The Late Pat Rice Castlewellan GAC's favourite son Pat Rice passed away after a long battle against cancer. When first told of his illness Pat faced up to it with the steely determation and courage he had so often shown on the playing field. He always gave his best for club and county and regardless of the odds was always the eternal optimist, willing on his team-mates to do the same. In this, his greatest challenge, he was no different, refusing to throw in the towel and looking forward to a planned trip to Lourdes in June. He didn't make it in the end but as in life he will have accepted defeat in the same spirit and with the same dignity as he did in his long and distinguished playing career. Mary Queen of the Gael pray for him. To his devoted wife Roseleen, daughter Patricia, son-in-law Martin, grandchildren Christine, Niall, Gareth and Cormac and brother Jim we offer our most sincere condolences. All Castlewellan club games and training was postponed for the entire weekend as a mark of respect. There are so many memories of this wonderful man for all who knew him and particularly for those who can remember the historic All-Ireland successes of 1960 and 1961. After the 1960 victory his club supporter carried him shoulder high after the final whistle blew; then the homecoming afterwards and bonfires in the Upper Square when he was welcome home as the conquering hero, the first Castlewellan man to win a senior All-Ireland medal. Big Pat enjoyed his county career by played every club game as if it was an All-Ireland final. He was a deeply religious man and his fervent faith and devotion will have seen him through the most difficult day of his illness. Through it all he never complained and his eyes would lighten every time a visitor arrived, and he had many callers. may a game was played over in Pat's front livingroom or more recently in Belfast City Hospital. Pat won every Senior honour at club or county level during his playing career. Despite his achievements he remained humble and unassuming. For 50 years Pat had been a dedicated clubman, as passionate and enthusiastic about the game he loved as he was hen he first pulled on the Town jersey at 13 or 14 years of age. Despite he success at county level with the great Down team of the early Sixties, he got as much joy and gave they same encouragement and support to any of the club teams of today, from juvenile right through. In an interview a few years back for the Club magazine 'Over the Bar', Pat recalled that his own success came about as a result of the encouragement and support he received as a youngster. In particular he remembered Dan Rooney and the late Paddy O'Donoghue who as young teachers in Castlewellan, introduced underage football at club level. Cyril Wells was also heavily involved at club level with the underage teams. In Pat's time there was no U-12 or U-14 competition so Pat's first competitive game was an U-16 match against foot of the hill neighbours Annsbrough. He later moved on to play in the club's Junior team before making his Senior debut in 1953 when he played as a forward against Kilcoo. He was not; he admitted an automatic choice, as the Rooney brothers. Dan, Pat and Johnny and the Rodgers, Pat,Kevin and Jim, as well as the Guinness's, Michael and John, were in their heyday. In 1950 Pat had been a member of the Castlewellan Minor team which won the East Down League and this panel now formed the nucleus of the emerging Senior team which achieved runner-up slot in the League in 1954 and went one better in 1955. In 1958 Pat was captain of the Castlewellan team that won the Championship and the Feis Sevens. His team mates included Pat Small, Peter and Jim Jennings. Hugh McAllister, Jim Rice (Pat's younger brother) and Eugene McGreevy. Their opponents in the final were Clonduff, the same opposition Castlewellan faced when they next won the Championship in 1965. On that occasion Pat lists among his team mates, Dermot 'Chum McCabe, Fr John Fitzpatrick, Des Farley, George Glynn, Dermot 'Ginger' Jennings, Hugh McAllister, Jim Rice, Mickey Magorrian and Tom McGrady. In 1964 Castlewellan again won the Senior League, suffering only one defeat at the hands of Ballykinlar. He well remembered that Match because of the display given by Paddy 'Mo' Doherty (Down team 1960s) who beat Castlewellan almost single handed. Pat continued to play for the Town until 1974 and when he eventually hung up his boots he still wore the watch that the club presented him with at that time. Pat was quite rightly proud of the fact that despite the physical nature of the game, in the three decades that spanned his playing career he was never sent off and very seldom booked. Pat's retirement in 1974 was short lived, as he donned the club jersey to play for the Seconds and even turned out for the Thirds when they were first formed. After his playing days Pat continued his involvement with the Castlewellan club. He turned his hand to refereeing and was a great clubman. There was nothing he wouldn't do for his club and served as a faithful committee man for most of his adult life, including a spell as chairman, and Senior team manager. Since his retirement from work some five years ago Pat spent a number of hours every day after his daily attendance at Mass, in St Malachy's Park, attending to whatever jobs required attention. He did this without being asked and without any reward, except his own satisfaction and pride. He became a member of the club committee and was club chairman in 1974 and 1975, when the premises were purchased for the new social club. Indeed Pat was one of the main volunteer construction workers involved in the project, and when the social club opened he also did his voluntary stint behind the bar. Pat had been involved in the management of the club Senior team on several occasions, most notably in 1978 when he and Danny Hillen formed the panel that won the Kilmacud Sevens as well as the Championships of 1978 and '82. Pat remained an active member of the committee right up until his illness. May the green sod of your beloved Castlewellan, "The Town you loved so well", rest easy on you Pat. County Career Pat's County achievements included those two All-Ireland Senior medals in 1960 and 1961, two National League medals in 1960 and 1962, two Railway Cup medals in 1960 and 1963, three Ulster Championship medals in 1959, 1960 and 1961, a St Brendan Cup medal in 1960 when Down defeated New York in Dublin and four Dr McKenna Cup medals, as well as a Dr Lagan Cup medal. Pat also played in two Ulster teams which lost Railway Cup finals and he was selected to play for Ireland against the Combined Universities. This was the equivalent of an All Star today. In 1966 Pat was captain of the Down Junior Team which lost to Cork in the All-Ireland final. Pat started his county career playing right back for the Junior team in 1955. The following year he played midfield on the Junior team and in 1957 he made his debut on the Senior team in a challenge match against Armagh. In 1958 Pat played at left full back. Leo Murphy was full back, and George Laverty was right back. This was to be Down's first choice fullback line on the successful team of the early Sixties. 1958 was the beginning of the Maurice Hayes era, a man of great vision, whom Pat credited with being the architect of the great Down team. It was his idea to introduce training for the County team and this place in Downpatrick or Dundrum, with Danny Flynn, the first principal of St Malachy's High School, Castlewellan as trainer and Barney Carr as manager. Dr Martin Walsh, TP Murphy, Maurice Hayes and Brian Denvir were the selectors. In that year Down reached the final of the Ulster Championship only to be defeated by Derry. The following year Down won the Ulster title, defeating Cavan in the final. Their opponents in the All-Ireland semi-final were Galway, whom they had already defeated in the Wembley Tournament in London. The team travelled to Dublin on Saturday afternoon and stayed at Mosney, but found the waiting nerve wracking, so much so that many players couldn't sleep and were totally off their game on the Sunday. Down lost the match and ever since, whenever a Down team reaches the All-Ireland semi-final of final they travel to Dublin on the day of match. This was the case in 1960 and 1961 when Down created history by becoming the first team to bring the Sam Maguire over the border. Pat played at left full back and remembered vividly the build up, the excitement,the crowds and, of course, the match. A Club Tribute By Ciaran Crilly (Runai) and Kevin Owens (PRO) Castlewellan GAC Courtesy of the Mourne Observer 11th May 2005 Tweet

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