Historic Sam Maguire visit to Mayo school 90 years after team captain brought the cup
On Wednesday the pupils and staff of Meelickmore NS in Claremorris were delighted to welcome, Mayo captain, Jack Coyne to their school. It was a historic occasion as 90 years earlier, then team captain Seamus O’Malley did the same. But there is another important connection to the GAA for the school.
It was a great occasion and everyone was delighted to meet Jack and see Sam McGuire first hand.
This was not the first time Sam McGuire and the winning All-Ireland Captain visited the school. Some ninety years ago, on Monday the 28th of September 1936, the then Principal of Meelickmore NS, Seamus O’Malley as Captain of Mayo’s first All-Ireland winning team, brought the coveted trophy to the school.
On the previous day, Sunday the 27th of September 1936, Seamus, who had returned from retirement, lead the Mayo team to a handsome victory over Laois, 4-11 to 0-05 the final score.
The story goes that he checked with the Department of Education at the time if he was entitled to any time off. ‘No’ was the official reply, he would be ‘docked a day’s pay’ if he didn’t show up for work on Monday morning.
So, he left the after-match celebrations in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, and returned to Claremorris. His team-mates insisted that he, as captain, bring the trophy with him.
The following morning, he cycled to school as usual with Sam McGuire proudly placed on the handlebars. This photograph, taken on the day, which has been restored and colour-enhanced by the Claremorris Historical Society, shows Mr. O’Malley with the delighted school children just outside the school at the Meelickmore crossroads.
The famous trophy also visited the school on the 30th of May 2011, when Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, performed the official opening of the school extension. Mr. Kenny’s father, Henry Kenny had played at midfield on the 1936 winning Mayo team with Seamus O’Malley.
Three children from each class were selected at random to re-enact the famous 1936 photo with the present All-Ireland winning captain, Jack Coyne, at the same spot at Meelickmore crossroads some 90 years later.
By unique coincidence, Meelickmore NS was first opened for children from the surrounding community in 1884, the same year the GAA was founded, some 142 years ago.