‘Ogled Out in Old Leighlin’ revisited
Some of the Old Leighlin team celebrating their SFC title win earlier this month Photo: Pat Ahern
“The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end that’s all there is.”
Wise words spoken by Charles Carson, the butler to the the aristocratic Crawley family of the fictional Downton Abbey, a line written by Julian Fellowes which strongly suggests that a person’s legacy is defined by their life experiences, not material possessions. Another man who subscribed to that tenent was Tommy Lynch, a real life Carlow character, who from the early 1930s to the late 1950s made it his business of life to record the acquisition of memories of his rural neighbours in a wonderful weekly column he penned for this newspaper.
Tommy’s ‘Ogled Out in Old Leighlin’ brought parish notes to a new dimension, his colourful turn of phrase, his sense of humour and his frequent use of verse to describe events of the day making the column stand-out as did his intimate knowledge of the area and it’s inhabitants whose daily deeds were elevated to a work of art by their local correspondent.
How he would have waxed lyrical on his beloved Old Leighlin’s acquisition of their fifth Carlow Senior Football Championship title last Sunday, kindling yet more treasured memories for the village’s football fraternity. Indeed a verse from an old FCA victory song of his (sang to the air of the ‘Rising of the Moon) captures perfectly the feelings evoked last weekend … And who’ll forget the thrills and throbs of every catch and kick, As the great final got under way and the scores came fast and thick; ‘Twas that side now and this side then for victory or retreat, But the ball bedecked and medals crowned Old Leighlin’s brilliant feat.
After many years out of existence Old Leighlin GFC was reformed in 1952, the idea being sown during a chat around the Big Tree in the village in late ’51. The first AGM was held in the hom of Kevin Kelly. Tom Byrne (Craan) was elected Chairman, Billy Forde (Old Leighlin) Secretary and it was a decision that a junior team be affiliated to the County Board. The first practice game was arranged by Mick Kelly (Johnsduffwood) against Paulstown in Boherbee, which the club won wearing the Royal Oak jerseys, kindly loaned by Mick Brennan. The winning point was scored by Brendan Lawler.
Ned O’Neill and Johnny Byrne phoned Sean Og O’Ceallachain to enquire about the price of a set of jerseys. On being informed a staggering £23, asked if he would take something off, Sean Og replied, “Yes, the label.” A house to house collection was hastily arranged to raise the money. Club members went door to door and all round the locality by bicycle or on foot but the collection was not completed before the first game and Paulstown sportingly offered the loan of their blue and white set.
When enough money was raised at another meeting in Kelly’s the club colours were discussed at some length, it being agreed to continue in the blue and white. The jerseys were ordered and when they were ready Ned O’Neill and Billy Forde promptly set off for Dublin by motor cycle to collect them in Dublin. On the way the bike broke down and was abandoned at Jack Slattery’s of Knocknagee, with the rest of the journey made by bus.
When the jersetys were collected they got a lot more than the labels off! The first game at Meaney’s field, Leighlinbridge on April 22, 1952 got off to a great start with a 60 yards point by Pat Carpenter, Knockbranagh, and two further points by the Village’s Matt Carey but that completed the teams total for that match, a losing debut.
The remainder of this column is given over to nuggets of gold from the ‘Ogled Out in Old Leighlin’ column of 1952 as the local scribe recorded for posterity the early days the new local football club.
“A heartening aspect of village life is the picture of the Sunday evening gatherings at the local practice grounds. An ideal pitch is available, thanks to the generosity of a local landowner, and the afternoon trek to the field, where the youth kick, hurl and have their fling, includes all ages and sizes. Of course the main topic is the new football club. Form is still in the moulding stage but if enthusiasm and vocal support mean anything there is sure to be one hours lusty cheering for the jerseys of Blood Alley.” Saturday, April 5, 1952.
“When the boys of the village gathered some weeks ago to start a Gaelic football club enthusiasm and hope were the main assets behind the drive and poverty the disturbing bed fellow. With the eagerness of youth all the incidentals of running a club and togging out a team were left to the fortunes of the next turn and points of play the main concern.
The older hands had their eyes on the financial department and bringing the lads together for a heart to heart talk over the week-end a decision was made to test the public pulse for support. The yield was great beyond expectations and the response from the neighbourhood is the most heartening send off the new team can get. Close on £20 was collected in a matter of hours, sufficient to send the lads out in decent togs when they line up for the championship and doesn’t the club feel grateful for the generous support of the locality.” Saturday, April 19, ’52
“A friendly encounter with a Leighlinbridge selection on Sunday last, brought the local juniors a good trial run on the home grounds. For the Old Leighlin team the game was an experience in try-outs and placings, and provided data for any reshuffling necessary to strengthen positions. That the lads need a lot of ‘pack combination’ was evident on the run of play, but with a few encounters with seasoned players like Sunday’s Leighlin string, there will be less bunching and individual effort. The game was friendly in every sense of the word and, appropriately enough, ended in a draw.” Saturday, April 19, ’52
“The populace turned out to a man on Sunday when the football team had their first ‘engagement’ at Leighlinbridge. Taking the field against St Andrew’s (Muinebeag) juniors in the championship tie, vocal support, male and female, went out from the sideline with them. That they were beaten by the fates and the scoreboard and a better combination of players should but add to the ‘tempering’ of our side for future field days.” Saturday, April 26, ’52
“The footballers were again beaten by a ‘street’ on Sunday last when they met Ballon boys at Bagenalstown. We hadn’t much hope of a spectacular surprise on the part of the Old Leighlin juniors against such seasoned footballers as the opposition can muster, therefore the alibis of defeat were well rehearsed. With a new club and little more than a ‘gather up’ of raw materials for this year’s games we look forward to the makings of a better record after the first anniversary. A torrential shower that would have subdued the dust of an All-Ireland final, at the outset of Sunday’s game, made it difficult for the lads to find their sea legs. They are out again on next Sunday, against Fenagh, maybe they’ll breast the tide of adverse luck.” Saturday, June 14, ’52.
“On Sunday last at Bagenalstown the local juniors had no answer to the challenge of Fenagh. Taking the field for their third game of the current championship, the scoring went monotonously against them and Old Leighlin holds the ‘wooden spoon’ of the series. ‘Sweet are the uses of adversity’ and now that medal worries have flickered o’er the horizon let the lads learn from the experiences and by concentrating on team work and technique in the off season, hammer the available raw material into a smooth working outfit. When we say keep together, develop the resources and make ‘pride of place’ your motto, the thrice worn jerseys will remain true to their colours and flutter with unanimous approval.” Saturday, June 21, ’52.
“Following in the footsteps of their bigger brothers Old Leighlin minor footballers bowed to Kilcloney at Bagenalstown. Sadly lacking in team work and the art of fooling the opposition the youngsters fought an uphill fight all the way. If not their dreams at least their nightmares were realized and though disappointment was writ largely on every youthful countenance – after the ball, the preliminary preparations and premature expectations, were a tonic beforehand.
Over the weekend it looked as if we were getting ready for the Olympics with the boys (all ‘hayroes’) nicknamed after the best backs and forwards within the four seas. If we were rocked by the result, and failed to raise a cheer for the ‘hape o’ stones’ we are by no means in ruin. The lads are young and will get over it, and by keeping on keeping on it is the spirit that’ll count even with but the ghost of a chance.” Saturday, July 5, ’52.
Keeping on keeping on is what Old Leighlin continued to do down the seven decades since, their resilience rewarded by etching the club’s name on the SFC Cup in 1997, 2010, 2011, 2013 and now 2025, each triumph etching treasured memories in the hearts and minds of the folk who are proud to live on the hill.
