1997 Jim Jennings
The Jennings family from Castlewellan hav a long and distinguished history of playing Gaelic games in Castlewellan. Indeed Jim’s father James would almost certainly have been the recipient of the Club’s Hall of Fame Award had this prestigious Club Award been about in his day. In 1920 James won a JFC medal with Castlewellan O’Rahilly’s and in 1924 a SFC medal with Castlewellan Diamonds the first senior team from the town to win the County Championship. He was also a regularr on Down teams in the late 1920’s and was an expertt handball player along with Fr Cullen, Fr McKenna and John’Darkie’ Toner.
James passed his love of Gaelic games down to his sons Jim, Peter and Pat all of whom played Gaelic for the town with distinction during the late 1940’s and 1950’s
Jim Jenning’s Gaelic football abilities first game to the attention of the Press in 1947 when Castlewellan were playing in the new South Down and Mourne Senior Football League. In the League game away against Newry at the Abbey Grounds they were beaten 5-5 to 2-1, fielding a very young side. The 'Frontier Sentinel' newspaper headline read: 'Castlewellan's Minors impressed.' The report continued: -
‘… The Castlewellan lads, youthful and full of dash and led by John O'Hare, famous custodian and goal-keeper on the Ulster Railway Cup team, were deserving of a higher score and created an extremely good impression. The visitors are to be heartily congratulated on experimenting in this game with some of their most youthful players, the Jennings lads attracting much attention, particularly, the minor left back who shows much promise (Jim). His younger brother only 14 years old (Peter) had a useful game on the right wing, and on more than one occasion placed the Newry defence in jeopardy. ….’
The old family names associated with previous successful Castlewellan teams in the 30's, Steele, Hannity, McCann and King had almost disappeared now. They were gradually being replaced by the Rooney’s, Jennings, Guinness’s and Rodgers to name but a few, who would all make significant contributions to the club for years to come. In the Senior Football Championship the prospects of a third final appearance in a row (1945, 1946 and 1947) was dashed at the first hurdle. In 1948
the town reached semi-final meeting with Warrenpoint, their conquerors the previous year. However it took a second replay and third meeting of the two sides for Warrenpoint, to emerge victorious in a low scoring game, 0-5 to 0-2. Nevertheless the newspaper reported that a young Jim Jennings was one of the star players for the town: -
‘…At the conclusion of the game, it was refreshing to see the Castlewellan team led by Ulster and County goal-keeper John O'Hare, congratulating warmly the members of the Warrenpoint side, on their merited victory. Of such stuff sportsmen are made. Castlewellan leading 0-2 to 0-1 at the interval but missed too many easy scoring chances in the second period. Their star players on the day were John O'Hare, Willie McKibben, Jim Jennings, Eddie Steele and Dan Rooney…’
In 1950 Eamon de Valera was guest of honour at Feis an Duin in St Patrick’s Park Newcastle with Castlewellan winning the 'Feis'7’s on that historic occasion and Jim Jennings picking up his first Feis medal. The Feis 7’s team was John O'Hare (captain), Jim Jennings, Cyril Wells, John Guinness, Jim Rodgers, Ronnie Crozier, and Pat Rooney.
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In the first round of the Senior Football Championship Castlewellan defeated Downpatrick in the 'Meadow' 1-10 to 0-3, having lost to the same opposition earlier in the month in the League. The press reported:-
“On the day at the back Paddy McAleenan and Jim Jennings shone, while John Guinness and Patsy Ferguson ruled midfield...”
The town went on to win their 4th SFC title later in the year with Jim playing a prominent role in the final when they beat Warrenpoint by the narrowest of margins
By 1953 Jim was an established player on the Castlewellan team and had also come to the attention of Down selectors. When a junior football trial game was played in Newcastle to help select the Down team for the Ulster Championship, Castlewellan men Jim and Peter Jennings and Brian Corrigan all featured in the game.
Later in the year Castlewellan were beat by 2 points in the 'Feis 7's' final against Warrenpoint but received an invitation to the prestigious Gold Medal tournament in Casement Park in Belfast. Their opponents were the Tyrone County champions Dungannon Clarkes and after a marvellous performance they were only beaten by one point with the main talking point being the display of Castlewellan's Jim Jennings against the Tyrone legend 'Iggy’ Jones.
In 1954 Jim captained the Castlewllan 7’s team to victory beating Glen in the final and the Mourne Observer sports reporter had this to say: -
'… After the semi-finals I fancied Glenn to beat Castlewellan. Castlewellan were a different team in the final however, and despite the greasy conditions Jennings, Guinness, McAlinden, Corrigan and Rooney combined delightfully and wasted no chances. Glenn though dangerous at all times, did not play as well as they did in the semi-final. A special word of praise is due to the Castlewellan captain Jim Jennings. He did more than any other player to win the match. Not only was he the outstanding player of the day, but his generalship of the Castlewellan seven, played a large part in their victory…'
The Castlewellan winning Senior Feis 7 was: -
Joe O'Hare, Jim Jennings (Capt.), John Guinness, Jim Rodgers, Pat Rooney, Brian Corrigan, Brian McAlinden.
The following year Jim was one of the star players for the town when they defeated Glenn by 2-7 to 1-4 to win the 1955 league title. Jim continued to star for the town over the next number of years also winning numerous 7-a-side and tournament prizes and when on August 23 1958, Castlewellan captured the Club's fifth Down Senior Football Championship title. The 'Mourne Observer' had this to say: -
‘…Congratulations to Castlewellan on winning your fifth Senior County Championship (The other victories were in 1924, '34, '36, '50). Three of the 1950 team lasted the pace to acquire a second championship medal - Paddy McAleenan, Jim Jennings and Pat Rooney. A special word of congratulations is due to them…'
This was the icing on the cake for Jim and earlier in the tear he also picked up his third Feis Sevens winners medal. Throughout his long and distinguished playing career Jim was described as probably one of the best club players ever to wear the green jersey, and after his playing days were over he remained a strong and loyal supporter of St Malachy’s GAC.
In 2006 Jim received the ultimate Club honour when the Club Executive appointed him Club President for the 3 year period 2006 to 2008
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