A NIGHT of celebration in honour of the Newmarket hurling team of the early ’60s, many of whom went on to become household names on the inter-county scene, was held last Friday night at The Inn at Dromoland.
County champions 50 years ago in 1963, they went on to achieve the first of a number of three-in-a-row successes as they dominated the hurling scene throughout the ’60s and ’70s.
Val Arthur introduced the players, some of whom had returned to their native parish from Dublin, Tipperary and Waterford, recalling highlights from their contribution to the club’s successes on the playing fields.
A special souvenir booklet produced for the occasion noted, “The 1960s was a decade of great change. Shannon Airport was developing as an international airport and the Shannon Industrial Estate was expanding rapidly. For the parish of Newmarket, this was a huge bonus as employment was now readily available.”
Club chairman Pat Keogh made presentations to the players involved. They were Buddy McMahon (captain in ’63, ’64 and ’67), Liam Danagher, Gerry Fawl, Mick Power, Joseph Hannon, Lewy Halpin, Pat Cronin, Tom Keane, Tom Melody, John Walsh, Vincent Hogan, Michael Considine (RIP), Jimmy Cullinan (captain in 1965), Michael O’Leary, Kevin ‘Trixie’ Twomey (RIP), Pat Halpin, Jimmy Hourigan, Sean Murphy, Paddy McNamara, Johnny Quinn, Dominic McMahon, Don O’Neill (RIP), Noel Carroll, Val Arthur, Hubbie McCabe, Jim Woods, Gus Lohan, John O’Leary, PJ McMahon, Tom Cullinan and Donie Danaher.
Memories of the great contests of those years were recalled as the players mixed with club supporters and followers from other parts of the county. The discussions went on into the early hours on what was described as “a truly memorable night”.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.