1996 Francie McAlindin
Francie McAlinden from Bunker’s Hill Castlewellan has been a loyal ‘town man’ all of his life. He may have been small in stature but was big in heart and along with his brother Brian were ever present on ‘Town’ teams in the late 40’s and early 50’s. Francie was a member of the victorious 1950 SFC winning side (click here for photo). It was this team that brought the town out of the doldrums after a long 14 year championship famine, as the town had last won a senior championship title in 1936 (the longest gap between SFC titles in the history of St Malachy’s Club)
When his football career came to an end Francie immediately threw himself into the affairs of the club, joining the committee and making his services available for whatever tasks were asked of him. These duties often ranged from grass cutting, gateman, linesman, and umpire. As umpire or linesman France was not one to shy away from making and standing over any controversial decisions required in the execution of his duties. Francie was renowned on the Club committee as a straight taking and honest individual who always believed in standing by his principles and one who would not be easily swayed. Always fond of a good argument too, he and his colleague Tommy McPhilips would ensure that committee meetings and AGM's would be both lively and long lasting. Francie was also a great believer in putting back into the game what he himself had got out and was involved with assisting in coaching and preparing underage teams.
He remained on the committee right into the 1970’s when he also took a spell along with Pat Rodgers as joint manager of the town junior team. After he stepped down from the committee Francie along with Tommy McPhilips continued to attend and support every town game, and they were also on hand to lend their professional services for sanding and buffing the new social club floor when required. Both men were well known characters through their employment as caretakers in St. Malachy’s High School, and through their involvement in the running of the Parish bingo for close on thirty years. Francie was also a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society and give up much of his time to the Society’s charitable works including hospital visitations.
Francie also ensured that his six sons continued the McAlinden tradition of Gaelic football. All of the boys have played for the town at various levels with both Gerard and Frances junior, playing for the senior team in the 70’s and 80/90’s. Frances junior was a member of the famous back to back championship-winning side of 1994 and 1995. Both Gerard, Frances, and Rory also followed in their father’s footsteps by serving for many years on the club committee. In 2001 Frances junior took on the additional responsibility of Club Treasurer. He also has the distinction of receiving the ‘Clubman of the Year’ award in 1996 at the same award presentation dinner at which his father received the prestigious ‘Hall of Fame‘ award.
The McAlinden tradition of involvement with Castlewellan GAC both on and off the field is set to continue well into the new millennium as a third generation of McAlinden's (Francie’s grandchildren) have also donned the green jersey for the town club. Francie is also an uncle of the McKibben brothers Peter and Martin (‘Harpo’), who are also heavily involved in the affairs of the club. Their mother was another McAlinden from Bunker’s Hill.
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