Drowned legends will be remembered for years to come

Legends to be remembered for years to come


Tribute
Sean Rice

Death transcends everything.  In little groups on Sunday, people gathered in shock disbelief at the unfolding tragedy. On the streets, at matches, in pubs, the drone of sadness was obvious . . . everywhere. And suddenly everything else in the world had become insignificant.
No one across the communities of Castlebar and Ballintubber has been left untouched by the stark news of their drownings.  Ger Feeney had a sporting stature in his native place outshone only by the illustrious Paddy Prendergast; Donal McEllin hailed from a family steeped in the business culture of the county.
Ger Feeney was one of Mayo’s brightest promises from the moment he won Flanagan Cup medals with St Geralds Castlebar and Ballinafad Colleges. He won an All-Ireland minor medal with Mayo in 1971, captained the U21 team that reached the All-Ireland final in 1973, and was a member of the team that captured the u21 title the following year.
His recognition as a county senior player preceded those achievements. He had not reached his 19th birthday when selected to play against Sligo in 1972, and for the following six years never missed a league or championship game for the county senior side at wing back.
Twice he was selected as a replacement on the All-Stars selection, and in 1975 his vigorous performances won for him the Player of the Tour award.
What drove him was his confidence. He baulked at no task, bowed to no opponent. “Níl se mór, ach tΡ sé go han tapaigh” is how Micheal O Muircheartaigh described Ger’s performance in the All-Ireland minor final of 1971.
He was speedy of thought as well. He could adapt quickly to any situation, to whatever challenge an opponent presented, and on the rare occasions he was beaten made sure his error was not be repeated.
Characteristics of that nature persuaded this writer to select him on my best Mayo team of the last fifty years. We described him as precocious and confident, and a rare blossom in a long, dark, Mayo winter. In hindsight, that fits better now than it then four months ago.
He captained his native Ballintubber to a West junior title in 1975 and the following year led his club to their historic intermediate success.
He was proud of his Ballintubber roots. On settling in Castlebar he never failed to demonstrate his love for the community that conditioned him. Only a couple of weeks before his death he supported Ballintubber in their U-21 final against Castlebar.
With his two sons playing for the town of his adoption, however, the forthcoming county senior final offered him no alternative but to throw his weight behind Castlebar Mitchels. It was going to be a family showdown like no other, his brother Sean, the county secretary, rooting for a Ballintubber side of which SeΡn’s son, John, is captain.
They are the bonds that had made the senior final so appealing. Now a veil of sadness hangs heavily over it all Sunday week is going to be so very different from what had been anticipated.
In Castlebar Ger played junior football for the Mitchels, and was a selector on the senior side beaten by Nemo Rangers in the all-Ireland final of 1993. He was also involved with Willie Joe Padden in managing the ladies minor team some years ago.
Is it any wonder then the likes of Tommy O’Malley, Willie Joe, Henry Gavin, Paddy Burke and so many more of his old playing colleagues gathered on Sunday evening to remember a unique colleague and exchange a wealth of memories about his exploits on and off the playing pitch.
They’ll remember him for decades to come. Donal McEllin has been involved in business all his life.  Before the advent of the supermarkets his family owned the leading grocery business in Castlebar known as T.A. Lavelle & Co. His brother John is a well known businessman in Balla. An uncle of the theirs J.E. McEllin, was a former member of the Seanad and a director of the now defunct Irish Press.
Donal’s interest in Gaelic football developed in recent years and ever since his nephew Tom Cunniffe established himself as a county underage and senior footballer, Donal’s ties with the game had become firmly established. May the sod rest lightly over each.
To the families of both men we tender our deepest sympathy.