2003 Aidan O'Neill
Aidan O’Neill a Tyrone man born and bred has the distinct honour of becoming the first person that was not born and bred in Castlewellan to receive this prestigious Castlewellan GAC ‘Hall of Fame Award’. However Aidan O’Neill as a former town footballer and Committee member and the holder of a Down SFC winner’s medal has long been regarded as an adopted son of Castlewellan.
Aidan worked for Allied Irish Banks and was posted to Castlewellan to work in the local AIB Branch in 1960/61. At that time bank officials were required to take up lodgings were ever their work took them and Aidian moved into Pat and Mary Lavery’s boarding house on the Circular Road over-looking the old meadow (now St Malachy’s Park). In those days the meadow was a hive of activity in summer evenings with perhaps two or three impromptu games of Gaelic and soccer being played at any time and of course the meadow was the home pitch for St Malachy’s GAA Club. His choice of career like Sean Young from Derry a decade earlier and Kevin McElroy in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s was fortunate for the town Club as all 3 bank officials proved to be excellent Club men and footballers. Sean Young had won an All-County League medal with the town in 1955 and was also a member of the Derry county team during the same period. Fermanagh man Kevin McElroy who had also lined out for his native County won SFC medals with the town in 1979 and 1982. Tyrone man Aidan O’Neill came to Castlewellan equipped with a SFC medal that he had won with Newry Mitchell’s a year earlier in 1960.
It wasn’t long until the Castlewellan GAA hierarchy discovered Aidian’s playing credentials and Aidan was soon invited to commence training with the Club. He made his debut for Castlewellan senior team in June 1961 against Ballela in the Banbridge tournament as a comer forward. His football skills and ability won him a regular team place on one of the most talented Club senior teams ever to wear the town jerseys playing along side such established players as Malachy McInearney, Johnny Rooney, Dermott McCabe, Frankie Rooney, Mickey Magorrian, Pat Small, Fr. J. Fitzpatrick, Pat Rice (capt), Jim Rice, Hugh McAlister and George Glynn. In 1962 Aidan played on the Town' team which was beat 1.12 to 0.4 by a strong Glenn team in the SFC final. The town lads had to settle for runners-up medals but this team was on the up, and a year later in 1963 Aidan won his second medal with the town when they won the County ‘B’ league. A third medal was to follow in 1964 as a member of the team that won the 'A' league.
Seven’s football has had a long tradition in Castlewellan and town teams have won numerous Feis titles and Club tournaments and competitions down through the years all over the County and further afield. The popularity of Seven’s competitions was at it’s height in the sixties drawing huge crowds to the meadow for the annual seven-a-side competition which followed the annual sports day. Aidan featured in one of the seven-a-side teams for which Castlewellan had by this time a great track record and he was goalkeeper on a very memorable team, which won gold watches on a wet Monday night in the meadow in 1964 in front of a record 2000 spectators.
However his greatest triumph was playing as left half back on the Town' team that won the Club’s 6th Down Senior Football Championship title in 1965 when they beat Clonduff 2.10 to 1.09.
Aidian’s career took him back to Newry in 1966 and he immediately commenced playing again with Newry Mitchell’s and in 1968 won his third SFC medal with Mitchell’s. He returned to manage the Newcastle Branch of AIB a few years later and settled in the seaside town. His playing days were now over but his GAA loyalty and commitment were as strong as ever and he had not forgotten the Club where he won his second SFC medal in 1965. He returned to the ‘town’ Club in 1970 and joined the Committee and for the following fifteen years or more served in numerous positions including assistant Secretary and asst. treasurer. In 1974 he was elected as Down County Treasurer and also served in this capacity for 8-years. His County Board duties kept him very busy during this period but Aidan still made time to attend as many Club Committee meetings as possible. The 1970’s was a time of great change for the Club with the opening of the first GAA Social Club in Down in 1976 and the development of Pairc Naomh Maolmhoig which was opened in 1978 (Aidan was a member of the platform party at the official opening – see Club successes). During this time Aidan’s wise counsel and advice on all the financial implications of the Club Development programme was extremely important and very much appreciated. Aidan was very much a hands on person too and when the Social Club opened it’s doors in 1976 Aidan was also present doing his voluntary stints along with other great Club men of that era lifting and washing glasses or on doorman duty.
However like many other great footballers that have donned the town jersey Aidan will be remembered as a member of the ’65 team that won the town it’s 6th SFC title. His team-mates and mentors alike have all referred to him as a solid, honest, dedicated performer, regardless of his size or posture, having played in numerous positions when the need arose, whether in defence, goal-keeper or the forward line. In latter years he has remained true and loyal, always returning to help share in our successes, and while he may have initially been adopted to Castlewellan he is without doubt now a fully fledged 'Town’ man.
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