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| Catherina McKiernan unveils the Commemorative Plaque at Cornafean GAA Grounds. Sean O'Neill looks on. |
In order to commemorate the selection of the late John Joe O’Reilly on the An Post/GAA Football "Team of the Millennium", Cornafean G.F.C., organised a special weekend of Millennium celebrations on 19th and 20th November 1999.
The highlight was the unveiling, by Cornafean’s star international athlete Catherina McKiernan, of a special commemorative plaque at the local G.A.A. grounds. The commemoration programme was hugely successful, with each of the special events generating a great level of interest, and the various events will be remembered for many a year to come.
The events commenced on Friday night, 19th November, where the then Cavan Co. Board Vice-Chairman George Cartwright (who incidentally was elected Chairman of the Co. Board the following month) delivered a special lecture on the subject "John Joe O’Reilly and the contribution of the O’Reilly clan to Cavan football". George has an expert knowledge of the history of football in Cavan , and indeed is the author of "Up the Reds", the history of Cornafean G.F.C. Throughout a very enjoyable lecture, George used this knowledge to present a very informative and enlightening picture of many of the O’Reilly clan who have played their part in the development of football in Cavan since the establishment of the GAA.
Among the personalities profiled by George included John Joe O’Reilly, his brother Tom, and others such as Hughie O’Reilly, Cavan’s All Ireland winning captain in 1935, Tom Reilly and Brian O’Reilly of Mullahoran, the accomplished player and administrator T.P. O’Reilly, Noel O’Reilly (Crosserlough), Jim Reilly (Kingscourt) and many other members of the Reilly/O’Reilly clan who have served Cavan football so well throughout the generations.
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| The JJ O'Reilly Commemorative Postage
Stamp
Copy by Kind Permission of An Post |
On Saturday afternoon, a group of special guests congregated in McSeain’s and enjoyed a meal hosted by the local club. Among those attending were four members of the Football Team of the Millennium, who came from each of the four provinces. These included Mick O’Connell, the famed Kerry midfielder who won four All Ireland medals with his native county between 1959 (when he captained the team) and 1970, and who is generally regarded as the greatest midfielder in the history of the game. Sean O’Neill, who achieved great fame as part of the Down side which revolutionised Gaelic Football in winning the 1960 All Ireland final, and who later won All Irelands medals in 1961 and 1968, also attended. Sean is the only Ulster representative on the Team of the Millennium apart, of course, from John Joe O’Reilly.
From Co. Galway came Sean Purcell, known with his colleague Frank Stockwell as "The Terrible Twins" who helped Galway capture the 1956 All Ireland title. The fourth member the Millennium team to attend was Martin O’Connell, a star in defence with for many years with Meath.
Later on Saturday evening, a special Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Coronea, in memory of John Joe O’Reilly and other deceased club members. The chief celebrant was Fr. John Phair, whose father Packie Phair, twice All Ireland medal winner with Cavan and eleven times County medal winner with Cornafean, was also present. The other concelebrants were Fr. Harry Bouchier, Coronea, who played alongside John Joe O’Reilly on McRory Cup winning teams and who won an All-Ireland Minor medal in 1937; Canon J. Carroll (Killeshandra), Fr. Eugene Clarke (P.P., Drumcor); Fr. Kevin Manning, who trained the Cornafean senior and junior teams while serving in Coronea a few years earlier, and Fr. Gerard Alwill of Killesahandra, President of St. Patrick’s College.
The readings were given by two of John Joe O’Reilly’s children, Brian and Saranne. Fr. Harry Bouchier delivered the homily in which he gave an account of his memories of John Joe O’Reilly. Prayers of the Faithful were read by Peadar Doyle, the last Cornafean man to captain a Cavan Senior Championship winning team; Peadar McKiernan, brother of Catherina and the last player to represent Cornafean on the Cavan Senior County team; the 1999 Cornafean team captain Liam Young; and accomplished traditional musician Rita Martin.
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| Millennium Team members Sean O'Neill, Mick O'Connell and Sean Purcell at the unveiling |
The four members of the Millennium Team, Sean O’Neill, Mick O’Connell, Sean Purcell and Martin O’Connell, presented the gifts at the Offertory procession. In honour of John Joe’s career as a soldier with the Defence Forces, with whom he served up to the rank of Commandant, members of the Army Band played a number of special salutes during the ceremony. There was also traditional music from the Cornafean Group and the Church choir sang several beautiful hymns. Near the end of the Mass, local bard Sean Masterson read out a poem, which he had specially written for the occasion.
This was followed by the unveiling, of a specially commissioned plaque at Pairc Naoimh Fionnain, in honour of John Joe O’Reilly, the other members of the Team of the Millennium, and all the great players, officials and members who have contributed to the Cornafean club throughout its history.
Among the speakers at the unveiling ceremony were former Tanaiste, John P. Wilson, county chairman Brendan Keaney, club chairman P.J. McGlade, and Catherina McKiernan who formally unveiled the plaque. The plaque was created by Mr. Joe Smith, Stonemason, Ballinamore, and lists, on a diagram of a football pitch, the names and field positions of the fifteen members of the Millennium Team, highlighting John Joe’s selection on that team, as well as his role as captain on the Cavan All Ireland winning teams in 1947 and 1948. Again the Army Band played a number of salutes at the unveiling ceremony.
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Pictured at the John Joe O'Reilly Commemoration (l to r) Victor Sherlock, Peter Donohoe, John P. Wilson, Mick Higgins, Catherina McKiernan and Joe Stafford |
There then followed a function in McSeains, during which special presentations were made to John Joe.O’Reilly’s son and daughter, Brian and Saranne, as well as to the guest members of the Millennium Team, and to Catherina McKiernan. Music was provided by the well-known traditional group "An Scadan Rua", who hail from the Rathcairn Gaeltacht in Co. Meath.
In addition to the representatives of the Millennium Team, a host of other former players and GAA personalities were present, including Packie Phair, All Ireland medallist in 1933 and 1935, surviving colleagues of John Joe on the 1947 and 1948 All Ireland winning teams, and stars of later decades such as James Brady, Ray Carolan, Frankie Kennedy, Jim McDonnell, Pat Carolan, Ollie Leddy, Jimmy Stafford, former All-Star Ollie Brady, Gabriel Kelly, and members of the Ulster Championship winning side of 1997. There was also a large representation of visiting G.A.A. personalities and supporters from throughout Cavan , surrounding counties and indeed several Ulster counties.
Great credit is due to all the organising committee, and the club officials and others who helped to make the weekend’s celebrations such a huge success.
