Monaghan's ever-reliable PADDY O'ROURKE A legend in his own lifetime In edging it's way inexorably deeper and deeper into the realms of professionalism, on and off the field, the G.A.A. is in danger of undermining the significance of the role played by the masses of foot-soldiers among it's ranks. In cycling parlance this group would be termed the "domestiques" or the grafters, an unselfish and tireless band of devotees whose sweat and toil have made the Association into what it is today. They're a dwindling breed, a throwback to times past when football was played in fields and not Parks, when players biked it to matches and when becoming a club administrator was as fashionable as joining a religious order. The use of large sweetners to coax and cajole mentors and players into remaining active within the Association's various units is now fairly common as dyed-in-the wool G.A.A. personnel become ever increasing thin on the ground. The vast majority of people solely and totally dedicated to furthering the aims of the G.A.A. only are a breed apart. To them involvement in the promotion of gaelic games is a labour of love. No sweetners required. Talk of professional terms - strictly taboo. Thankfully most G.A.A. cells still have their quota of selfless workers. Inniskeen Grattans G.F.C. in County Monaghan have theirs, the High Priest of which is Paddy O'Rourke. Former star player, long-time administrator and archetypal Gael, Paddy O'Rourke has been a veritable colossus in G.A.A. affairs in his native Inniskeen and at county level for close on half a century. The very antithesis of all the worst possible by-products of a professional G.A.A. assembly line, he's literally a legend in his own lifetime within the world of gaelic games. Few individuals in Ireland, never mind County Monaghan, have immersed themselves so fully in the promotion of football as the media-friendly O'Rourke has done over nearly five decades. The Gaels of Monaghan and beyond owe a great deal of debt to the sixty-nine year old batchelor who has been wed to the game he has loved from his early teens. With two score and more anniversaries already recorded, there's little hope of divorce appearing on the horizon to break up the famed relationship. Typically, it was Paddy's father Patrick who nurtured his son's burgeoning interest in the game that would dominate his life for ages afterwards. Despite the absence of underage football on the Farney country when a youngster, the innate desire to become good at the game prompted many impromptu rehearsals of Future Ulster championship ties and in turn heady replays of past All Irelands in makeshift pitches erected on the local stony grey soil made famous by one-time Inniskeen goalkeeper and better know poet Patrick Kavanagh. By the time the young O'Rourke had entered the hallowed corridors of Dundalk Christian Brothers School, he was already an accomplished, naturally skilful master of the country's most popular sport. That was back in 1935. A short time later he was to transfer his books, lock, stock and barrel to the equally reputable footballing nursery of Saint Macartan's College in Monaghan town. A school mate at that period was one Paddy Fitzpatrick. Both Paddies were to link up years later on the Monaghan County football team. Not before the Inniskeen Paddy had climbed the first rungs of the distinguished administration ladder. His first posting was nearby, and a willing but raw recruit to club officialdom. The decision by Terry Crawley to step down as club secretary in 1946, promoted seasoned campaigners to investigate the possibility of ushering in new blood on the Committee. Enter Paddy O'Rourke, for what would mark the first in an unbroken 46 consecutive years as Secretary of Inniskeen Grattans Gaelic Football Club. It was appropriate that his guru while learning to play the game would now become his guiding light in his first experience of Committee work. Rather uniquely Paddy O'Rourke, father and son combination thus held the pivotal roles at the club. O'Rourke the elder manned the Chairperson's seat while Paddy O'Rourke junior quickly launched himself in typically enthusiastic fashion into the role of club secretary. To many at the club, it represented the dream ticket and how right they were. Senior championship titles followed the following year and again a year later in 1948. Both successes were to become the highlights of a staunchly loyal playing career at club level for Paddy O'Rourke. A debutant for the local side at nineteen, club success thus had arrived within five years of his senior footballing apprenticeship. County recognition, however, had arrived a year earlier. Over the next eight years, his craft and wily play was to earn him a regular corner forward attacking berth on the county team. His club career would extend to over double that of his inter county involvement. Inniskeen were still getting great value from the tough attacker in the 1962/'63 season, twenty years after first donning the club's green and red distinctive colours. Paddy O'Rourke was noted for his speed and stamina as a footballer. One whose penchant for winning possession in tight situations earned him a place on the Monaghan championship team of 1947 'ilk. It was a team that eventually bowed to All Ireland champions-elect, Cavan, after a replay of their first round Ulster Championship meeting. It was an occasion when O'Rourke, marked by the great Simon Deigan, showed all the attributes of a player at the top of his form. Maintaining his form, compensation for the Cavan defeat, wasn't far away. Doctor McKenna Cup medals in '48 and '52 helped ease the disappointment of barren championship years. One of ten children, Paddy was joined in the hurly-burly rush for silverware by his four equally keen sporting brothers. One of them, Oliver (Carrickmacross), later carved out a distinguished career for himself not only for his native Monaghan but with Ulster as well. Similarly, Fran (Inniskeen), Gerard (Knockbridge) and Willie (Dublin) all acquitted themselves on the playing pitches of County Monaghan and further afield. The O'Rourke clan, were for all intent and purposes, Inniskeen's very own G.A.A. light infantry battalion. Coming on to the club committee at a time when a loaf of bread would set you back six pence and Eamon Rice was flavour of the month locally on the political front, Paddy O'Rourke matured as a G.A.A. administrator of traditionally values and beliefs. Not one to have grieved overly at the removal of the contentious ban in 1969, he is nevertheless seen by his contemporaries as having forthright views on questions such as payments for players and soccer at Croke Park. A rational and enlightened sportsman, he's unequivocally opposed to both options. As regards the spectre of bureaucracy becoming more and more prevalent and domineering within the Association, he's known to be realistic enough to accept that the days when General Secretary Paddy O'Keefe was the only full time office person in the G.A.A. are unavoidably over. For twenty five years an employee of the Great Northern Railway Company, once Paddy O'Rourke's playing career came to an end in 1962, it was obvious to all that were close to him, especially his sister Rose with whom he still lives, that affairs off the field would dominate his spare time. He became Treasurer of the Monaghan County Board in 1970, and had held the post ever since. The theory abounds that Paddy has never been opposed for the office simply because it would be too hard an act to follow! Earlier in 1961 he cut his teeth at administration level on the County Board as Assistant Secretary. Nowaday's he is merely concerned with holding the purse strings at club and County Board level and of course, in addition to fulfilling his local secretarial duties. Having served alongside a range of past club chairman such as Tom Quinn, Patsy McKenna, Joey Byrne, Terry Lennon, James Meegan and Brendan Courtney, Paddy O'Rourke has listened, learned and advised a great deal over the years. A hive of factual information on his beloved club, his contribution to the South Monaghan unit remains immeasurable. An ever-present welcoming face for visiting teams and officials at the Inniskeen spacious grounds, he has been responsible for the most part for the nurturing of a procession of talent at the club. Players such as former Railway Cup player David Byrne, and 'erstwhile Monaghan County players Gerard Hoey, Owen Keenan and Dermot Jones are just some examples of the range of talent that the former "Hall of Fame" Award winner has helped develop from underage ranks at the club. In recent times awarded the "Ulster Clubman of the Year Award" and recognised locally by his colleagues for his "outstanding contribution to Inniskeen G.F.C", Paddy O'Rourke has long since installed himself as a folk hero in provincial G.A.A. circles. Back in the 1947 County championship final, he started in his club's victory over Castleblayney before four thousand people who paid gate receipts of £319. Around the same time, he regularly cycled the seven miles trip into Carrickmacross to meet up with the rest of his county colleagues on match days. It was symptomatic of the times. Times when the legend that is Paddy O'Rourke was already being sculptured by those who benefited most from his unselfish labours within the community. Undoubtedly one of the most affable and popular G.A.A. officials of his time, he is above all one of the Association's most dedicated workers. He is in fact a General in the organisation with the work rate associated with the mot gifted and vigorous foot-soldiers. Taken from Hogan Stand Magazine 12-06-92 Written by Kevin Carney Tweet

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