For Clans this year heralds the club's 90th year in existence, founded in 1916, the years since have brought much success and also a show of disappointments. By Peter Brannigan. The achievements in securing premises and a playing pitch, facilities to match anywhere in the county - successes at Senior, Intermediate, Junior and under age levels - minor, U16 and U14 - have given the club a high profile far beyond the boundaries of our own county. Many fine footballers have worn the Clan's jersey with pride and have represented the county with distinction, quite a number have been recognised with selection for their province. At administration level, the club has been fortunate to have many fine officers and committees over the period and their abilities have been recognised at County Board and provincial level where club members have filled officer posts in which they have served with distinction. The eight men who founded the Clan's did so for the purpose of giving the young men of Castletown area a club of their own. There were already three senior sides, Dundalk Young Irelands, Geraldine's, and Rangers, and three competing in the junior grade, Hearts of Oriel (PJ Carrolls), John Dillon's and Blues. However, there was no club in the Castletown area which at the time had a young population. Entry into the 1917 Second Division championship was the club's first foray into competitive football at adult level while a minor team also competed in the Dundalk minor league. No trophies were garnered in the first three years. The first championship successes were achieved in 1920 when the second division and minor titles were garnered. The club's fortunes were on an upward spiral and junior championship success was attained in 1922. Senior football became a reality in 1923 and the pinnacle of Louth football was reached in 1924 when Clans became senior champions, this feat was repeated in 1925. It would be another 34 years before the club would be crowned senior champions again in 1959 and indeed a further 26 years until 1985 to claim the title for a fourth time. Further senior crowns were added to the roll of honour in 1987, 1992, 1993, and 1998 so far in the new millennium success has eluded the club at senior level but minor and junior A awards have been garnered. Not all of Clans successes have been confined to football, hurling was prominent in the club in the mid 1960's and early 1970's and junior championships (the top grade in those years) were won in 1967 and 1972. The under 14 championship was captured in the late 1970's, a feat which was our last success in hurling. 2006 has not brought a huge measure of success on the playing fields. The draw for the senior championship placed Clans in group C, comprising Roche Emmett's, St. Mary's, and Newtown Blues. A loss to Roche on 3rd June by the narrowest of margins 1-10 to 1-9 already made the task of qualifying difficult as Clans next opponents were Newtown Blues. This match had a real shock finish as Clans, who were losing by three points in the time added on for stoppages, saw Cathal O'Hanlon tie the match with a goal and keep our hopes alive of advancing to the quarter finals, Newtown Blues 0-12 Clans 2-6 being the final score. A tie against Ardee St. Mary's, with the winners going through, provided a buzz around the club. The Ardee men proved superior on the day as they ran out winners 2-13 to 1-7. St Mary's secured their place in the knock-out stages along with Newtown Blues from the group and despite the fact that a win over St. Mary's would have taken Clans through to the quarter finals, the loss placed us bottom of the group. With restructuring taking place this year Division 1B was a dangerous place to be and despite the clubs best efforts, they could not finish outside the bottom five, thus seeing the Clans relegated to the intermediate grade for 2007. There was not much success to report on the playing fields this season, but plenty of endeavour was shown throughout the different grades. The junior A side began with a couple of victories but a couple of losses to higher placed opposition put the club out of contention at an early stage. As holders of the Junior A championship we lost out to Cooley Kickhams at the quarter final stage of the competition by a three point margin. The club took the decision before the start of the season to withdraw our third team, this side had competed in the junior 4 grade for a number of seasons and helped to blood many of the young players over the years, it was felt we would be better served to give greater emphasis to the under age programme. Narrowly beaten by Na Piarsaigh in the minor championship, the club did however garner one trophy when winning the subsidiary league at the U14 by defeating Naomh Mairtin in the final at Dunleer. After an absence of quite a number of years the club once again registered a ladies team in Louth competition. Barry O'Connor and Alan McKenna took on the task of managing an enthusiastic group of young ladies and this is a welcome development in the club. There was no success to report, but it was good to see so many of them assisting when the club hosted the Louth senior football final between St. Josephs and St. Patrick's on Sunday 8th October. The staging of the senior final followed on the club's successful hosting of the event in 2004 is one of the highlights of 2006 and once again manpower was readily available to see that everything went smoothly on the day. Barry Cullen was the club's chief steward and he gathered a strong team of workers around him to ensure there would be no hiccups on the day. As is usual, groundsman Patsy Kelly left nothing to chance in his efforts to have the ground in tip-top condition. It was once again a credit to him as he ensured a fine playing surface for the four teams contesting the minor and senior finals. The prominence of Clan na Gael Park has been much in focus this season, as the club played host to an O'Byrne cup tie, Louth v Offaly, two national football league ties, v Sligo and Antrim, in what was a highly successful campaign for the Wee County footballers. Two national hurling ties against Armagh and Sligo were also staged at the venue. The clubs other facilities have been much sought after with the Blood Transfusion service finding great space and convenience for their activities on a number of sessions each year. Party nights, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings etc have also seen the club's facilities used to a great extent and other organisations like the Musical Societies, Drama groups and the Camera club have all ensured the club retains a high profile. As with any club or voluntary organisation it takes a dedicated band of people to carry out the successful workings and Clan na Gael have been blessed over the years to have a committed band of members working for the well-being of the club whether it be as mentors to the various grades of U12 in the Cumanns through juvenile and adult grades to the field and club maintenance, to bar staffing and fund raising. Every input, big or small helps to keep the club in a healthy position and continue to be one of the corner stones in its locality. Management committee 2006 Chairman - Aiden Kirk. Vice Chairman - Barry Cullen Secretary - Peter Brannigan Ass. Secretary - Brian Gaughran Treasurer - Fra Byrne Fund raising - Frank McDermott Juvenile football - Fergus Byrne Committee - Jim McArdle, Leslie Toal, Bob Wesley, Pat Cunningham, Mary Curran. Senior team management - Niall O'Donnell Sean McGeough Brendan McKeever Junior A team management - Gerard Smith Brian Duffy Andrew O'Carroll Minor and juvenile mentors - Paddy Garry, Martin McKeever, Derek McCabe, Andrew McAlester, Fergus Byrne, Ciaran Sheridan, Paul Grey, Fra Byrne. Ladies mentors - Barry O'Connor and Alan McKenna, who also assisted at male juvenile level. TRIBUTE TO PADDY DIXON On 13th May, family, friends and Clans paid their respects in saying goodbye to a man who had touched the lives of all who knew him. Paddy was blessed with many gifts and talents, a beautiful singing voice that adorned stages at concerts, family get-togethers, club celebrations as well as St. Nicholas choir. His talents on the football fields yielded many deserved honours, winning an All Ireland junior football championship in 1961, Louth Senior in 1959 and junior (1954) championship medals and hurling championship in 1956, 1957, 1967 and 1973. As well as representing Louth at Senior and Junior football. As a player he gained the respect of his team colleagues, but the greatest tributes to Paddy's abilities would come from the many outstanding players on opposing sides. His uncanny ability to read the game from his favoured No. 6 spot on Clan's side was legendary. Paddy's ability as an administrator was recognised by the hierarchy in the Clan's club at an early age. He would follow in the footsteps of his late father, John, the club's first president in 1916. This mantle Paddy took on in 1970 when he became Chairman from the great Clan's stalwart and chairman of forty years - Tom (Tit) McArdle. Tom had in present day parlance been head hunting a successor and approached Paddy. Paddy, in turn sought advice from his Dad, John, whose advice was " if Tit thinks you are the man for the job then that is all there is to it". Paddy was duly elected to the post in which he served two three year terms with great distinction and he also served as Secretary and Treasurer, the latter post for 15 years, stepping down at the 2005 A.G.M.. Paddy managed Clans Seniors to ACC Cup success but his greatest achievement at management level would come with the nurturing of under age players with great success, winning minor titles in 1976, 1981, 1983 plus under 16 and under 14 awards. Paddy also gave three years to the Minor Board as it's chairman and managed the county minor side. To family members, his sister Lily, brothers Peter and Willie, his many nieces, nephews and extended family circle, Paddy was a huge cornerstone in their lives and many cherished memories exist of a very happy life. A great sense of loss descended on all who knew Paddy on that fateful day, but there was also a sense of pride, a pride in the fact that we knew and grew up around this most generous of men, generous in every aspect of his life. We, in Clans, take great pride in knowing, working with, learning from and enjoying the company of a great Clan and an outstanding human being. Ard dheis de go raibh a ainm dilis. Tweet

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