What a trip and what a journey for Glenullin

AS I STEP into the shoes of the fabulous former columnist, Colly Clerkin, allow me to introduce—and indulge—myself by recollecting a Sunday afternoon in Croke Park recently when my home club, Glenullin (above), featured in the All-Ireland Intermediate Football Final.

The half-parish of the ‘Glen of the Eagle’ takes its name from a legend that tells of when St Adamnan—a Donegal holy man renowned for establishing churches—was taking a rest one day when suddenly an eagle descended and grabbed hold of his Bible before rising back into the sky. Adamnan chased after the bird across fields and hillsides, until it eventually dropped the Holy Book onto the spot where the good Saint decided to build the first local church in 650 AD or so.

And so back to the 21st century. The first weekend in January and a quick hop to Dublin with two of my sons. We made our way up to the stadium turnstiles, bumping shoulders with folk I’d normally have seen back in the local shop; had that legendary eagle scooped up all of the folk of our little half-parish and dropped them here?

I sat down in the Hogan Stand in a row in front of the neighbour with whom I walked to and from primary school for seven years, now nearly half a century ago. The woman she is now, is very much the girl she was back then. I watched the warm-up and the green and gold colours of our club criss-crossing the wet, luminescent turf and the cavernous void of the Cusack Stand looking down. Unreal.

The occasion will live long in the memory. The actual game, less so. A goalie’s elbow stopped a cross-cum-shot that might have resulted in an early goal for us. However, the An Ghaeltacht lads—looking not unlike sash emblazoned Peru circa 1974—remained composed and largely untroubled.

But a trip worth making and probably never to be repeated.

Join me next time, for less reminiscing and more up-to-date news and views as the county season continues.