1994 Bessie Rooney
The very mention of the name Rooney in Castlewellan and indeed the surronding parishes conjures up the picture of GAA, one name is synomnomous with the other, and that is the way it has been for generations in the Castlewellan area.
This hasn’t come about by accident, it is the result of dedication, hard work, and a passion for Gaelic games and culture in the Rooney household, spanning 75 years and more of the Club’s 100 year history. The Rooney contribution to the GAA and in particular to the St Malachy’s Club is unmeasurable.
Bessie Rooney the mother of seven sons who all played Gaelic for the town was King to her own name. Dan Rooney eldest of the Rooney Brothers has often said that his earliest influence was his mother’s brother John King who won a SFC medal with the town in 1934 and in the same year won a Feis medal in what was the first ever Feis Sevens. So from an early age the young Rooney boys and girls were brought up on a diet of Gaelic football and a love for Irish pastimes noutured by by their mother Bessie who was a deeply patriotic lady with a love and respect for all things Irish.
Bessie became a lifelong supporter of the town Club and ensured that all her boys played Gaelic. She took great pride in her sons turning out for the town and in the days before automatic washing machines and dryers and although she had a large family Bessie would ensure that her sons playing gear was in prestine condition everytime they took the field – which with seven sons was very frequently.
Encouraged by their mother 3 of her sons went on to make major GAA contributions not only for their Club but also the County; Dan was Club Secretary 1947-1969 and Club Chairman 1976-1985. He was also a Down selector in the 1960’s including a selector of the All-Ireland winning side of 1968; Pat was referee in a record 8 Down SFC finals, and his contribution to refereeeing was recognised during the Down Centenary Year when he was awarded a centenary Spirit of Down Award. Frankie was Club Treasurer 1967-1982. In addition there are 8 SFC medals in the Rooney household - Dan (2) – Pat (2) – Johnny (2) – Frankie (2), and both Dan and Pat won Ulster Junior Football Championship medals in 1949. All four sons are recipients of St Malachy’s ‘Hall of Fame Awards’.
However Gaelic games and Gaelic ways were not confined to Bessie’s sons and she also encouraged her daughters to play camogie and become actively involved in the Club. Her daughters Sally and Aggie played camogie for the town during the 1950’s and Aggie later joined the town committee were she was not afraid to voice an opinion and along with May Steele and Peggy Toner they resurrected a camogie team in the Club during the 1970’s. Another daughter Bernie was also very heavily involved with organising Scor competitors to represent the Club during this same period
Rain hail or snow Bessie was ever present at every town game along with her lifelong friend Rosanne Corrigan cheering on her sons and anyone else that wore the town jersey. They were also a permanent fixture on the town bus along with Bessie’s daughter Dympna, from the time the first bus was purchased in 1954 until the town bus eventually went off the road in the early 1980’s.
Regardless of what function the Club was running down through the years and if tea making and sandwiches were required Bessie and her daughters were to the forefront along with the other faithfull town ladies. The same can be said for Club fund raising or jersey repairing, Bessie could always be relied on to help out her beloved Club.
However Bessie will best be remembered as a loyal, true and vocal supporter of generations of Town teams, standing with her loyal companions and daughters on the sideline in a huddle and often under umbrellas in appalling weather roaring out support for the town.
It is indeed appropriate that Bessie Rooney should become the first female recipient of the St Malachy’s GAC ‘Hall of Fame’ award.. Her legacy lives on and in the year of the Club Centenary her grandchildren and great grandchildren are playing and coaching Gaelic for the town Club and many other GAA clubs as well.
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