Club Greats
Throughout the years the club has produced men and women whose comtribution has been recognised as outstanding. Some of these members worked soley within the club and others rose to the highest positions at county and national level within the association. The following three are presented as examples of club members who achieved recognition at club level and above. These are only a few examples of the many who served the club and brought it to national recognition.
- Harry Mc Garry - President and Club Servant for over 60 years
- Patsy Martin - Club Player, Administrator, Worker and President
- Hugh Mc Kenna - Life long member and Chairman
Harry McGarry (R.I.P.)
Many tributes have been made to Harry McGarry. The two below were featured in a booklet published in his memory following his passing on 16 February 1993
"Well, what are you looking now Smith?", was the usual greeting I got from McGarry as I peeped around the door of the Clans on a Sunday morning. While he wasn't always right, if I appeared around the door of his house in Manor Park, he knew that I was definitely after something - that something being Davitt Park, for a schools match.
"It's in an awful state - I wouldn't let the county train on it last night."
"That's a pity", says I, "It's the School U-14 team - they have to play a Semi-final before the end of the week."
"Ah well, they'll hardly do it much harm, seeing that they are only the wee lads. Just don't tell anyone that I gave you it."
Those two phrases "only the wee lads" and "don't tell anybody" probably sum up Harry McGarry better than anything else, as his greatest loves in life were his underage teams and the fact that he did so many things for people and for other clubs in the town, and no one knew it except himself and the other clubs.
During our chats on Sunday morning, the Sundays that I didn't want anything, the conversation was either on the way that the game of Gaelic Football, with all its rules changes was going, or how the under-age teams in the school were progressing. Naturally he took a particular interest in how the Clan's players in particular, were playing and it never ceased to amaze how he could give me a run down on there family tree, on both sides, to show that it was no surprise to him anyway, that this particular footballer was a good footballer.
As is well known, he never missed an opportunity to watch an under-age match and when we were running our first year leagues in the school, he was always a regular visitor, presenting the trophy to the winners on many occasions. He was ever present at our Annual Gaelic Skills Awards ceremony and it was with great pleasure that I had the opportunity, at our School Presentations, to present the Clan-an-Gael/ Harry McGarry to the Fourth Year boy who has made he greatest contribution to the School.
Sadly he is no longer with us - however, he has left behind an indelible imprint on the life of Clan-na-Gael and every young player who runs onto the pitch wearing the blue jersey, can feel assured that McGarry is still watching over him, because no one kept an eye on the "wee lads" as well as Harry did.
Written by Jimmy Smyth Published in Ómós Do Aonraí Mac Garaidh
Harry McGarry was the epitome of a true Gael, but to appreciate a man's life a wider perspective must been seen. Every man's life can be segregated into three important areas, his family, his work and his interests.
At home Harry was dedicated to his wife Josie and the family circle and the devotion was returned in full measure. In fact, Josie looked after McGarry like a child. Loyalty and devotion are the words that spring to mind to describe Harry's life.
In 1930 McGarry started work as a messenger boy at the grocery shop of Mr. Mat Tipping. Within a week Mr. Tipping had recommended McGarry to H. O'Hagan whom, with his wife, had been finding the book keeping at their poultry yard becoming more than they could manage. McGarry became such a major part of O'Hagan's poultry yard that I was well in to my teens before I came to the knowledge that he was Harry McGarry and not Harry O'Hagan! On the closure of the poultry yard McGarry took over the bookkeeping duties at Jim O'Hagan's family business in Francis Street which he continued to his death. Sixty three years working for - No, working with the O'Hagan family. Loyalty and devotion again.
McGarry's abiding interest was in the GAA in general and the Clan-na-Gael club in particular. He joined the Clan-na-Gael committee in 1933 as their seventeen year old treasurer. A few years later with Alf Murray and others he helped form the North Armagh League. In the subsequent years he served Clan-na-Gael in virtually every capacity and outside the club he also served. As well as the North Armagh Board he was a county Minor Selector for some years and also for the famous Armagh Senior team which reached the All-Ireland final in 1953. These activities were in times when there was neither glamour nor glory in struggling to maintain an existence for a small GAA club. Indeed McGarry often spent his own money in achieving this aim. Today it is traditional in Clan-na-Gael that in our young teams each player gets a free mineral after every game but it is nor widely realised that this is a practise established by McGarry who used to pay for the drinks from his own pocket.
Proof to his devotion to the Association outside the club is witnessed by the fact of his raising money to help other clubs in the area at times when they were in financial distress. Prominent and respected elder member of our "rival" clubs have recounted such occasions to me in detail and with great fondness of the feelings generated by his actions. We will see memorials to Harry McGarry but they will never match the memorial he has already created in the traditions he established within Clan-na-Gael of teaching our youth the ideas and principles of Cumann Luth-Cleas Gael and making them not just better sportsmen but better citizens able to contribute to the life of our community.
Written by Larry Creaney Published in Ómós Do Aonraí Mac Garaidh
Patrick 'Gowdy' Martin (R.I.P.)
Patrick Martin was a life long member of Clan-na-Gael C.L.G. He was known to us as 'Gowdy', and his beloved late wife Phylis, referred to him always as Peter. It is true that he was born in Hewitts Row closeby to Ballynamoney which was traditionally Wolf Tones territory, but his parents had the good sense to move 'across the border' to Silverwood and eventually to Francis Street in good time for Gowdy to join the only club he ever truly supported. From then on he played a full and active part in the activities and running of the club, playing on the field as he did during the 1930's into the 40's alongside such stalwarts such as Alf Murray, Mickey O'Reilly, Harry O'Hagan and Eddie McLaughlin.
When his playing career was over, and following a short sojourn in the U.S.A., he returned to play an important role in the running of the club, being to the fore in the move to its new premises though he did not live to see his main goal achieved - the acquirement and development of the Davitt Park complex by Clan-na-Gael C.L.G. This is now a task, which rests widely on the shoulders of others. He served the club as a barman and a cleaner with his 'partner in craic, Jack Lyness. As a committee member, he proved not only could he make a good case, but also, more importantly he went out and did the job with the minimum of fuss. It was a fitting climax to his contribution to the club that he was unanimously elected Club president at the club's Annual General Meeting in December 1993, a position which he held until his passing.
Amongst the ,extracurricular activities' which 'Gowdy' organised were the trips to the Louth coast and later to Westport. These were essential cultural visits solely aimed at ensuring that all those who participated, as throngs of Clan's supporters and friends did, were properly educated in the history of their country and it's geograhpical layout. The highlight of there 'field visits' was the catering arrangements. All who travelled were 'watered' on the bus, and this 'watering' was repeated without fail at each 'watering hole' encountered on the outward journey. On arrival at the main destination, they were fed - and 'watered' again. On the return journey they were 'watered' in a similar fashion to the outward journey. On arrival at the club the 'final watering' took place which lasted until each traveller was so 'watered' that they swore they never wished to be 'watered' again, until the next outing in twelve months time.
Written by Teddy Martin Published in a Booklet about 'Gowdy'
Alf Murray (R.I.P.)
Well known as a stalwart of the Clan Eireann Club in Lurgan, Alf represented Armagh and Ulster. He was selected on the Armagh team of the century at the usual position (for him) of centre half forward. Alf rose through the ranks of the G.A.A. from club to county offical and eventually was elected as All Ireland President of the Association. Throughout his life time Alf was a leading figure in the promotion of the Irish language and was the main inspiration for the Gaelic League branch in Lurgan. What is not known is that Alf started his journey with Clan-na-Gael and it was from there that his illustrious career took off.
Hugh McKenna (R.I.P.)
Hugh McKenna from Edward Street in Lurgan typified the family tradition within the Clan-na-Gael Club. With his late wife Annie, together they were involved in every aspect of the club form the washing of the jerseys to the use of their home for meetings. Hugh and Annie served the club at every level and he was elected as its Chairman for a number of years. It was only natural that their sons Tommy (R.I.P.), Paddy (R.I.P.), Aiden, Francie and Fergie should represent the club with distinction on the football field, and their daughters Mary and Nuala should be at the centre of the Camogie. Even today the connection remains with Paul McKenna carrying out roles as player and manager and young Patrick breaking through at Senior level.