Paidin Carry was one of Drumbaragh's finest and was most unlucky not to have won major honours with Meath. Royal County talks with a GAA 'character.' Football has changed. Fitness levels have increased, tactics are more influential these days, there's less 'catch and kick' and there's not as much fun attached to the game as there used to be. In recent years it has become a very serious sport. Missing too, are the 'characters'. The Drumbaragh club has produced it's share of top class footballers over the years and it also has produced it's share of 'characters.' Paddy (Paidin) Carry fits both descriptions. A teak-tough defender, he also starred at centre field and was one of the Royal County's best all-rounders in an era when club football was at it's strongest in the county. His inter-county career was interrupted by emigration and by the fact that he played for several years with the Sean McDermotts club in Dublin, but Meath supporters have always claimed that he was most unlucky not to be included in the Leinster SF Championship winning teams of the 1960s. Paddy was born and reared at Loyd, a tiny area that has produced a disproportionate number of quality footballers. The most vivid and influential memory of his childhood days was Drumbaraghs appearance in the Junior Championship final of 1953. "There was fierce excitement around the area ... it was like an All-Ireland Final and it had a lasting effect." Summerhill came out on top but Drumbaragh were undaunted and soon afterwards opted to go into the senior ranks. It was a brave decision and was almost rewarded with the ultimate success ... a Keegan Cup victory. In 1960, the men in green and red reached the Senior final, probably the only team ever to do so without winning a Junior or Intermediate title along the way. Navan O'Mahonys were at the height of their considerable powers at the time but they were forced to battle all the way before taking the fourth of their famous 'five-in-a-row'. Paddy was 19 years of age at the time and lined out at centre-field alongside Paddy Tobin. It's always easy to be wise in hindsight but many observers felt that had Paddy been placed at centre half back, the O'Mahonys forwards would not have had inflicted as much danger. At a stage when the game was up for grabs, a sizzling shot of his rebounded off the upright and was cleared to safety. Having taken up employment with Roadstone, Paddy moved to the Sean McDermotts club in Dublin. "In those days, if you worked for Roadstone you played for the Seans." The move did not help his career in the Meath jersey even though he starred for several years in Dublin club football helping the Seans to a County Final in which they were beaten by the all-conquering St. Vincents team of that era. "Fr. Tully was County Board Chairman at the time but he didn't accept that I simply had to play for Sean McDermotts." Paddy had played at minor level for Meath in 1958 when as All-Ireland Champions they lost their title in the opening game against Dublin at Drogheda. He graduated to the senior panel in 1959 but despite being able to call on several outstanding players Meath experienced some lean years before the Leinster success of 1964. By that time, Paddy was off the panel, unable to give any assurances about his club commitments in Dublin. It was in 1964 that the Gaeil Colmcille club was founded in the parish of Kells, embracing the three existing clubs, Kells Harps, Drumbaragh Emmets and Kilmainham. The new club met with considerable success and Paddy eventually moved back to play a leading role in it's Keegan Cup victory in 1968. He played at right half back in the win over Walterstown. The success meant that Paddy was made captain of the Meath team in 1969 and he turned in a number of of superb displays in the county jersey leading his team to victory in the O'Byrne Cup. But, once again he missed out on the Leinster success of 1970. Clinks were starting to appear in the Gaeil Colmcille amalgamation and first Kilmainham broke away before Drumbaragh did likewise in 1973. The separation was not entirely amicable and Drumbaragh were without competitive football for a year before winning their case to affiliate. They quickly proved their point by reaching the Junior final of 1975 but were beaten by Summerhill. Paddy went on to play until he was 50 years of age and he enjoyed every minute of it. Having represented the club at County Board level for several years he was elected to serve on the Disciplinary Committee and later as the Board's Deputy Vice-Chairman. It was a classic case of the poacher turning gamekeeper for throughout his playing career, Paddy had frequent brushes with authority. "I enjoyed my spell on the Disciplinary Committee and I did my best to keep players playing the game but I had no regrets above leaving Administration." "I don't think there's as much fun attached to football these days. We knocked tremendous craic out of it years ago while still taking it seriously on the field. I'm not convinced that players are enjoying it as much now. They train very had but, for some reason or another, the commitment during the course of a game is not what it was. Nor does defeat appear to hurt as much." Paddy played against several of the country's top footballers and regards Mickey Whelan of Dublin as one of the best. "I had some great tussles with him during my days with Sean McDermotts and it was an achievement to do well on him. I loved playing at centre half back ... you were nearly always in the thick of the action and you'd always be sore until the following Wednesday from the fierceness of the exchanges." "It's a great credit to the Drumbaragh club that they've survived and I have no doubts about their future. The current team is very young but they'll improve with experience. It's great to see the sons and relations of former club stalwarts wearing the jersey but that's the way it's always been in Drumbaragh. When we reached the Senior final in 1960, we were almost all from the locality ... it was a fantastic achievement." "My happiest memories are of travelling in the back of Caffrey's truck, going up the ramp and coming back down it again when we'd disembark at the Church Wall in Kells ... hard to imagine it these days." The Carry name has always been associated with the club and whenever the subject of Drumbaragh crops up ... so too will the name of one of it's most famous footballing sons, Paidin Carry. Emmet Drumbaragh GFC in 1998 Drumbaragh GFC reached the pinnacle of its existence on May 2nd 1998. The years of hard work, planning and fund raising were well rewarded by the official opening of their grounds "Pairc Emmet". Situated 2.5 miles from Kells and overlooked by the famous Tower of Loyd. Drumbaragh's Pairc Emmet is a fitting tribute to the hard working committee and members. The grounds are the envy of many of the bigger clubs not only in Meath but further afield. One of the big stepping stones and indeed a major event in it own right was the official switching on of the 16 flood lights on 26 March 1998. The honour of the big switch on was left in the hands off Paidin Carry, former player of Drumbaragh and indeed Meath. A blessing followed which was performed by Rev. J Conlon, Club President, who later celebrated mass in the dug out for deceased club members. Former player John Forde and 1998 captains Martin Luddy and Ann Marie Fox did the readings. It was a very emotional event tinged with sadness for those who did not live to see the pitch completed, yet happy that this fine venue would stand as a lasting memory to them. The lead up to the pitch opening was a hectic yet rewarding time, from plastering the dug outs to the putting up of the sign, spreading gravel to moving grass, to having the pitch looking at its best. The sense of comradary was unreal. Young and old, men and women played their part to get all in order for the big day. People who had been club members in the past and because of living away and other commitments had lost touch, were seen arriving to have a look around on the run up to the opening. As May 2 dawned the sun shone in the middle of a spell of very bad weather. It was a momentous day for all in the club and for the County Board Chairman it was a 'coming home' for Fintan Ginnity, a Drumbaragh man having been born and raised in the area. He attended the local school and spent many happy years as part of Drumbaragh GFC. It was an emotional day for him. He said he was proud to have the privalege of performing the official opening of his home pitch. In his address to the large attendance he complimented the Drumbaragh 1998 committee and indeed every committee that ever sat in Drumbaragh on this achievement. Just looking around on the day showed the prospect of a great future for Drumbaragh. Young men and women of the club carried out the task of stewarding ticket selling and car parking in a very efficient manner, a tribute to those who planned the event. Everything went like clockwork and with Meath and Tyrone Senior teams providing the entertainment, a great day was had by all The Meath team led on to the pitch by Drumbaragh's John Smith, came out winners on the day and a crystal trophy was presented to each player by chairman Frankie Lynch, as a memento of the occasion. The two teams together with their backroom teams were guests of honour at a meal afterwards in the Headford Arms Hotel. The Drumbaragh club got due status in being given the honour of hosting their first senior game shortly after their official opening. Everyone in Drumbaragh hopes its a sign of great days ahead for this small rural club. Drumbaragh GFC Drumbaragh ladies finish 1997 on a winning note Drumbaragh captured the 1997 ladies Div. 2 FL title following a brilliant display against Baconstown which was played late last year. Baconstown started brightly, but a squandered penalty opportunity shattered their confidence and Drumbaragh went on to record a comprehensive victory on a scoreline of 4-12 to 1-5. The Drums held a seven point advantage at the interval, 1-8 to 1-1, and two goals inside 30 seconds from Patricia Luddy, early in the second half effectively killed the game as a contest and Drumbaragh ran out comfortable winners. Best for the winners were Mairead Fox, Lorna Daly, Patrice Reilly, Clare Dolan and Luddy. Drumbaragh - M. Fox; E. Hanlon, R. Brady, K. Murray; L. Daly, A.M. Fox, H. Bennett; C. Carry, A. Bennett; P. Reilly, N. Farrelly, C. Dolan; A. Farrelly, P. Luddy, G. Bennett. Subs: R. Gilsenan, S. Smith, L. Mulvany, K. Fox, C. Bennett. DYNAMIC DRUMBARAGH UNVEIL IMPRESSIVE NEW FACILITIES On Saturday the 2nd of May, the gaels of Drumbaragh celebrated in style the official opening of Pairc Emmet, their impressive new clubhouse and grounds. A challenge game between Meath and Tyrone was the highlight of the evening's activities, and a 2-16 to 2-10 win for Sean Boylan's men put the icing on the cake. This latest stage of the development of Drumbaragh is part of ongoing work which started in 1974 when the club was reaffiliated after a lapse of a number of years. The new clubhouse incorporates dressing rooms, showers, kitchen and storage area, and it suitably reflects the hard work and commitment of their dedicated officials down through the years. Situated two miles outside Kells, sandwiched between Ballinlough and Carnaross, Pairc Emmet is surrounded by the old Drumbaragh estate walls with Drumbaragh House peeping through the trees on one side and the local national school on the other. While silverware may have been a scarce commodity in recent years, Drumbaragh had a strong senior side in the late 50s and early 60s. They reached the S.F.C. final in 1960 where they succumbed to the might of the all-conquering Navan O'Mahony's side of the time by 2-11 to 0-6 at Trim. Present day county chairman Fintan Ginnity, who performed the official opening, was at right full back on that losing side, and other well known GAA personalities such as Paddy Carry and Michael Campbell donned the green and red with distinction during that period. Paddy Carry switched on the new floodlighting system at Pairc Emmet on March 20th when a mass celebrated by Rev. J. Conlon C.C. was followed by the blessing of the grounds. In his foreword in the souvenir programme, Fintan Ginnity remarked; "This is indeed an historic occasion for a proud club. Drumbaragh Emmets have had their ups and downs but the provision of modern facilities and the whole-hearted effort involved in getting to this stage indicates that there is a bright future ahead". Never truer words spoken! Tweet

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