30th anniversary celebrations of title success for GAA Club in Offaly

ON Friday December 27th last there was a very special event that took place in the Citeaux Hall (Ballyskenach) marking 30 years since the Ballyskenach hurlers won the Junior Hurling Championship in 1994 and the Intermediate Hurling Championship in 1995.

They were delighted to have Fr Malachy Thompson OCSO & Dom Laurence Walsh OCSO to officially open the exhibition which consisted of various news articles, opinion pieces and history of the Ballyskenach GAA Club.

The good crowd enjoyed browsing through the artefacts and materials from that era before MC Mary Dooley opened the presentation of a commemorative book compiled by the organising committee to each member of the panel and management.

The chairman at the time, Noel Russell, gave an excellent opening address, before Brendan Murphy presented each member and the management of Paddy Kirwan, Din Mullally, Paddy McLoughlin RIP, Eugene Hannon, Jimmy Middelton, Charlie Murphy & Jimmy Hogan with the book.

There was also a presentation made to those who were involved in the Lord Mayor of Ballyskenach campaign of 1995, whose tireless fundraising built the present day St Bernard's Park, Pauline O`Toole, Tom Douglas, Paddy McLoughlin & Mary Middleton.

There was a presentation also in honour of the late Jack Dooley RIP, Paddy McLoughlin RIP & Billy Flynn RIP to their representatives on their massive contribution on bringing this group of players together. Mary Dooley individually invited everyone on stage for the presentation while recalling memories of those years.

John Dooley who was the captain of the winning team gave an excellent closing address and reflection of the memorable period. There was a full team photo taken on stage.

The four sponsors for the night's event were thanked also, Liffey Mills, Mullally Haulage, Murphy Medical & Douglas Hardware, Sports & Toys as well donations from those who attended to make the night possible.

Fortunately after the presentation the crowd was treated to the videos of each county final and commentary from 30 years ago on the stage! All those who helped in any way were thanked, including those who prepared food and tea, parking, Citeaux Hall Committee, Dimma Print (Roscrea), Monty Franks who did the photography, Belmont & Coolderry GAA Clubs for allowing them the respective cups for the evening, and all those who made the effort to attend this special evening.

There are a limited number of commemorative books left also and links for the matches to be watched online from the organising committee of Jack Doherty, Mike Ryan, Cathal Murphy, Tom O`Toole & Mary Dooley.