Posted by JDP on July 11, 2001 at 00:06:29:
In Reply to: Re: Association football posted by Murrisk on July 10, 2001 at 17:40:24:
Mention of St. Geralds brings to mind the "lack of interest" the brothers had in the beautiful game. Do any of the more mature lads ( or girls) recall the Paul D`Arcy ( National Bank) incident which resulted in him being expelled for playing soccer. Did the story make the News of The World? around 1960?
Later in the 60s, 69 I think, St. Gerald`s defeated Summerhill College in a graet match at Celtic Park, to win final of the Connaught Colleges soccer championship and qualify for the All Ireland semi final. The excitement was immense but short lived.
Aloyisius ( who had`nt gone into exile yet) became alarmed at this unexpected success and called stop to furder involvement of de boys. De semi-final was too close to de Certificate Exams and some lads might get injured. This was the line trotted out to Bob Kilkelly and Paddy Gilligan who went to the Monastery to plead on behalf of the team, but to no avail.
To my recollection, two teachers from St. Gerald`s attended the match in celtic Pk. - Patsy Dunne and Tom Carney.
Summerhill went through to win the Irish Title and that summer to Europe to represent their school and country playing soccer.
The following year the Gaelic team reached the Connaught Colleges Final (B). The match was played in Tuam Stadium and about 6 weeks prior to the Exams. ( no concern about exam proximity now funilly enough). Bro. Godfrey, (who was reputed to have a degree in philosophy, was definitely capable of sudden explosion, knew who did`nt go to Mass and had serious concerns about the threat of Communism), had A4 sheets with silly chants printed thereon for everyone. Buses were organised, excitement was high and expectations also, we roared the limericks in Tuam Stadium, but alas.. Well the craic was good anyway in Tuam.
It seems inconceivable that the Principal of a school would exercise this power to prevent kids playing soccer. But it was true in the Castlebar of the 6os.