Erne Gaels look to future

Erne Gaels crest

WITH the half century now complete, it’s onwards and upwards for the Erne Gaels club as they aim to continue to take strides towards the next 50 years.

Formed in 1961, last year brought many celebrations as a committee, chaired by Tom Cullen, organised a series of events looking at the history, culture and success of the club over the last five decades.

Tom, the club’s registrar and Irish language officer, also put an extraordinary amount of work into developing a history of the club to mark the golden anniversary, which is detailed on the club’s website while a YouTube video produced for the occasion contains footage of some of their finer moments over the years.

The history section contains some nuggets of information. It documents the close links of the pottery industry to players and managers from the club down through the years; it tells us that the club initially played in maroon rather than the amber and black colours they wear today.

It also includes hand-written notes from Willie John Duffy, a player with the side, documenting the club’s first ever taste of silverware – the 1963 Fermanagh Junior Football Championship.

That win was remembered at a celebratory dinner last September in the Hotel Carlton, with talks from a number of players who featured in both that team and earlier for the Belleek Young Emmet’s, who folded three years before the Gaels were founded.

But while 2011 was, correctly, dominated by fondly looking at the past, 2012 will certainly be a case of looking to the future.

“It’s very much a positive vibe at the club right now,” said new club secretary Rosie O’Reilly, who moved from the role of treasurer back in March.

“There’s a great workforce at the club, everyone gets involved and helps out in whatever way they can. We have great grounds, great players, a great committee, the pitch is looking well – everything is just really positive at the moment.”

The full story is in the current issue of Gaelic Life, published on Thursday June 4. Buy your copy now in your local newsagent, or you can purchase the online version – for only 90p – by clicking here