Oskars beckon as Kilmessan stars set for awards night

After months of scriptwriting, learning lines, rehearsing, and filming, Kilmessan hurling and camogie clubs' 2019 fundraising campaign comes to a climax this Saturday night with the screening of its 'Oskars' ceremony at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim.
Seven movie clips have been filmed, with over 80 locals in various roles, and more as extras, for Saturday night.
The event is a fundraiser for the Donnelly-Loughran Memorial Park, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and undergoing a major redevelopment as part of a three-year plan to modernise and add on new facilities. 
Fundraising began with a Strictly Come Dancing event in December 2015, and in January 2016, the club was able to buy a field at the rear of the clubhouse. 
A submission was made to the Sports Capital Programme for funding to develop the new field. A grant for €94,000 of funding for Natural Playing Surface Development, was secured. 

 

Some of Kilmessan Hurling Club’s development committee, Conor Martin, Alan Duffy, James Farrell, Ian Johnson,  Paddy Horan,Thomas Duignan, and James Greene,  with back, Jim Harlin and Michael Hackett, launching the Oskars night at Donnelly-Loughran Memorial Park this summer. Photo: Seamus Farrelly

In February of last year, the scale of project saw Boylan Engineering & Consultants appointed to its design. for Design. Earlier this year, planning permission was granted and a Leader grant approved of €172,778.
Phase one, which began this summer, involves provision of a walking track around the perimeter of the existing pitch, including all demolition and enabling works and the upgrading of the existing playing pitch.
It will be floodlit and rubber based and will provide a safe and secure place for all to walk, jog, run or cycling for children, all year round. 
Phase two is to develop a floodlit training pitch, which has already received Sports Capital Funding of €94,000. The aim of the Oskars night, which has reached out and brought in the wider community to the project, is to raise a substantial sum of money towards this.
Seven movies feature in the screenings - 'Braveheart', 'Waking Ned Devine', Fr Ted', 'The Snapper', 'The Hangover', Bridget Jones', and 'Forrest Gump'. Rehearsals began at the start off September, and major fundraising events have been taking place, organised by each team over the last few months, climaxing in a major tractor run in Dunsany at the weekend, organised by 'The Snapper' team. (Pictured below by Ian O'Brien).

Dublin football manager, Jim Gavin, makes a cameo appearance in 'Waking Ned' in Fergie's of Kilmessan, while William Wallace made a reappearance at Bective Abbey for 'Braveheart'. Former Ireland rugby manager, Joe Schmidt, and Galway hurler Joe Canning have sent video messages of support. The show begins at 8pm on Saturday night in Knightsbrook, and tickets are €25.

 

Fifty years ago I was on duty in the rain, armed with a bundle of match programmes with instructions to sell as many as I could. At least I think that's what the instructions were from my late father Des (or Dessie as he was more popularly known).

The official opening of the Donnelly/Loughran Memorial Park was a major event in the parish. With new dressing rooms and all the frills that go with that type of thing, it was a big attraction as Galway were the visitors.

But, you must remember, this was 50 years ago, the facilities were fairly basic even if they were NEW.

And the weather on the evening was a big dampener as it was quite unpleasant with rain the main memory from what was a big occasion for the Kilmessan club.

A big crowd turned up -  it looked like a big crowd to me - and there was almost as much support for Galway as for Meath. The Dunsany GAA club had only been formed six years earlier, and the organisation of under-age games wasn't quite as advanced then as it is now.

 

The youngest age group in that era was juvenile (under-14) and it always seemed to have a degree of flexibility - depending on who interpreted the specific rule in relation to eligibility to play.

Again, I can recall that playing for Kilmessan u-14 footballers at the time - I was genuinely eligible - we won a competition of some sort, but apparently an objection was upheld by the 'people in Navan' and it turned out that we hadn't actually won.

In racing terminology 'the winner alright' wasn't announced - we lost in the stewards room.

But the mentors in charge of the team decided that we deserved medals and a presentation night in Kilmessan Hall was duly organised.

Some games standout from around 50 years ago - one particular outing over in Clonard - it was a game that enhanced my status as a goalkeeper of some merit - a tag that was a burden 'going forward' for years.

Anyway, I blocked a fierce shot from a Clonard player (he actually hit it straight at me and I wasn't able to get out of the way) and it was deemed a marvellous save.

However, that was the highpoint of the outing and the was later abandoned due to a dispute that arose over a decision made by the referee.

Seemingly the official referee didn't turn up on the night (that wouldn't happen now) and an official from the Kilmessan club took charge of the game (it was actually my father). Anway, the predictable came to pass.

We were winning and some decision wasn't acceptable to an official from the home club.

An exchange (verbal and otherwise) transpired with the result that the referee ended up with a bloody nose and that was the signal for an escalation of the aforementioned exchanges.

Then there was a game here in Kilmessan - the juvenile footballers in the parish were catered for by the Kilmessan club.

I can't remember who the opposition was, but again I was between the posts, the smaller juvenile posts on the 21-yard line (20-metre in new currency). A fierce shot gave me a chance to imitate the great Chelsea goalkeeper of that era Peter Bonetti and I  dived full length and saved - it was a sensational save. Funny, isn't it how I can't recall the ones that beat me although lads like Sean and Tommy Horan would no doubt have a different version.

The next day it was back to the grindstone and the school bus from Dunsany to Trim CBS - the institution that had such a big impact on my ability for creative writing.

Congratulations to all the stalwarts involved with the club over the last 50 years - keeping the show on the road is the first priority and I think everyone will agree that is one goal that has been achieved with distinction.