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FR. LALLY’S, STREET LEAGUE UNDER 14 CHAMPIONS, 1965
by Tom Kenny
In 1881, Father Lally was made parish priest of Rahoon. At the time the parish was served by two churches, Bushypark and Barna, Dr. McEvilly, Bishop of Galway was appointed as Archbishop of Tuam and Father Lally was made Vicar Capitular of the Diocese in the interregnum until the appointment of a successor to Dr, McEvilly. McEvilly was aware that the very large parish of Rahoon had no central church so he gave Fr. Lally money to start the process of erecting a new church beside the Presentation Convent. Fr. Lally collected the funds and employed direct labour to build the church. The foundation stone of St. Joseph’s was laid on April 22nd, 1882 and the church was consecrated on February 7th, 1886.
In January 1893, Fr. Lally succeeded in getting a government grant to purchase a premises in Dominick Street for the first Technical School in Galway. This is where the Galway Arts Centre is today . Fr.Lally was a charismatic man who got things done, so it was no wonder that when the GAA set up streets leagues in hurling and football in the early 1950’s, the team representing Shantalla would be known as Fr. Lally’s.
Other teams in the league were St. Nicholas’ representing the Claddagh ; 98’s were from Bohermore ; Western Stars were drawn from the Henry St./West area ; St. Anthony’s represented Newcastle ; Salthill ; Renmore ; Na Sáirsealaigh were drawn from the Eyre Square/College Road area. The leagues were played at under-14, under-16 and under-18 levels, competition was fierce and the games often drew very big crowds. Some of the other teams who played under-14 were St. Joseph’s (the Industrial School), Club Muire and Naomh Pádraic. Many of the participants would go on to represent the County in both football and hurling.
Our photograph today is of the Fr. Lally’s team, the under-14 champions of 1965. They are, front row; Joe Trill, Mike Kavanagh, Tony Tighe, Brendan Beatty and Edwin Rabbitte. In the 2nd row are Ronnie Ward, Christy Wiley, Philip Coyne, Martin Noonan, Mike Beatty, Dickie Morris. 3rd row; Pa Boyle, John Joe Connell, Dave Shaughnessy, John Joyce, Joe Corcoran and Rev. Brother James. At the back are Seán Boyle, Seamus Corrigan, Mike Long, Pat Brennan and Tom Connolly.
This is one of the many photographs in the recently published 2018 calendar produced by the Shantalla Residents Association to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the building of the housing estate. It is a real community production with a lot of illustrations, old and new, of residents of the area. It is on sale at Tom Nally’s Barber Shop, High Street; E. Brún’s, Dominick St. ; Londis, The Sliding Rock Pub and Cooke’s Pub on Newcastle Road. An ideal gift for any ex-Shantalla person living abroad, not to mention those living here too.