Harry McEvoy Inducted Into Hall Of Fame

When Carryduff GAC decided to introduce a Hall of Fame, they felt that the first recipient of what is the Club's most prestigious award could only be Harry McEvoy. Harry has been a key figure in the both the foundation and development of the Club on both a sporting and cultural front and a tireless worker for the County. Indeed, if someone were to look up the dictionary for the meaning of volunteerism, Harry would be the definition. Through all the ups and downs in the Club’s history the one constant has been Harry. A Founding Member, subsequently serving as Chairman, Secretary, County Board Rep and Cultural Officer, Harry has been a driving force in the Club for almost 40 years.

Harry was born to parents Patrick & Mary Ann on the 30th January 1930 in Ballynahinch. Along with his brother Gerry and sisters, Lily and May, the young Harry attended the local Drumaness Primary before he became a boarder in St Colman's, Newry. Harry's great love of Irish Language and culture was nurtured and flourished in Violet Hill. It was in his final years at Violet Hill that Harry began playing for his home Club, Ballynahinch and his love affair with Gaelic games and Culture well and truly took off. He spent five happy years in Newry before heading south of the border for a further five years at St Columban's Missionary College, Navan. 1954 saw Harry head back north to Belfast and St Joseph's Teacher Training College. Four years later he completed the circle by taking up a teaching post back in his native Drumaness.

During his time at teacher training college, Harry continued to play for Ballynahinch until it folded in 1956. At the meeting which wound up the Ballynahinch club, over which Harry presided, the Drumaness club was also founded! As a student, away from home, Harry didn’t accept an officer position in the newly formed Club but helped as a Committee member and a representative on the East Down Board. Upon taking up his teaching post in the local primary school, Harry was able to devote more time to the Club, fulfilling the role of Club Secretary for six years. In what was to be a recurring trait, Harry took on a second role, that of Secretary to the East Down Divisional Minor Football Sub Committee.

The following year Harry became Secretary of the East Down Board before becoming East Down Chairperson in 1960, a member of the County committee and a selector on the County Minor team. This was a successful period for the Down minor team who won the Ulster league twice and the Ulster Championship for four years in a row. The team even got to an All Ireland Final in 1966 but was beaten by Mayo. Six of this team then went on to win Senior All Ireland medals in 1968.

Despite having a fulltime teaching job and never ending GAA duties, Harry somehow found the time to court and marry a Galway girl (and his driving instructor!), Greta Crowe in 1963. Their first child, Joe and a move to Carryduff followed in 1964 with Marie, Brid, Sean and David over the next number of years.

In 1971, when parents were concerned about the lack of playing facilities for the youth of the Parish, it was Harry they turned to for advice. By March that year Carryduff GAC was born. Harry was called upon to serve as the first Chairperson which he did from 1972-1975. In the final year of his term he even found time to double up as one of the Senior team managers!

After stepping down from Club Chairperson in 1976, Harry took on another difficult job that of Club Secretary, where his dedication saw him rewarded as the 1976 Club Person of the Year. That year also saw Harry proudly accept the East Down Club of the Year Award on behalf of the Club. Even when elected to Chair the County Board in 1977, Harry still played an active role in the Club, continuing as Secretary along with Nuala McCartan (RIP). During Harry's tenure the Down Minors won the All Ireland for the first time beating Meath comfortably by 2-06 to 0-04. In '78 Harry moved onto bigger and better things when he began a long career representing Down at the Ulster Council a position he held until 1989. Somehow during this time Harry found time to be elected as Chairperson of the East Down Board, a post he held for 25 years from 1981-1996!

1980 saw Harry join the Ulster Scór Committee. During his time there he served 3 years as Chairperson and 13 years as Secretary. Harry, who had an interest in amateur dramatics as a young man, was instrumental in forming a drama group within the Club. The group had a number of very successful and well received productions, playing to packed houses in the Parish Hall.

One of Harry's proudest memories of the Club was the Ballad Group's All Ireland win in 1983. The win was particularly pleasing for Harry as it was the first national award for a Club he had helped found in a competition in which he had been the driving force for so many years.

Never one to shy away from difficult jobs, 1983 saw Harry take on the challenging task of restructuring the finances of Down when he was elected as County Treasurer a difficult task at the best of time never mind given all of Harry's other commitments! Harry returned for a second stint as Club Chairperson in 1984, serving for two more years. This year saw the awards continue with Carryduff winning the Centenary Scór Down Club of the Year.

Harry's third term as Club Chairperson from 1990-92 was an exciting time in the Club with Down's League run in 1990 and the unforgettable All Ireland win in 1991, in which Carryduff men played a big part. The Club's own fortunes also looked good as the Senior team was competing in Division I or at the top of Division II. During this spell Harry also got promoted to the big leagues when he became the Ulster representative on the Central Scór Committee at Croke Park. He then played a central role in bringing and organizing two very successful All Ireland Senior Scór Finals to the Ulster Hall, Belfast in 1999 & 2000.

A fall at the Ulster Scór Finals in 2002, resulting in a badly damaged knee, curbed Harry's mobility for the next couple of years. This was the first time since the Club's inception that Harry had not served on the Executive Committee but he returned to resume his Cultural role in 2004 a position he still holds at the ripe young age of 77!

Harry has also passed on his love of the association and fantastic work ethic to the next generation. His son David is a member of the Carryduff team who are the current Down Ballad Group Winners and his daughter Brid and her family are heavily involved in Club affairs.

We will leave the last word to his great friend and fellow co-founder of the Club, Matt Fitzpatrick, “The unselfish and often unsung contribution of Harry McEvoy to the GAA has benefited not only his club, of which he is an Honorary Life Member, but also his County through the many years of his involvement. The existence of Carryduff today owes much to his expertise, drive and dedication.”

___________________________

(M) Minor Football Training

Minor Football Training will commence on Sunday 27th January. The session will consist of a short meeting and a training session.

Please check the website for confirmation of the start time.

___________________________

Traditional Irish Music Group

The Club is keen to encourage the development of Traditional Irish Music in the parish/club so we would ask anyone who is interested to contact Fionnuala Leneghan at 90815156.

At this stage we are particularly keen to develop a network of possible instrumental tutors with a view to setting up classes in September (if not sooner).

Any advice, experience or information will be very much appreciated.

___________________________

Club Céilí

The Club is holding it's first fundraising event of the year, a Céilí, on Saturday 23rd February from 9pm in St Joseph's Hall.

Entrance is £5 and it's BYO.

Call down and enjoy an evening of 'Craic agus Ceol'

Strictly over 18s.

___________________________

U12 & U14 Hurling Training Resumes

u12 & u14 Hurling training resumes on Saturday 26th from 2-3.30pm and every Saturday thereafter.

Any new members welcome.

If you have any queries contact Daniel Rogers on 07841143804.

___________________________

U14 Ladies Registration day and Pre Season Training

U14 Ladies registration for the 2008 season will take place on Sunday 27th January 2008 bewteen 1-2 pm at the club house. All girls wishing to play football this season should attend. All newcomers are very welcome.

The rates for the year are as follows;

Juvenile £50
Family Membership £100
Life Membership £400

U14 ladies training will commence the following week on Sunday 3/2/2008 @ 11.30am - 1.00pm at Loughmoss leisure centre.

___________________________

Football Coaching Workshop

Over 40 coaches turned out on Sunday afternoon for the first Club Football Coaching Workshop.

Under the guidance of Football Coaching Coordinator, Finbarr McMeel, the coaches were introduced to the Club's new standardised approach to coaching. Finbarr demonstrated and involved the coaches in a selection of exercises to improve warm-ups, stretches, technical drills, small sided games and Core Stability.

A new Club Football Coaching CD, devised by Finbarr, was launched as an aid to the coaches with the long term goals of;

helping improve the standard of football coaching across all age levels of male and female teams within Carryduff GAC.

promoting a consistent style of coaching and develop a consistent style of play across the club.

making coaching more enjoyable and easier to involve people / parents from a non-footballing background.

making training sessions more enjoyable for players, by promoting variety and inclusion.

competing with semi-professional coaching being offered by other sports…….soccer and rugby.

improving long-term player retention.

educating our players in relation to Health and Lifestyle choices.

___________________________

U-14 Boys Football Recruitment

U-14 Boys Recruitment takes place next Sunday 27th January 2007 at the club rooms.

Those born in 1995 : 10 AM
Those born in 1994 : 10.30 AM

Membership must be paid on the day with details regarding training to be announced at the meeting.

Those unable to attend should phone Paddy McGrath (90817153).

___________________________

Senior Training Notice

Senior Training will held at the pitch on Wednesday at 6.30pm. Players are reminded membership must be paid by 31st January.

If players wish to avail of the Player Injury Fund for 2008-09 they must have paid membership and £20 into the fund by 31st January.

To date only 4 players are fully paid up for both and are therefore eligible to use the funds.

___________________________

This week's winning numbers

4, 13, 16, 22


There were no winners of the Jackpot.

Congratulations to the Match 3 number winner who won £148

Mrs G McGlinchey

Next weeks estimated Jackpot is £343