Callaghan, Mattie
June 18, 2010Mattie Callaghan, who died in Ennis, was a native of Kilmaley.
Mattie was born in 1939, the youngest of the Callaghan brothers. This was a great hurling family and his older brothers, Josie and Michael especially, were already very accomplished hurlers.
Mattie was soon to follow suit and in his teens was one of the best players on the various underage Kilmaley teams of that decade. He was strong and skilful and played with great style and commitment. He was a particularly good ground hurler and a great striker of the ball of the sideline ball.
Mattie was a central figure in the Kilmaley teams that enjoyed graet success in the famous tournaments of the '58-'61 period ('the watches'). Mattie left for the USA in 1962 and it was unfortunate that he missed out on the championship win of 1963.
He settled in the Boston area and married Kilamley girl, Anne Griffen. They had a son, Martin, who died as an infant. His wife, Anne sadly died very young also and Mattie returned home in the late 1970's. He worked for many years in Inland motors and lived and socilaised in the town. His sudden death came as a great shock to his family and to all who came in contact with him and he will be remembered with great fondness by his old hurling colleagues and by his many friends.
Ar dheis De go raibh se.
Courtesy of Clare Champion
June 18th, 2010 Tweet
