Then & Now: Our man for GAA in Limerick

SEAMUS Ó CEALLAIGH, who wrote under the pen name of Caman in the Limerick Leader with great distinction for 44 years, was one of my favourite Gaelic games writers. I looked forward to reading his weekly column in the paper which was published from 1944 until his death on May 29, 1988.

It was so interesting to read his match reports and previews of upcoming matches, which contained so much detail. He was blessed with a marvellous memory which was used to great effect to recall past meetings between teams, and little-known incidents that happened.

It was a must-read column back in the days before newspapers covered sport, in high quantity as they do at present. The TV and radio reporting was also very limited with only a few programmes on each week.

The sporting public depended on Seamus to keep them informed on what was happening around the four divisions of the county and at inter-county level. His recall one year of the Limerick GAA story from the beginning in his weekly column was a revealing series and people around my locality followed it with great interest.

On the 35th anniversary of his death last Monday I would like to recall and pay tribute to his enormous contribution to Gaelic games in his adopted county. He was born in Kilkenny city in July 1905, and he arrived in Limerick city in 1922 to commence work with J and G Boyd's in William Street.

He joined the Young Irelands club, and he played a little sport but was more interested in the administration side and was club secretary for a time.

Seamus served as chairman and secretary of the Limerick City Board for a good number of years.

Seamus was the first secretary of the Limerick Handball in 1925 and later on he became the Secretary of the Munster Handball Council.

He was a founding member, and the first President of Ballinacurra Gaels GAA club and his house was often used for their meetings.

Seamus began his writing career in 1925 when he submitted weekly handball notes to the Limerick Chronicle. In 1934 his reports on Limerick GAA affairs were first published in The Kerryman and they continued for 10 years.

The Limerick Leader became aware of his potential and in 1934 his column Caman first appeared.

Seamus will always be remembered as the author, with Sean Murphy of One Hundred Years of Glory, A History of Limerick GAA from 1884 to 1984.

This magnificent book of 930 pages was published in 1987 and the green covered bible of Limerick Gaelic games is now a collector's item and much sought-after at book auctions. Seamus wrote eight other books on GAA affairs including the Mick Mackey Story also with Sean Murphy. He was also the editor of the first issues of the Limerick GAA Yearbooks from 1972. He continued to contribute to it as a researcher and committee member up to the mid 1980s.

In a lovely gesture, he gave his vast collection of books, journals, match programmes, files and papers to the Limerick City Library and they can be seen and enjoyed there for future reference. I was looking through the collection on the internet, and it is most impressive and what a wonderful legacy for future generations to enjoy.

His collection includes a lot of material from other counties, as well as from Limerick. It starts in 1914 and over the years, it recalls a treasure trove of memories. Over 200 sporting greats of Gaelic games and athletics are featured as well as 400 match programmes. There are files and notes about the majority of past and present GAA clubs within the county and other interesting articles to view.

Seamus died on a dark and misty Sunday morning at St Paul's Nursing Home, after a six-month illness. In his homily Fr Gerard McNamee, PP, Ballingarry and a close friend for decades described Seamus as a devout and religious man who held high principles. He was very much a family man who never offended anybody.

The Mass was concelebrated by his son Fr Pat, a member of the Redemptorist Order and over 40 priests at St Joseph's Church. A guard of honour representative of all sections of the GAA accompanied the remains from the Jail Boreen to Mount St, Lawrence Cemetery.

Jim Hickey chairman Limerick County Board delivered the graveside oration.

Sean Murphy in his tribute said Seamus Ó Ceallaigh was an institution in himself and was undoubtedly Ireland's foremost GAA historian. He was somebody where historical facts were concerned who could not just say no. His whole life was devoted to preserving, compiling and recording GAA events no matter how small or trivial. Seamus believed that what happened today would be history in five, 10 or 20 years hence and he lived that principle all his life.

Cormac Liddy, sports editor of the Limerick Leader wrote the following: It was typical of the great Seamus Ó Ceallaig that a few hours before his death he dropped into me what was to be the last of his weekly articles for this newspaper.

When in full health he never missed a week in more than 40 years. If I asked Seamus to have his copy submitted an hour or a day earlier, he never ever left me down. I cannot say that about anyone else with whom I have been dealing. It did not matter to Seamus whether it was rain or shine weather wise a deadline was something to be met.

Michael Hennessy the County PRO wrote in tribute: We will miss his tender personality and his Gaelic spirit. We will miss the gentleness and warmth of his dealings with others, both young and old, and we will miss our great historian who brought such honour and glory to our association and county.

The Wolfe Tones announce all-star special guest line up

His gentle use of phrases and language was romantic but authoritative and accurate in every respect. May this nice man rest gently beneath the soft soil of Sarsfield's County.

If Seamus was still with us, I am sure he would be delighted with the recent success of Limerick hurlers.

He enjoyed great days reporting on Limerick affairs from the heady heights of the 1930s and the glory of 1973 and other minor successes along the way. He had a fantastic admiration for Mick Mackey and the two loved to meet up to discuss past Gaelic affairs.

We all owe Seamus a debt of gratitude for his lifelong work, on behalf of Gaelic games. It would be nice to see his work honoured in some way by the Gaelic Athletic Association 35 years after his passing.