Friends of Sligo Football

Congratulations to the Sligo U 16 boys team, under the management of Tommy Brehony, who won
the Manning cup last week. It was important this group of talented players emerged with success
from their season. It is worth remembering that previous successful teams at this level created
future senior county players, who played pivotal roles for Sligo at senior level. It is good to see
reward for the countless coaching hours being invested at primary , secondary, club level and
through the GAA coaches in the County

Commiserations to Sligo senior and under 16 ladies football team, who suffered defeats recently. It
is very difficult for the senior ladies to compete at this level with a very small club base and having
lost players of the calibre of Catriona Connolly, Grainne O’Gara, Angela Doohan, Martina Keane,
Louise Smith, Ethna Flanagan, Louise Brett, Imelda McNulty, Sandra Rowley and Therese Marren for
various reasons in recent years and we hope at least some of these will be back in the Sligo colours
next season. The under 16 ladies have the consolation of being Connaught champions – a great feat.
It is important to acknowledge the contribution of John and Mary Gillespie in their sponsorship of
ladies football in Sligo this year. The ladies make significant sacrifices and no doubt lose financially
in playing for their county.

The annual Gillespie cup was held as customary on 2nd Monday in August in Enniscrone Golf Club and
as usual a most enjoyable day was had by all. It was a particularly special day for the Burke family
as one of Tubbercurry’s most respected golfers Joe was captain on the day and his son Tony won
the Gillespie cup and took the coveted Green Blazer. The Gillespie cup outing goes from strength
to strength and as usual there was a large GAA representation. Looking around over the years I was
tempted to pick my best representative GAA team of players, who participate in this competition.
Here is my team. No doubt others would have different names

Pat Kilcoyne, Padraig Keane, Jarlath Burke, Mickey Kilcoyne, Donal Brennan, Mark Burke, Mick
Marren, Tom Collery, Eamonn O’Hara, John Kent, Brian Walsh, Paul Seevers, Paul Taylor, Mickey
Durkin, Roger McCarrick. Non Playing captain - Paddy Henry Rhue. Two of the stars of Sligo under 16
ladies team, Laura Gillespie and Caoimhe Gallagher have also being involved in the organisation of
this event over the years

Regular readers of these notes (if there are any regular readers) will be aware that the notes are
not strictly restricted to GAA matters as we also try to reflect other Sligo diaspora matters in
particular the promotion of Sligo as a tourist attraction. It seems more could be done to promote
the enormous attractions that Sligo has to offer. Looking at recent Friday night Country wide
festival programmes no mention seemed to be made of the array of attractive festivals in Sligo
during August or perhaps I missed it. Also why is there so little promotion of the amazing scenery
in South and West Sligo. Having travelled through these area again in recent weeks I was struck by
the awesome beauty around Lough Talt and Lough Easkey and the beauty and aura of Knocknashee,
which rarely get a mention in the promotion of Sligo. Surely we should leverage the great history of
Irish music talent in Sligo. What other counties could boast of the legacy of Coleman, Morrisson and
Fred Finn and the current exponents of Irish music such as Harry McGowan, James Murray, Philip
Duffy, Peter Horan, Fr. James McDonagh and a host of others?. There must be a huge market there
to be tapped if properly marketed and we hope it can be done.