Looking spick and span. Kilbride's home.

Kilbride reflect on the past - and the future

The relatives of Tommy Mahon - a legendary figure among the Kilbride GFC faithful - were in attendance for the official opening of the club's new facilities which have been named in his honour,

The club's new, state-of-the-art gym has been named in honour of Tommy who was a Kilbride clubman through and through and who gave tremendous service to the club over the years.

Three of Tommy's grandsons - Josh Harford, Joseph Donnelly and Cian Harford - were in attendance for the opening ceremony. They were among an estimated crowd of 400 people who gathered at the club grounds for the event including politicians and the chairman of the Meath Co Board John Kavanagh who officially opened the new facilities. The day started off with a BBQ before the opening ceremony took place.

The chairman of Kilbride GFC Michael Faherty also addressed the large crowd. "Michael thanked all who made this possible and paid tribute to all of the club's members who contributed to the project either through financial support or by helping out during the building of the gym," reported Kilbride clubman David Harford.

The chairman also announced that Kilbride would be in the next few months start to build a new Astro pitch and he thanked Meath Co Council and the support provided from the Sports Capital Grants Scheme.

The MC for the opening was Brendan Cummins known far and wide as the LMFM broadcaster who has deep knowledge of GAA affairs in Meath. He spoke about the late Tommy Mahon too and how was known far and wide; a man well-known for his commitment to his beloved local club and to Meath GAA in general. Cummins gave a rousing rendition of the great tradition Kilbride has in the local GAA and he revived memories of the club's glory days.

Kilbride are a club who have known the good times - particularly in the late 1960s and early '70s when they were regular winners of the Keegan Cup itself - but they have also endured their barren spells too, long years of drought - but now they are a club on the way back, a fact underlined in the way they recently claimed the A FL Div 3B title.

Jack Donnelly, Tommy Mahon's grandson, spoke on behalf of the Mahon family. He thanked the club for what it meant to the Mahon family that the gym was called in honour of his Grandad, the one and only Tommy, fondly remembered by so many.

Co Board chairman John Kavanagh cuts the ribbon.
Jack Donnelly, Tommy Mahons grandson spoke on behalf of the Mahon family and he thanked the club for what it meant to the Mahon family that the GYM be called in honour of his grandad.
Three of Tommy Mahon's grandsons ( Kilbride tops left to right ) Josh Harford, Joseph Donnelly and Cian Harford stand proudly as they listen to Brendan Cummins' talk about their grandad ahead of the official opening.
Kilbride chairman Michael Faherty addressed the large crowd who gathered for the celebrations. Michael thanked all who made it all possible and paid tribute to all of the club's members who contributed to the project either through financial support or by helping out during the building of the GYM. He also announced that Kilbride would be in the next few months start work on a new Astro. He thanked Meath Co Council and expressed the club's appreciation for the financial support from the Sports Capital Grants Scheme.
Spectators at the Kilbride event.
MC Brendan Cummins gives his address.