A Fantastic Night of Celebration at Toronto St. Pat's 40th Anniversary
 |
|
THE 40th ANNIVERSARY of Toronto St. Pat's was attended by guests from around the world. Shown above, (L-R) John Morley, president of St. Pat's, Toronto; Mike Quirke, past captain of St. Pat's; Nickey Brennan, president of the Gaelic Athletic Association; His Excellency, Declan Kelly, Irish Ambassador to Canada; Seamus Howlin, chairman of Overseas Committee.
|
 |
|
OVER 500 GUESTS attended the grand ball. Shown above (L-R) [BACK ROW]: Richard McCarty (Virginia); Mike Quirke (Edmonton); Pat Colgan (Edmonton); Kevin Gill (Mayo). [FRONT ROW]: Joe Casey (San Francisco); Bill Flannagan (San Francisco); Hugh Ryan (Chicago); Seamus Ryan (Chicago).
|
 |
|
IT WAS A NIGHT of camaraderie and renewing old friendships. Shown above (L-R) Cathal Boyd (Toronto); Mike Quirke (Edmonton); Kevin Gill (Mayo); Hugh Ryan (Chicago); Pat Colgan (Edmonton).
|
 |
|
PHOTO COURTESY: William C. Smith & The Toronto Irish News
AT THE BANQUET: (L-R) His Excellency the Irish Ambassodor to Canada Declan Kelly; GAA president Nickey Brennan; John O'Flynn (Vancouver); Seamus Howlin, chairman of the Overseas Committee.
|
By MIKE QUIRKE
On June 24, Toronto St. Pat's celebrated their 40th anniversary. Over 500 guests from all parts of the globe showed up for what turned out to be a fantastic night of celebration and revelry.
The night was a true testament to the St. Pat's I knew and played with back in the Seventies. Not only were they a thriving GAA Club back then, but they were also a huge part of the social and cultural fabric of the Irish scene in Toronto. They organized dances, concerts and numerous fundraisers that helped many people and many worthy causes.
The founding president, Fr. Gerry Scott from Roscommon, who was also celebrating his Golden Jubilee of 50 years in the priesthood, was there along with most of the other past presidents.
Past president John Morley from Mayo was also present, He kept the club going through some very lean years and initiated drafting and coaching young Canadians to make them good Gaelic players, including his son Sean who is now captain of the ship.
Nickey Brennan, President of the Gaelic Athletic Association and Seamus Howlin Chairman of the Overseas Committee praised the club for persevering through thick and thin. They affirmed that 40 years was a great achievement for any club considering the scarcity of players immigrating over the past 10 to 20 years and wished St. Pat's continued success and a bright future.
Declan Kelly, the Irish Ambassador to Canada, also congratulated St. Pat's and mentioned the huge role Gaelic clubs play throughout the world in bringing the Irish together in fostering our games and culture in foreign places.
On Friday night we had a meet and greet at P.J.O'Briens, downtown Toronto, owned by Pat Quinn (formally of Quinsworth). This made for a very interesting evening and on more than one occasion I found myself staring into someone's face and asking a few pointed questions, trying to figure out who I was talking to and that's after only 30 years for me.
On Saturday night we had the grand ball. Players from all the other clubs in Toronto and area turned up, a further testament to the popularity of St. Pat's. Friends and foes got together and many stories were told, some true and some stretched a little bit of course, of battles of the past, but on this night camaraderie and renewing old friendships were the main topics.
After a beautiful meal, dancing to Par 3 and my hand tired from shaking hands, we retired to get ready for the wind-up party on Sunday.
Sunday celebrations started with five Gaelic games at Centennial Park attended by Nickey Brennan and Seamus Howlin. Then we moved to the Galway Arms for a meal. Shortly after the meal and a few cocktails later a song broke out, and as they say, the rest is history. Suffice to say the party continued well into Monday morning. Not bad for a bunch of old guys I suppose.
Thanks St. Pat's for the memories. We'll look forward to the 50th.
|
