Sligo branch of FAI referees celebrates 50th anniversary
SPECIAL GUESTS WILL BE INVITED TO SPECIAL EVENT IN SEPTEMBER.
FORMER referees, current members and special guests will all be invited to a special event in September to celebrate 50 years of the Sligo branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society.
The event will take place on September 2nd at the Clarion Hotel.
There will be a special mass, before dinner in the hotel on the evening of the event.
A number of special guests have been invited, but they are yet to be confirmed.
Currently, there are 28 members of the branch, three of whom are non- active.
Secretary Seamus Devaney has been a member since 1979 - that’s a 37 year long spell of involvement.
There have been many changes since he first joined.
Back then, he says, there were a mere eight members. That number has fluctuated over the years, of course, but it has increased significantly since then.
His first game, on the 23rd of October 37 years ago was between Maugherow and Grange.
“We have some really good referees here in Sligo. They are all brilliant at their job.
“Our referees look after Oscar Traynor matches, FAI Cup matches and of course junior football,” Seamus told The Sligo Champion.
But one of the biggest chang- es since his baptism into the branch is the involvement of women in refereeing.
Currently, there are three female referees, namely Karen Clarke, Emma Cleary and Irma Mulvihill involved with refereeing in Sligo.
“There were no female referees when I joined and we really need them now.
“We have three female members now and they are so important to us.
“We actually really do need three or four more female members at the minute to add more of a balance” Seamus added.
“It’s great to have an event like this and of course to be celebrating 50 years of the branch.
“We’re all looking forward to meeting up and seeing all the ex- referees too,” said Seamus.
Special guests for the special event will be announced at a later date, once all invitations have been sent and received.