1981 Johnny O'Neill
Sixty years with Castlewellan Club until his sudden and unexpected death early on Wednesday 20th November 2002. Johnny O’Neill was Club President and an active Committee member at the time of his death. He was also the longest serving Club Committee member, having joined the Committee in 1960. Forty-two years later he was still a member. He also served as Club Chairman from 1985 to 1996. Although in failing health for the last few years of his life he continued to serve as a member of the Club Committee even after his appointment in year 2000 to the honouree position of Club President.
Johnny attended his last Committee meeting on Monday 18th November less than 48 hours before his death, and as always he made a full contribution to the meeting, taking part in a number of debates and voicing his disappointment at the senior team's performance that resulted in their exit in 2002 from the top four play-offs.
Johnny joined his home Club of Castlewellan in 1942 and as goalkeeper he became a star between the posts and quickly graduated through the ranks to senior minder. During those years "The Town" were one of the more successful club sides in Down football. In 1950 he gained his first championship (SFC) medal, when Castlewellan defeated Warrenpoint 2.5 to 2.4 after an exciting replay in the old meadow. A second championship medal came his way in 1958 when Castlewellan defeated Clonduff 0.8 to 0.4.
For any Club player the ultimate honor is to represent your County. This John did when he pulled on the red and black jersey in 1952. He played against Derry in the Ulster Championship in of 1953 and 1954 opposing one of his club mates Sean Young. Sean Young was a Bank Clerk in Castlewellan at the time and played for Castlewellan with distinction for a number of years before the Northern Bank moved him on. During his time in Castlewellan Sean lodged in the Cosy Café in the town’s Lower Square. Johnny recalls how it was strange that Sean and himself traveled to games together and then went out and did battle on the field of play. (Sean Young went on to manage the Roscommon team and has been spotted about the Club again in recent years, supporting the Town when he is on holidays in Newcastle).
During his playing years John collected several leagues titles as well those championship successes – Feis 7’s tournament trophies and medals galore adorn his trophy cabinet.
With his playing years behind him, unlike many players Johnny didn’t walk away from his Club. Instead, in 1960 he joined the Club Committee, taking on whatever tasks were asked of him, the most famous role being Club Umpire, which at times proved very controversial, but this didn’t deter the bold Johnny. Rather he quite often was the cause of any controversies. On the committee he quickly became a very popular figure and became affectionately known as the Club’s "Kissinger" because of his determination and ability to mend internal disputes and differences, and like any club, there were many.
When Dan Rooney stood down as Club Chairman at the 1985 AGM Johnny was the unanimous choice as Dan’s successor and for the next ten years Johnny held the Chair until he too decided that it was time for a change.
Johnny wasn’t long into his seat in 1985 when a young and forward looking Committee decided that the Social Club was out of date and needed rebuilding and that urgent attention was required to St Malachy’s Park. Johnny give his seal of approval to the new venture and very quickly led from the front, organizing meetings and tapping into the various fields of expertise within the club and urging everyone to get involved in the much needed new fundraising.
One very adventurous fund raising proposal put forward during Dan’s tenure was for an outdoor festival under marquee in St. Malachy’s Park. This had not been possible up to the date of Dan's departure because of the reluctance of the headlining act to travel north. But by 1986 the act’s management Oliver Barry had finally agreed to allow the "Wolfetones" to make their first northern appearance since the onset of the troubles, and play St Malachy’s Park. The rest as the saying goes is history. The weekend festival of 19 and 20 July 1986 was an outstanding success which became an annual event up until 1990 increasing in success each year and bringing in much needed revenue to fund the Club’s development program. As an interesting aside it is worth recording that the appearance of the "Wolfetones" in Castlewellan in 1986 heralded a revival of their popularity in the north. Following their successful stint at C’wellan between 1986 – 1990 they continued to pull record crowds at similar festivals in nearby Hilltown and Leitriom as well as numerous other venues throughout the north. It is also worth noting that the "Tones" played their silver jubilee concert in Castlewellan in 1989 celebrating their 25 years together as a group.
Johnny was at the helm during the organizing of each festival, which was manned on a voluntary basis by Clubmen and Clubwomen. On the eve of each festival Johnny would deliver his pep talk to the workforce reminding them that they were representing their Club and to carry out their duties with dignity, and respect for those attending. Johnny would often quote from JFK’s famous inaugural speech substituting the words Country with Club. "Think not what your Club can do for you, rather what you can do for your Club". Johnny also played his own major role during the festival along with another great Hall of Fame recipient, Pat Rooney (brother of Dan’s). Both men organized and called a monster bingo session during each festival weekend, adding further to the Club coffers.
In addition Johnny and Pat organized the weekly parish bingo every Wednesday night and the Club weekly bingo sessions in the social club on Friday nights.The success of the festivals enabled the Club to proceed with the new Club, which Johnny opened in 1985
Johnny also overseen major Club successes on the field of play during his chairmanship, including the famous back to back senior County Championships in 1994 and 1995. Johnny’s sons Maurice and John played a part in both winning teams, and like their father they are proud holders of two SFC medals.
Among his proudest duties as Club chairman and latterly Club President, will have been welcoming the victorious All-Ireland winning teams to a crowd packed Castlewellan on their journeys home from Dublin. That included the Down senior team in 1991 and 1995, the Down Minors in 1999, and the Down Junior Ladies in 2000. It was particularly proud moment for Johnny when he welcomed onto the open-air platform his own Club members who were also members of each of the winning teams. In 1991 it was Martin Laverty, Kevan Owens and Gerard Lynch. In 1994, Ciarán McCabe. In 1999 representing the minors were Damien McGrady, Fintan McGreevy, and Conor Boyle. Johnny also took great pleasure in congratulating the minor team manager (and Club vicechair) Gerry Dougherty, as well as team mentor big Joe Bannon, and team nurse for both the senior and minor teams, clubmember Margaret King. For the ladies in 2000 Johnny hosted the only welcome home party in the County (which was again organized by the "Town" club) for the Junior Ladies All-Ireland winners. Johnny again took great pride in congratulating club members and players Lisa Morgan, Maura McCabe and Aine Keary.
Johnny’s contribution to the GAA in Down has also been recognized by the East Down Board of the Association, when in 1992 he was awarded their Hall of Fame Award, following in the footsteps of his Club colleagues John O’Hare and Dan Rooney.
Such was the high esteem in which he was held by the entire community that even the heavy rain which fell on Friday 22nd November 2002 did not deter Club members turning out in force for Johnny's final departure. At 9.00am sharp officers of the Club Executive made their way to Johnny's Ballylough home to flank his coffin draped in the town colours, as his remains were brought to St Malachy's Church Castlewellan for Requiem Mass. Players from U10 to Senior men and ladies. Boys, girls, and adult teams both football and hurling all answered the Club request to provide a guard of honour. They flocked to the Upper Square from 9.00am and lined the length of Main Street as the funeral cortege arrived in Johnny's beloved town. Representatives from every team including team managers and coaches, committee members and ordinary club members all took their turn in bearing his coffin draped in Club colours to St Malachy's where his remains were met by the chief celebrant Father John Fitzpatrick who is a brother in law of Johnny, and a former town footballer. After the service Johnny's remains were again carried the length of Main Street and accompanied to his final resting place in Aughlisnafin Cemetery.
Johnny will always be remembered as a deeply pious man, meek and humble, but with a great sense of humour and fun and a man who would never let the sun set on a disagreement no matter how trivial, with any of his colleagues or friends.
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