Sunday 2 February 2014

St John's Dinner Dance 1st February 2014

St. Johns GAA Club celebrate

An outstanding year for the St. John’s G.A.A Club was recalled at the Annual Dinner Dance on Saturday last, writes Michael McGee

Saturday was the feast day of St. Brigid but Saturday night belonged to St. John’s GAA Club who celebrated an outstanding 2013 with their Minor teams winning the Shield and the Junior A & B teams also capturing County titles. In a packed Sligo Park Hotel the three teams were feted and presented with their County medals. In attendance were Chairman of the Sligo G.A.A Board Joe Taaffe, Charlie Harrison St.John’s & Sligo G.A.A Star, Gene & Mary Flynn Hall of Fame Award winners, Colm Nevin Club Chairman and Officials.

County Board Chairman Joe Taaffe congratulated the club on its extraordinary success and also thanked club man Paddy Galvin for his incomparable work in Markievicz Park on a daily basis.  He complimented the club on their excellent facilities in Cuilbeg and for the prudent way they handled their finances.  He appealed to club members to support the Club Sligo initiative. He wished the club every success in the year ahead.

Club Chairman Colm Nevin Congratulated the Junior A & B teams and the Minors on their success.  “It was brilliant for St. John’s and the most successful year for the club.”  He thanked everyone for their contribution to the club and for the team managers.  “A few people are putting in exceptional special efforts for the club and asked for more people to get involved in the club especially in the underage structure.”  He wished Anthony Brennan the manager of the senior team every success and asked the team "to put the shoulder to the wheel" in order to bring the Owen B Hunt back to St. John’s.  He praised Gene & Mary Flynn who have been with the club from the start and thanked them on behalf of the club for their extraordinary work for the club.

John Greene spoke eloquently what Gene & Mary Flynn have done for the club. Gene won a County minor title with Clonguish (Longford) in 1951 at just 14 years of age. He won his second minor title with Strokestown in 1955 and followed this up the following year a junior league title with St. Barry’s Rooskey. In 1959 he won the Junior League & Championship double. The following year he was a member of the Erin’s Hope Luton team that won the league. He will always be remembered when he won the famous 4 in a row of Senior Longford titles with the great Clonguish team in 1962,’63,’64,’65 and again in 1969.  Mary Flynn is also heavily involved with the Club and in Markievicz Park and served as 11 years as Club P.R.O.  Paddy Galvin made the presentation of a replica piece of Crystal of the Sam Maguire Cup to Gene while Siobhan Smith Club Secretary presented Mary Flynn with a bouquet of flowers.   Gene was asked for a few words and reminiscence on his playing career and recalled a number of humorous anecdotes. At the end of the presentations a standing ovation was given to the Flynn’s.  The player of the year awards were presented to Senior player Tom Kelly, Junior A to Noel O’Donnell, Junior B to Fiachra Mooney and Brian McGowan received the Young Player of the Year Award.  D.J. Scruffy Duffy provided the evening’s entertainment into the small hours.


Colm Nevin Club Chairman addressing the crowd

D.J. Scruffy Duffy had them rocking all night

Fiachra Mooney V-Captain Junior B team, Colm Nevin Club Chairman & Jim Sheridan Junior A Captain proudly show off the Junior B & Junior A Cups

St.John's Celebrate 

We are the champions

Charlie Jordan, Michael Barrett & Ray Henry


                               Hall of Fame Award Winners 2014 Mary & Gene with Paddy Galvin

St John's Kings & Queens
back row: Oisin Cox, Simon Gordon, Thomas Kelly, Ronan McGarrigle, Mickey O'Hehir, Enda Roche,
front row: Beibhinn Tuohy, Grainne O'Reilly,Lucy Deevy, Megan Kiely & Heather-Ann Garvey

John Greene, Colm Nevin Club Chairman, Joe Taaffe Co. Chairman, Charlie Harrison
front row: Deloras Greene, Claire McIntyre & Paula Rochford Nevin

                                                    A youthful Charlie Kelly enjoying the celebrations

                                                            St. John's players celebrate

                                          Championships titles on the double:  Noel Hynes, Gabriel Hynes, Darren                                                 Gough, Noel O'Donnell,
                                          front row: Sean Browne, Andrew Vallely & Terry Farrelly

                                              Ann McGowan ,Pat  & Katy Martin & Michael McGowan

Cyril McNamara, Sarah McNamara & Celine Clerkin

                                            St. John's Senior Player of the Year Award winner : Tom Kelly                                                       presented with his award by Gene Flynn

                                                           It's Party time!

                                                            St. John's have the X-Factor


Club Officials Christy Murphy, Colm Nevin Club Chairman, Siobhan Smith Club Secretary, Gerry Quinn Club Treasurer, Noel Gordon, Joe Taaffe County Board Chairman & Paddy Galvin

                                                            St John's Junior B team photo

Karl & Lorraine Kerins, John Joe & Majella O'Connell Nuala & Seamus Flanagan

                                           Eimear Sheridan, Breege Farrelly & Ciaran Walsh

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