|
SARSFIELDS G.F.C.
Civic Reception and Centenary Ball
ONE OUTSTANDING servant was foremost in
everyone’s thoughts as Sarsfields Gaelic Football Club
celebrated the 100th anniversary of their initial formation
over the weekend.
A memorable few days was tinged with some sadness with the
absence of the man they call ‘The Chief’ - the one and only
Seán Siggins.
The club’s 86-year-old President and driving force has been
seriously ill since Monday week last and is currently
recuperating in hospital in Waterford. He was a notable
absentee for the celebrations, but the 300-strong crowd
which packed the main function room in the Ferrycarrig Hotel
on Sunday night would have made him very proud.
While the Sarsfields went out of existence on two occasions,
they have a record of unbroken service since 1951 when ‘The
Chief’ was involved in the re-formation of the club.
Currently the joint President as well as being President of
the County Board and Coiste na nÓg, his incredible
dedication can be summed up by his involvement as a Juvenile
and Under-21 selector in this auspicious year.
The celebrations got under way in earnest in the Municipal
Buildings on Friday night when the Mayor, George Lawlor,
himself a former Sarsfields player, hosted a civic reception
which was attended by players and officials past and
present. It was a night of fun, laughter, reminiscing and
fine singing, with the latter provided by the Mayor, Noel
Murphy, Pat Hore, Billy Dodd, Padge Reck and Paddy ‘Whacker’
Nolan who probably won’t be allowed back into Maudlintown
after shouting ‘up the Sars’ at the end of one verse!
Saturday saw the club’s Seniors trying to win the inaugural
Billy Keilthy Memorial Cup for the ‘B’ championship, but
unfortunately they were pipped by Gusserane in Bellefield on
a 1-6 to 0-8 scoreline. Still, there was plenty of
silverware to adorn the top table at the following night’s
Centenary Ball in the Ferrycarrig Hotel. The All-Ireland cup
won by Wexford’s four-in-a-row footballers of 1915 to 1918
was present thanks to the club’s close links to the
O’Kennedy family, while the O’Duffy Cup which was won by the
Wexford Senior camogie team in September was also on show.
The Seán O’Kennedy Cup, won outright after a three-in-a-row
of Minor championships in 1955, ’56 and ’57, was on view
too, along with the Martin Bergin Shield which the club’s
promising Under-10 players won for the second time on Sunday
week last.
The function was graced by the attendance of national
President Nickey Brennan as well as Ger Doyle (Co. Chairman)
and Mick Kinsella (Co.Secretary), while Fr. Michael O’Shea
represented the local clergy. The President received a
pikeman from club Chairman Ger Halligan as a thank you from
the club, while his wife, Mairéad, was presented with a
bouquet of flowers.
There was a special moment when Phil Siggins came forward to
accept a specially-engraved watch on behalf of his brother,
Seán, whose familiar face looked down on the large gathering
from the power-point presentation on the big screen. The
inscription of ‘Taoiseach na Sáirséalaigh’ - Chief of the
Sarsfields - said it all.
Club Treasurer Marian Roice was also presented with a
bouquet of flowers to mark her outstanding work in
organising the event, while club Secretary Kevin Carty
received a most appropriate gift from his fellow committee
members which went down very well with all who know him - a
€100 voucher for anger management classes!
With ‘American Heart’ providing the music and old friends
meeting up again after many years, the celebrations
continued until dawn was breaking. It was a memorable
weekend, and the next big occasion for the Sarsfields will
be the forthcoming launch of its history which is being
penned by club P.R.O., Alan Aherne.
|
