PICTURES: Limerick GAA club turn the Big Apple green and gold!

LIMERICK man Michael Benn was the grand marshal of Monday’s St Patrick’s Day parade in New York but the city had already been turned green and gold!

Ninety six members of South Liberties GAA Club, led by chairman John Godfrey, departed The Four Elms pub, Drombanna for the Big Apple in the preceding weeks.

It was a repeat journey of sorts as 44 years ago the renowned east Limerick club had also visited the city that never sleeps in 1981. On that occasion it was under the guidance of then chairman and current life president, Paddy Shanahan.

Aideen Fitzpatrick, South Liberties PRO, said club stalwart Declan Brosnahan had gotten the ball rolling over a year ago and it didn’t take long before his proposed transatlantic trip had received a collective thumbs up from the membership.

“The highlight of the trip was a challenge match between the South Liberties intermediate hurlers and the New York  hurling team at Gaelic Park in The Bronx,” said Aideen.

The game had been carefully planned in advance by Declan Brosnahan and Aideen for the travelling team and by Mary Donovan Myers, Eddie Wiley, and Finbarr Flood for the home team.

“They were most-welcoming and accommodating hosts. Coincidentally, Finbarr originally hails from Ballyneety but has been living in New York for nearly three decades now and is a nephew to the late, great Eddie Wade,” said Aideen.

Before departing Midtown Manhattan for the game, there was a memorable moment as “The Souths” took over the steps of Times Square, proudly displaying their specially commissioned commemorative green and gold flags, made for them by Daly Champion Hurleys of Pallaskenry.

Fittingly, staunch South Liberties clubman John Cooney, who played in the 1981 fixture between the sides, threw in the sliotar to start the match. John also had the distinction of being the only person to have travelled on both the club’s stateside trips.  

There were also other dedicated South Liberties folk who travelled separately to be in New York for the game - John Noonan came all the way from Australia, while Conor Moynihan, David Garry and Paul Compton all travelled from England to join their colleagues for this momentous occasion.

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The mascots for the game were Bill and Anna O’Neill along with Callum Fitzgerald. Callum who resides in Portland, Oregon, and is a grandson of Eamon and Mary Fitzgerald who live adjacent to South Liberties' grounds in Dooley Park. 

“With all these wonderful connections and reconnections having now been completed, an entertaining and sporting game then ensued, with The Exiles coming out as victors at the final whistle,” said Aideen. 

With the formalities now over, it was time for the travelling party to do some sightseeing. It wasn't long before they were boarding the plane back home, all thanks to travel agent Martina Forde. 

Parting may often be seen as such sweet sorrow, but as South Liberties bid farewell to their GAA cousins in America, they took with them the heartwarming and treasured memories of a lifetime.

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