted in many fields: football, drama and an acknowledged academic. He came to prominence in football as goalkeeper for the Monaghan junior team’s All Ireland success in 1956 while still a student in St. Mcaran’s College. The pinnacle of his football career was probably when he played in goal for Ulster in the 1961 Railway Cup Final. Leinster ultimately won the day with a one point victory after a late goal from Mickey Whelan. This was the first televised football match by RTE. The result was soon forgotten and Tommy became a local celebrity.
Tommy lives in and loves his own community and has a long and fruitful association with Drumhowan. Whilst fame was achieved for his goalkeeping skills at county and provincial levels at club level he was an outfield player. He was a marquee man when Drumhowan won the Junior Double in 1960 remaining undefeated throughout the season. When he retired from playing on the pitch he was a leader in the dressing room and later the cheer leader in the terraces, composing a song for the 1997 Championship success. Tommy was instrumental in setting up a juvenile committee. In fact his stamp is on everything GAA in Drumhowan and we acknowledge in the immortal Kipling line – “he can walk among kings but never lose the common touch.”
Tommy is the “heart of Drumhowan” The Drumhowan Community Group exists because of his energy, enthusiasm and vision. The Gathering of 2013, the centenary of 1916 celebrations and the recent OsKaRs had Tommy at the helm. His “Around the Villages” notes on Drumhowan are legendary and read by many well beyond the hinterlands of Drumhowan. In fact many buy the Northern Standard just to read them. The highs, the lows and the wild and wonderful are all there. No surprise then that the people say Tommy Mc Ardle can make a great story out of anything. However it is in the memories and the little anecdotes, the little pen pictures of one who has left the community that touches all.
Invitation – To all who would be interested in participating and joining our club in a playing or coaching capacity please contact any club member as new players/ volunteers are always welcome to our club.
Sympathy – to extended to the Duffy family on the death of Seamus Duffy, Cordoolagh. Seamus was one of the men that helped set up the Son’s of Erin Juvenile Club in Tullycorbet which was the beginnings of the Juvenile set up for Drumhowan.
By noelduffy
Tue 11th Dec
