There was a sizeable attendance, the weather also played its part and formalities were kept to a minimum as Oram marked the official opening of the redeveloped Pairc Padraig on Sunday evening last. Among the special guests on a evening were the Ard Stiurthoir, Cumann Luthchleas Gael, Paraic Duffy, county chairman Paul Curran and Father Pat McHugh who performed the blessing of the new facilities. The guest list also included Big Tom McBride and an Oram and Monaghan veteran, Jim Woods. A native of Oram Jim has been resident in Belfast for over 70 years now. He represented Oram for many years and also represented Monaghan at minor and senior level. He was a member of the Monaghan minor team that reached the all Ireland minor championship final in 1939 and he also has the distinction of playing for Monaghan against Antrim in the Ulster senior football championship and later playing for Antrim against Monaghan, also in the Ulster senior football championship, no doubt a unique achievement by a man whose name is still revered in the Oram club. Club chairman Seamus Ward in welcoming the guess and the Monaghan and Armagh teams thanked and paid tribute to the committee and all of the volunteers who had worked so hard to not only achieve the end product that the new facilities were but had also worked hard to have everything ready for the big occasion. County chairman Paul Curran congratulated the Oram club on the great facilities and on the work they were doing in promoting the games in the area and serving the community. Ard Stiurthoir Paraic Duffy said he was "delighted to attend this latest stage in the development of facilities by the Oram club because the development of Pairc Padraig has been a lengthy project". In congratulating the club on their achievements he described the facilities as "putting the club at the heart of the local community" which he said "was central to the whole GAA ethos". He went on to pay a special tribute to Carl Laverty whom he described as "the best example of a committed GAA man throughout the whole association" and called for a round of applause to acknowledge Carl's 50 years of unbroken service in so many capacities with the club. He also had special mention too for Tom McBride and he concluded by thanking everyone for all the great work that the club had done in bringing the plans to fruition. Tweet

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