St. Conleth's College 75 Year Quinquennial 2014

8
A SPORTING LIFE :
AN IMPROMPTU RECOLLECTION OF
THE GAMES OF KDK’S YOUTH
Kevin Kelleher was interviewed in St. Conleth’s by Seamus Keenan and Seamus Gallagher.
Ann Fallon took the hours of recorded dialogue and helped shape them into the beginnings of
a memoir. This article is a short extract from those interviews.
The man who has seen too many wars come and go, numerous governments
rise and fall and who has been part of St. Conleth’s for seventy of its seventy-five
years, reflects on his long and eventful life.
Could you tell us about some of your earliest memories?
KEVIN D KELLEHER : One of the first memories I have is being at the Tailteann
Games with my father in 1928. There was a Tailteann Games previous to that in
1924, and my father - I wasn't there but so he told me - played for Wales in
Hurling! He was brought down out of the stands to make up the Welsh team,
I think. But I was brought along in '28 for the last day of the games. All I can
remember was the gymnasts and the Irish army. There wouldn't have been a
huge crowd there. My father, anyhow, was meeting all his pals from the GAA.
That was my first memory. I was seven years of age.
There is a lovely story from some years ago about Monsignor Greene in
Haddington Road. He boasted from the altar that he was going to the All-Ireland
Hurling final in Croke Park and he hadn't missed one since 1932. So on my way
out I knocked on the Sacristy door and said, “Father, I was there in 1931.” And
I can tell you that it was between Cork and Kilkenny. And they played three
times - two draws. How I ever saw the match I do not know. I was on Hill 16, and
I was still a small guy, you know.
I've got memories of Croke Park because we lived near it, in Drumcondra. And
we'd go every Sunday morning, myself and my brother. One memory I have was
that at twelve o'clock we'd be attending a game and the Angelus bell would ring.
There were many of religious houses around : Iona road, William Street Church and
O'Connell's School. Their bells would ring and they'd stop the match, say the
Angelus, and when they were finished - blow the whistle and challenge each
other again!
Did you play for O'Connell's?
KDK : I did. I played hurling.
A couple of times I played in Croke Park - at least twice for the school. At adult
level, I remember a fellow called Paddy McDonnell who played for O'Toole’s and
his brother Johnny was the goalkeeper for the Dubs. The two of them were
tough and Paddy was a big strong fellow, he played centre back. Some wore soft
hats. Are you listening? Soft hats on the pitch!
ST. CONLETH'S COLLEGE 1939 - 2014