'Reeling in the years' - 1941

Post date: Aug 27, 2018 5:16:23 PM

By David Farrell

Five years had passed since Edenderry had captured their maiden county title in 1936 but the men from Rhode had added a further two and now sat with ten county titles, a feat Edenderry only achieved in 2011.

Rhode were reigning champions having won 'two in a row' by beating Daingean in 1939 and Walsh Island in 1940 and they were heavy favourites for this semi final clash as they held a proud record of having never lost to Edenderry at senior football.

The reds had overcome Daingean in the first round of the championship in controversial circumstances. Edenderry held 0-9 1-3 lead after fifty minutes of play when Daingean supporters invaded the pitch. Mick Hughes, our winning captain from 1936, had showed his class that day by scoring 1-3 before the game was abandoned. The county board subsequently awarded the game to the reds and Daingean had four players suspended while the club itself suspended for six months. Rhode lay in wait for the semi final.

The semi final was played in Edenderry and it formed part of a double header as the Rhode and Edenderry minors entertained the enormous crowd that had gathered. It was a great day for the reds as their minors emerged victorious on a score-line of 4-8 to 2-3 while the senior footballers beat Rhode for the first time in their history 5-2 to 0-3.

On that day Edenderry were in rampant form and as usual Mick Hughes was an inspiration. Edenderry had some standout performers with a young John Blong, Ger Cullen, Ned Walker, Larry Daly and Willie Coyne contributing to a historic win. The game was refereed by J Slattery from Tullamore and it's said the game was played "as all games should be played, without a single untoward incident to mar its great merits as a sporting encounter between first class teams".

The reds advanced to just their second ever county final and having beaten the favourites Daingean and the reigning champions Rhode, Edenderry were tipped to win their 2nd county title. However, Tullamore emerged victorious after a goal seven minutes from time from their captain Jim Kelly on a score-line of 2-6 2-2.

Edenderry gained a measure of revenge that October when they beat Tullamore 4-8 1-5 in a Challenge Silver cup contest with Willie Coyne an inspiration at full back.

IN OTHER NEWS:

A HARE INVADES THE PITCH:

Before the start of the Edenderry and Rhode match a Hare entered the pitch. Startled and frightened the Hare dashed around the pitch evading the hunters young and old, some of whom were carrying sticks and stakes. The Hare eventually escaped unharmed much to the delight of the spectators.

REDS DEFEATED BY BALLINABRACKEY JUNIORS:

In August 1941, Edenderry suffered an unexpected defeat in a challenge match versus Ballinabrackey on a score-line of 4-4 to 0-5. The reds had rested 6 of their regular players but this could not be used as an excuse for their 'poor display' according to the 'Leinster Leader' who went on to state "They would not have beaten carpets". Ballinabrackey were tipped to win their grade and it's said they possessed a great fifteen.

A HONEYMOON IN DUN LAOGHAIRE:

On February 24th 1941 the marriage took place of Mr William Tyrrell (O'Connell Square Edenderry) and Miss Margaret Fanning (Oldcastle, Meath). Fr Conway of Kinnegad, a cousin of the bride, presided over the nuptials. The 25 guests plus Fr Tierney (Edenderry) and Fr Conway enjoyed the receptions at Nolan's restaurant on Fr Kearns Street and later the couple went on honeymoon to Dun Laoghaire.

THE STREETS ARE DEPLORABLE:

Edenderry was described as having an 'ugly and dirty' appearance that no amount of scavenging could erase. The deplorable condition of the street was a source of huge frustration for the townspeople with filled in trenches on each street following water and sewerage schemes that had been recently completed.

THE SOCCER CLUB DISSOLVES:

The dissolution of Edenderry soccer club left many young athletes with no means of strenuous outdoor exercise. It was reported at the time that it would be a shame if these players did not affiliate or seek reinstatement to the GAA as there was many of them who had potential to be 'first class Gaelic footballers'.

THE BOG RESCUE:

Three brothers were working at the bog in Clonmore when young Thomas Glynn (8) fell into a bog hole. His quick thinking brother Christy (10) seized a fork and reached down for Thomas to grab hold. James (12) stood behind Christy and helped him pull the forks back up to the bank. All three men survived the ordeal.

THE TUNNEL - A TERRIBLE DANGER TO THE TOWN:

An enquiry was held at the Town Hall on September 24th 1941 regarding the safety of the tunnel between Rathangan and Edenderry that led to the Blundell aqueduct which had been built in 1793. An application by the Grand Canal Co. wished to prohibit all vehicles over 2 tonne from using the tunnel and that a speed limit should be imposed. Mr Pierce F Purcell, a civil engineer professor at UCD, gave evidence of having found the structure to be unsuitable for modern traffic. He estimated it would cost £25,000 to replace the tunnel but that after 148 years it had shown no signs of wear and tear. Mr Nicholas O'Dwyer, consulting engineer to Offaly Co. Council said he favoured a speed limit of 3mph but no weight restrictions.

TORTOISE FOUND IN GARDEN:

Mr Kit Kennedy of St Conleth's road found a tortoise in his back garden. It measured 5" in length and 4" in width. It was the first animal of its kind to be discovered in Edenderry.

JUSTICE O'DONOGHUE REFUSES LICENCE TO DANCE AT FR PAUL MURPHY HALL:

"There are few districts as bad in the whole of Éire that misconducts itself like Edenderry around Christmas" were the famous words of Mr Justice O'Donoghue at a sitting of the district court in December 1941. Solicitor F.B O'Toole applied for the licence on behalf of the L.D.F for a dance on St Stephen's night and said he understood that incidents had occurred in the past but were unlikely to occur on this occasion considering the people he was applying on behalf of were leaders of the L.D.F. Superintendent Delaney and Sargent Byrne opposed the application and advised that they believe rows and disruptions would break out. Mr Justice O'Donoghue refused the application and said he believed it was only applied for in the L.D.F's good name so that he would grant it. He dismissed the application.

EDENDERRY FAMILY WIPED OUT AS GERMANS BOMB THE NORTH STRAND:

While it is well known the German's bombed the North Strand in Dublin in May 1941 during World War 2 it came as a great shock to the community of Edenderry at the time that the well known and highly regarded Brown family had been killed in the blast. Harry Brown, his wife Molly Brown (nee Corrigan), their children Maureen (7), Ann (5), Edward (3), Angela (newborn) and Harry's mother accounted for exactly one quarter of the people who died (28). The Brown family had moved to Dublin in 1937. Their bodies were laid to rest in Drumcooley cemetery in Edenderry. The cortege of seven coffins, three white coffins for the children, slowly made its way along a silent JKL Street where it paused for a moment outside the Brown's home. Parish priest Fr Tierney presided over the requiem mass. Harry Brown had hurled for Edenderry and was a former class mate in school of George O'Connell, Chairman of the Town Commissioners.