Newtown Blues have stood test of time
Dear Sir,
‘ The Newtown Blues they our team
And proud are we to say Our name goes back in history And it’s famous still today.’ call
The above is the first verse of a song, penned by the then club secretary John McCormack. It was written back in 1955 to inspire a young Blues side that hungered for success.
He may not have the poetic words of the great Patrick Kavanagh but he certainly got the club’s history spot on.
For the Newfoundwell club was founded in 1887 and recorded the first Senior Championship win in 1889. They were the days of 21 aside and men were men.
Old warrior Jem Mooney who hailed from the heart of The Well called the toss that day and so had the honour of becoming the Blues first winning captain. The first of twenty one.
On St Patrick’s Eve night next the Blues players and friends will congregate in the Westcourt Hotel to celebrate the winning of the under 21 and Senior Championship of 2017.
This brings the winning tally of Senior Championship victories to the magical number of twenty one.
In racing parlance this leaves the club ‘well ahead of the field’.
Down through the years the Blues reunions were always enjoyable events. Even back in the dark days of the 20s, 30s and 40s when emigration and unemployment were rampant, the Blues reunions were something to look forward to and was, for many people, the highlight of their social year.
It’s amazing how the format of these social nights over the years have changed.
After defeating all comers in 1933 to win the championship O’Hanlon and O’Donnell cups the players felt that it was time to swap the football boots for dancing shoes.
A ceilidhe mhor was arranged for St Patrick’s Eve night in 1934.
The dance was held in the mayoralty rooms which meant there was no bar.
The dance was ceilidhe, the days of rock and roll were still a long way down the road.
Mrs Hoey’s ceilidhe band provided the music and MA Maguire and Tom McDonald’s job was to keep the 160 couples in attendance in order and on their toes.
Three committee men - namely Tom Winters, Paddy Monaghan and Bill Allen sat at the top of the table alongside the main guests, Fr Harmon, Fr Dorris, Paddy Duffy and Larry Stanley. The old starward reminded them that the Blues Club brought the first championship to South Outh.
When captain Paddy Byrne went up to receive the Cardinal O’Donnell Cup the entire attendance sang ‘Faith of Our Fathers’.
Johnny Coyle (Trainer), Pat Curran (Tres) and Charlie McDonnell were presented with handsome watches by the members of the club for the good work they performed during the year.
When the presentations were over the entire attendance rendered ‘Hail Glorious St Patrick’ in honour of the saint’s feast day, which was only hours away.
Step dancing was performed by Misses Bridie Mallon, Jenny Burke, Sheila Cravan and M Tiernan, a most enjoyable night was concluded with the National Anthem.
When Andy McDonnell, the fair haired lad from Termonfeckin and Conor Moore, a young fella with Meath blood in his veins, raise the Joe Ward and Oriel Cups above their neads they will not just be paying homage to the present teams that did us proud in 2017. No, they will be honouring the men and women who soldiered for the Blues down through the years on the field and off.
Back to that day in 1887 when Dowdall, King and Doyle walked the Termonfeckin Road, linked up with Ledwith at Newtown Cross, sat round the table in Morgan’s Pub and created a GAA institution that has stood the test of time.