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First
GAA medal in Down Stolen - 12/11/02
The first ever GAA medal in County Down
has been stolen from a house in Warrenpoint. The medal,
which dates back to 1889, was taken as burglars ransacked
the home of a pensioner (who wishes to remain anonymous)
in Warrenpoint last Sunday (November 3).
The pensioner’s daughter contacted the Newry Democrat to
tell of her father’s ordeal. “The medal has been in our
family since 1889 and now it is gone. It is worth very little
from a financial point of view, but it has huge sentimental
value to my father.”
The medal was awarded to Johnny O’Neill 113 years ago after
he captained John Martins to victory against Mayobridge,
in the first tournament of its kind in the Newry and Mourne
area. GAA aficionados will remember the match because it
went to a replay, which Mayobridge won, however, they fielded
an illegal player, and it was replayed again.
This time the Warrenpoint side came out on top. The pensioner’s
son explained the significance of the medal. “Croke Park
have asked to borrow it on a number of occasions for centenary
celebrations and other exhibitions. “There is no way the
medal can be replaced.”
He explained how his father has had the medal for the last
seventy years after it was given to him. “He feels responsible
for losing the medal, even though quite clearly it was not
his fault.” He implored anyone with any information regarding
the whereabouts of the medal to get in touch. “It is my
fear that the medal will end up in a pawn shop in Dublin
or Belfast, and somebody selling it for a tenner to get
a few drinks.”
Anybody with any information about the medal’s whereabouts
can contact the family through the Newry Democrat. Phone
028 30 254 361. or email this site.
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