Sunday January 15th 2012

Prior to the J1 league match against Kilfeacle on Sunday 15^th January, a ‘celebration’ pre-match lunch was held in the Clubhouse to initially honour the O’Neill Cup winning team of 1971 – many of whom were in attendance, but it also doubled as an important occasion to honour founding members of the Club who had played significant roles helping to develop the Club from its humble origins back in the early fifties to its present status, a long overdue event surely.

As current Club President and a member of that 1971 team, John Field had more reasons than most to initiate this event and he did so in style, personally organising and sending out of invitations as well as looking after the food and wine.  When the big day came there was a great turnout of former players and their wives as well as representatives of the players sadly no longer with us - and so the day quickly became a very happy and nostalgic trip down memory lane with stories being told and retold that hadn’t been aired for quite some time.

The Chairman Vincent Ahern welcomed everyone to the Club and thanked those present for making the effort to attend and also thanked the guests for their support and good wishes to the Club – a Club he said that is now  very different  from the Club of the 50’s and through 70’s and 80’s. He wished all those being honoured every good wish for a happy and successful re-union and went on to say the Club is very proud of their particular achievements at a time when facilities were a little on the scarce side.

In his lengthily address John Field also welcomed his team-mates and special guests and in a wide ranging address charted the path of the 1971/72 season and their success in the O’Neill Cup and others besides. John mentioned the great camaraderie there was between the players at that time that is still very strong to this day and he asked those present to remember those team members that had passed to their eternal reward and who we remember with great affection on this special day.

John went on to say that there were a few who couldn’t make it on the day but all those contacted had asked to be remembered and apologised for their unavoidable absence.

John recounted some humorous stories involving  the characters of the teams at that time and stories of the ‘skill’ of the various team’s in utilising local knowledge to take advantage of our undulating pitch surface when the need arose. He was delighted to see all the old faces again and to see everyone in great spirits and enjoying life forty years later.

The President then called on the winning O’Neill Cup team Captain Jack Matson to say a few words and Jack duly obliged expressing delight at being here on this special day. Jack also recounted stories of the trials and tribulations of times past – moving from the team ‘transport’ arrangements to the draughty dressing rooms and the sometime cold showers – but the enthusiasm never diminished.  Jack also charted every match and every opposition encountered in that season even down to scores – such was his well researched account of his brief. When he finished each team member , or their representative, was presented with photographic mementoes of that era including a Club tie.

Turning then to the special presentations, the President reminded those present of the formation of the current Club from its roots back in 1951 and of the personnel involved at that inaugural meeting in the Town Hall in Skibbereen. One of the prime movers on that particular night was John Wolfe who was elected as Honorary Secretary, and the President went on to highlight the major role John played in the Club as an administrator from its inception until well into the late sixties where his playing career made way for his many successful years as a referee. And subsequently, even though his work took him to the City his allegiance to Skibbereen never did wane and John Wolfe consistently maintains his membership and love for the Club he helped found all those years ago.

In like manner the President spoke very highly of the other recipients, Paddy Hurley Glandore, John Hosford , and Myles O’Brien -  all of whom he said played important and influential roles in the Club from its early days, each occupying  many officer positions during that time -even to this very day - highlighting the fact that Paddy Hurley is currently  the joint Club Patron, sharing that role with another important member and benefactor and good friend of this Club – Sir Anthony O’Reilly . The President then went on to speak of other major contributors over the years – people like the late Liam O’Regan, owner and Editor of the Southern Star, and the late Frank Galvin, Pierce Hickey and Jim Kingston – all men who prided themselves in their involvement of the Club they loved so much and worked so tirelessly at every level over the years.

The President John Field then presented each of the special guests with specially commissioned gold and silver Cuff-Link and Tie-Pin sets each suitably embossed with the Club Crest. These beautiful sets are exclusive to Skibbereen RFC and are designed and crafted by local goldsmith Aoife O’Mahony, herself a Skibbereen native, who runs a very successful and innovative workshop on the Marsh Road in Skibbereen.

John Wolfe in his address thanked the President and the Club for the honours bestowed on him and the other recipients and said how delighted he was to be back in Skibbereen once again – this time in a much transformed Clubhouse – very different from his early days. He went on to congratulate all those who were involved in the development of the Club over the years, and he said, the present facilities are a credit to all the successful administrations over the years. John regaled the large attendance with interesting and humorous stories of the fifties and went on to restate his ongoing interest in the Club activities – down to checking the weekly Examiner reports for results of League and Cup matches - savouring the joys and successes of winning, and sharing also in the disappointments and losses which he said are all part of the game too.  He went on to wish Skibbereen every success in their match against Kilfeacle later in the afternoon and in the remainder of their League matches this season and once again said how happy and proud he was to be here with his wife on this very happy occasion.

Skibbereen went on to win that match against Kilfeacle and both teams finally returned to the Clubhouse for hot soup and sandwiches and joined those who didn’t venture out to watch the match – well it was a particularly wet and windy day – and after numerous libations the evening ultimately evolved to ‘X Factor’ status – West Cork style – with some excellent singing contributions from practically everyone that went on late into the night. A great occasion – we should have them more often.