Silver jubilee of Mayo’s 1936 All-Ireland victory

In November 1961 members of the famous 1936 Mayo team, who brought the Sam Maguire Cup to the county for the first time, were feted in Castlebar with a banquet held in the Travellers Friend Hotel to mark the silver jubilee of that great win.

The Papal, national and Mayo colours were displayed on the dining room stage.

The 21 replicas of the Sam Maguire Cup were tastefully displayed around the magnificent trophy won by Castlebar Mitchels during their American tour.

Toastmaster, Paddy Quinn of Castlebar, promised that speechmaking would not take very long.

However, it was 12.40 a.m. when the last speaker of the evening sat down, but the 150-strong gathering had not grown restless.

Rather, they had thrilled to the almost casual ability to speak about football and the ‘greats’ of the past that those giants of Mayo still possess.

Rev. Fr. Tom Shannon, C.C., president of Castlebar Mitchell proposed the toast to Ireland. He was followed by Very Rev. H. Canon Curley, who described the whole affair as a ‘very remarkable function’.“We often attend annual dinners,” he said, “but seldom do we have to wait 25 years for such an evening as this.

The organisers are to be congratulated on this great achievement for this banquet has given an opportunity to most of us to renew old friendships and acquaintances.”

Canon Curley probably echoed the sentiments of many when he added: “If a better team than the 1936 side ever played in Croke Park, I never saw them. And by the looks of it, they could well show our young footballers of today how to play the game.”

In the course of a short talk he paid tribute to such men and ‘Purty’ Kelly, Bernie Durcan, the late Rev. Fr. Hannon, the late Patsy Flannelly and the late Dr. Mongey.

Paddy Mullaney, who proposed a toast to the GAA, said the Mayo team had achieved a record in the National League competition that had never been equalled.

He savoured those victories each time he gazed into the Christmas fire, and he thrilled to the determination, fitness and daring of the Mayo team which had graced so so many fields in the 1930s.

“And they were able to do more than play football,” he recalled. “They sang and they danced. They played handball and they took part in any function. Yes, indeed, they were a wonderful team.“

And then we had the men behind the team. How many players were quietly helped by Paddy Moclair? And there was Fr. Eddie O’Hara, who, threw himself heart and soul into seeing that Mayomen never had any worries before they went on to the field.

“I only wish that the spirit of comradeship which permeated that team could be seen in every county in Ireland and especially in our present-day (1961) side here in Mayo.”

Sean T. Ruane, former chairman of the Connaught Council of the GAA for nine consecutive years, replied to the toast. At such a memorable function he was proud and privileged to be asked to discharge his duty.

The task of proposing the 1936 team was left to Sean Flanagan, who captained the Mayo teams which won All-Ireland finals in 1950 and ’51.

Sean said it was a hard thing to hold back old memories when he looked around the room.

He had held the 1936 team in hero-worship and in particular he had two heroes.

One man he had always looked up to was George Ormsby, and he had always hoped to follow George’s example by wearing the No. 6 jersey, but he had found out that there was more to getting that position than pulling a jersey over his head.

His second hero was Tom Burke, and he recalled one particular game when, Gerard Courell was knocked out but got up to kick the 21 yards free over the bar.

During the course of the game Tom was bundled into the back of the net but he got up to save a penalty minutes later.

“That ball was aimed not more than a foot inside the right upright but Tom got to it - how I will never know.”

He remembered the accuracy of Josie Munnelly and the sterling fullback play of Paddy Quinn and he recalled one great goal Paddy Moclair scored against Wexford.

“He got that ball around centre-field and certainly I think more of our full-fowards should follow his example and cease to knock around the square for the whole hour.”

Henry Kenny and Austie O’Toole were Sean’s other heroes and then he referred to Fr. Eddie O’Hara. “What a man, what a great man! I only wish we had more of his enthusiasm today.”

Seamus O’Malley, captain of the 1936 team, said it gave him great pleasure to hear such complimentary remarks, adding: “But I assure you we were no great heroes. As a matter of fact we had some very down-to-earth members on the team.”

He attributed much of Mayo’s success in the 1930s to the tough games they had with Galway and added that some of the Connaught finals between Mayo and Galway in those years were equal, if not better, than the subsequent All-Ireland deciders.

The men who had gone before them had put in a lot of hard work. They had sown the seeds and the men of 1936 reaped the harvest.

Paddy Moclair presented replicas of the Sam Maguire to the following players: Tom Burke, ‘Tot’ McGowan, Paddy Quinn, ‘Purty’ Kelly, Tommy Regan, Seamus O’Malley (captain), Henry Kenny, George Ormsby, Jackie Carney, Tommy Grier, Peter Laffey, Josie Munnelly, Paddy (‘Captain’) Munnelly, Gerard Courell, Billy Mongey, Pat Collins, Paddy Brett and Tommy McNicholas.

When it came to Paddy’s turn to receive his mementoes, they were given to him by. Fr. Shannon,

Miss Anne Flannelly, Castlebar, was given the presentations and bouquets of flowers in memory of her father, the late Patsy Flannelly, and Mr. Peter Hannon was similarly honoured in memory of the late Rev. Fr. Hannon.

Dick Hearns, trainer of the Mayo team also received mementos.