Retracing St John’s history
AS St John’s celebrates its 30th anniversary, a special book charting the club’s history has been published and is available locally.
It’s a credit to the many people involved, especially Tommy McManus and Chairman Seamus Casey for many long hours retrieving the information, old photographs, match reports and of course the fond memories of the players, managers and supporters associated with St John’s. Tommy said the souvenir book, priced at €20, is available from local shops including Cannings and Gerry McMorrow’s and also from club members.
Below are some excerpts from different sections of the book; Life Before St John’s
“Sunday, November 5th, 1978, will be dismissed from the minds of most people as just another uneventful day in the calendar but, in the annals of Carraroe GAA, it will forever be remembered and cherished as the day when this 3 year old club won its first county title.
After the final whistle had blown there were wild scenes of jubilation on the field as County Board Chairman Mr Paddy Clifford presented the Foley Cup to the winning captain John Nicholson”. So reported the Sligo Champion following the game. Some readers may be surprised to learn that a Gaelic Football Club existed in Carraroe area prior to the formation of St John’s. Following the amalgamation of Craobh Rua and Muire Naofa in 1976 to form a senior team a void existed for junior football in the town of Sligo and surrounding area but thanks to the forward thinking of men like Paddy Galvin and Paddy Joyce a new club was formed in the late summer of 1976. Committee members appointed were Chairman Paddy Galvin, Secretary and PRO Paddy Joyce, Treasurer Paddy Kerins. Team Manager Brian Cotter. Selectors Brian Cotter, Paddy Joyce, Jim McKiernan. Club colours: Orange jersey with black togs.
Having Paddy Kerins on the committee I feel greatly assisted our request to Markievicz Park for the use of the park for both training and home matches. The only stipulation was that before training or a match the sheep had to be encouraged to leave the pitch (or occasionally the dressing rooms) and to ensure that they were returned to pitch afterwards. Car park had many uses then!! The team’s first outing was an away game to Cliffoney which was played on a very wet and miserable Sunday on a pitch on the back road from Cliffoney to Mullaghmore- with your car as dressing room- a game in which Carraroe were well beaten. However in Spring of 1977 training recommenced and the team gave a reasonably good account of themselves in the league but lost the North Division Final that year to a late goal by Calry Gaels (now Calry/St Joseph’s).
Philip Greene:
USA Trip: When I was in 4th year in Summerhill College, Charlie Harrison and myself were selected on a Connacht U17 team to travel to San Francisco for three weeks in November 1998 and play some exhibition matches. There was a series of trials that took place that September in Ballyhaunis. On a cold Sunday morning in October in Cuilbeg, Tommy McManus told to me that I’ll be getting good news the following morning about the selection. I was ecstatic. John Tobin from Galway was the manager and it was an incredible trip.
John exposed us modern and innovative training ideas and it was a great learning experience in terms of training methods and the attitude which was required to train and play at an elite level. John O’Mahony, who had managed Galway to the All-Ireland a couple of months earlier, was also on the trip and the whole adventure was an inspiring experience that left a lasting impression on me. Most significantly it was also an eye opener to me that there was no difference between us and the Mayo and Galway players and there is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to compete against and beat them. Nine years later Charlie and I were playing in a Connacht Final and beating a Galway team that featured a number of players who had been on that trip with us. Dara McGarty
Pride, loss, love, hope and friendship are what spring to mind in my club’s journey – all central to not only my St John’s journey but to my life’s journey – a life lived with all the highs and lows, joys and sorrows that come with life and a club. Early Days: My earliest memories are of travelling to games as a 6th class student in Carraroe National school - watching strong men like Barnes Murphy, John Nicholson, Mick Barrett, Tom/ Charlie Ward, Mickey Galvin and Brian Ryan horse around the Sligo Junior championships – travellers and Guards in perfect harmony! Our principal Paddy Doherty engrained a love and importance of sport and the GAA in each of us and we’ve carried it with us since then. With a limited underage club/ county programme anywhere, it wasn’t until I got called up to the County U16 panel that I started taking a keener interest in the game. I remember clearly the bus trip out to my first County U16 trial in Easkey. Fiacra Mooney, Leon Fox and myself made up the St Johns trialists. I’ve no recollection of the return trip or indeed most of the game – after getting pole axed by a Curry full back! Despite the rocky start, I was fortunate to be part of a strong underage County team – who won Manning U16 and Hasting U21 Cups, should have won a Connacht minor title in 1995 – losing a Connacht MFC replay to Mayo by 1-point (2-3 to 0-8) in Markievicz Park after drawing in Castlebar the previous week (I broke my ankle in the drawn game while Stephen Rochford was the Mayo captain).
The St John’s book is available from local shops and also Tommy on 086 0793791.