PRESIDENT of the GAA, Jarlath Burns was in Miltown Malbay on Tuesday night to officially open new facilities in Hennessy Memorial Park and to unveil a plaque in memory of Georgie Comerford.
Hundreds of St Joseph’s Miltown supporters and local residents flocked to Hennessy Memorial Park to get a first glimpse at a new meeting room, club gym, referee’s room and upgraded toilet block. They were also keen to hear from the GAA President with one local woman remarking as she left, “I’d follow him anywhere to listen to him speak”.
In an impressive three month turnaround, the club began working on their gym facility following the conclusion of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy in July and on Tuesday officially opened the facility which is available for club members. The gym is kitted out with six squat racks, two assault bikes, two rowing machines, two skiergs, a mini-track and associated weights.
Local referee Barry Kelly was among those to inspect the newly renovated room which will see match officials tog out in comfort at Hennessy Memorial Park.
George Comerford’s legacy was also remembered with the unveiling of a plaque at his former’s residence which lists some of his achievements. Born in Whitegate in 1911, Georgie was two years old when his father died. He attended primary school in Miltown Malbay and secondary school in Ennistymon.
He was part of the St Joseph’s Miltown side to win the club’s first minor championship in 1924 along with their second and third in 1926 and 1927.
In 1929, he captained the Clare minor footballers when they won the All-Ireland championship, scoring 3-2, it was the inaugural championship and Clare’s only All-Ireland win at the grade.
Following this, Georgie joined An Garda Síochána, he was stationed in Athy, Co Kildare during the mid 1930s.
Georgie was the only non-Kerry player on the victorious Munster Railway Cup team in 1931. He was a member of the Ireland selection for the Tailteann Games in 1932, representing his native county.
He played in the All-Ireland final for Dublin at Croke Park in 1934 when they lost to Galway 3-05 1-09. He also won a Railway Cup medal with Leinster in 1935, this time representing Dublin.
With Kildare, he lined out in the 1938 Leinster final when they lost to Laois, for the second time in three years. In his forties, Georgie played football for Louth. Remarkably, he won championship medals in Clare, Dublin, Kildare and Louth.
In retirement, he returned to live in Co Clare. He died on 20 July 1988 in Miltown Malbay and was buried in Ballard Cemetery.
Burns was joined by Georgie’s nephew Danny, All-Ireland SHC winner Conor Cleary, Munster SFC winner Martin Flynn, Mickey Wilson who spearheaded the erection of the plaque and Miltown Malbay native Seán Lenihan for the unveiling.
Welcoming the crowds to Hennessy Memorial Park, St Joseph’s Miltown Chairperson, Francis Lynch outlined that the meeting room was named after the late John Marrinan and commended all involved in the project. He presented the GAA President with a copy of John Reidy’s book on the club history and a personalised phone stand made by local TY students.
GAA President Burns said he was “delighted and honoured to be here in your incredible club”. He recalled passing the grounds when holidaying in Clare, “little did I know my name would be on a plaque here driving past as a young lad”. He continued, “I have travelled in style in many places but to be brought here in Francie’s van was a treat”.
Mention of Noel Walsh’s name drew a round of applause from the crowd as Jarlath recalled how the late GAA icon was one of his mentors when he first joined the Ard Chomairle, “if Noel had an opinion, you heard it loudly and clearly and he had a lot of them but he never forgot where he was from”.
An inclusive role of the GAA in communities is evident by the presence of walking tracks, he outlined. “A walking track says we are not just committed to the people that play for us, we want everybody to come to us, the club is not a place you go from, it is a place you go to”.
Burns described the stand in Hennessy Memorial Park as “one of the best stands in the country”.
Ambitious plans within the club to build a second field were also referenced by the Armagh man. “I am so impressed with what I’ve seen from this club, be proud of the GAA and what you have”.
