Pictured is the New York based Leitrim Team of 1948 who played at the official opening of Saint Mary's GAA Park, Garrison on 22nd August 1948.
The local paper stated: ' All roads lead to Garrion on Sunday when Devenish Club mark the official opening, by Mr Dan O'Rourke T.D. and National President of the GAA of the splendid new Sports Park, recently acquired by the Club with an attractive programme in which the outstanding item will be a football challenge between a team from New York , composed mainly of Leitrim exiles and a Fermanagh County team selection. This is the first time for a Gaelic football team from America to visit this country, and great praise is due to our countrymen there who have kept the Gaelic flag flying, and for their great enterprise in sending over a first-class team to tour the homeland'.
The New York team was captained by former Fermanagh player, Christy Creamer. The touring team were led by Michael 'Nipper' Geelan from Mohill.
' The Fermanagh team includes a number of promising college players who, it is hoped, will introduce a bit of speed and dash into the team - features which were sadly lacking with some of their displays this year. The team will be selected from - Paddy Magee, Danny Magee, Philip Keown, Tony O'Brien, Eddie McGarrigle (Devenish); Ignatius McQuillan ( Newtownbutler); F. Maguire ( Lisnaskea); G.McGirr, M.Mahon, T. Diver ( Irvinestown); M. Donnelly, B. Owens, B. Lavin, J. Kinney, G. Murphy ( Enniskillen Gaels); Pat McCaffrey, Mickey McGauran, Hughie O'Connor, John P. McCann (Mulleek); F. McGrath (Holywell); J. Cassidy (Teemore); T. Owens, P. Connors (Bellanaleck)'.
Referee: Malachy Cullen, Ballyshannon
(Malachy was the grandfather of current Devenish Junior Manager, also called Malachy Cullen).
At that time John Francis O'Brien ( Devenish) was a member of the Fermanagh Panel - at the Official Opening he lined out in the curtain raiser - A Corlea / Devenish selection played a North Leitrim selection.
For the record, Fermanagh won the game against the New York selection.
A report in the Fermanagh Herald dated 28th August stated ' The village of Devenish West ( Garrison) was en fete on Sunday for the blessing and opening of the new Saint Mary's Parochial Gaelic Park which is one of the finest parks in all Ulster. A gathering of almost 5000 people form the Counties of Leitrim , Fermanagh and Donegal enjoyed two well-contested games. The field itself and the roads leading thereto had been gaily decorated , Casey's and McGovern's Hotels, in which the teams were entertained, has also been gaily decorated. The Park was blessed by RT Reverend Mgr Gannon, Enniskillen and the Ederney Pipe Band played ' Faith of Our Fathers'.
The local paper stated: ' All roads lead to Garrion on Sunday when Devenish Club mark the official opening, by Mr Dan O'Rourke T.D. and National President of the GAA of the splendid new Sports Park, recently acquired by the Club with an attractive programme in which the outstanding item will be a football challenge between a team from New York , composed mainly of Leitrim exiles and a Fermanagh County team selection. This is the first time for a Gaelic football team from America to visit this country, and great praise is due to our countrymen there who have kept the Gaelic flag flying, and for their great enterprise in sending over a first-class team to tour the homeland'.
The New York team was captained by former Fermanagh player, Christy Creamer. The touring team were led by Michael 'Nipper' Geelan from Mohill.
' The Fermanagh team includes a number of promising college players who, it is hoped, will introduce a bit of speed and dash into the team - features which were sadly lacking with some of their displays this year. The team will be selected from - Paddy Magee, Danny Magee, Philip Keown, Tony O'Brien, Eddie McGarrigle (Devenish); Ignatius McQuillan ( Newtownbutler); F. Maguire ( Lisnaskea); G.McGirr, M.Mahon, T. Diver ( Irvinestown); M. Donnelly, B. Owens, B. Lavin, J. Kinney, G. Murphy ( Enniskillen Gaels); Pat McCaffrey, Mickey McGauran, Hughie O'Connor, John P. McCann (Mulleek); F. McGrath (Holywell); J. Cassidy (Teemore); T. Owens, P. Connors (Bellanaleck)'.
Referee: Malachy Cullen, Ballyshannon
(Malachy was the grandfather of current Devenish Junior Manager, also called Malachy Cullen).
At that time John Francis O'Brien ( Devenish) was a member of the Fermanagh Panel - at the Official Opening he lined out in the curtain raiser - A Corlea / Devenish selection played a North Leitrim selection.
For the record, Fermanagh won the game against the New York selection.
A report in the Fermanagh Herald dated 28th August stated ' The village of Devenish West ( Garrison) was en fete on Sunday for the blessing and opening of the new Saint Mary's Parochial Gaelic Park which is one of the finest parks in all Ulster. A gathering of almost 5000 people form the Counties of Leitrim , Fermanagh and Donegal enjoyed two well-contested games. The field itself and the roads leading thereto had been gaily decorated , Casey's and McGovern's Hotels, in which the teams were entertained, has also been gaily decorated. The Park was blessed by RT Reverend Mgr Gannon, Enniskillen and the Ederney Pipe Band played ' Faith of Our Fathers'.
