Big celebration for Golden Jubilee of Galway’s three-in-a-row All-Ireland triumphs

GALWAY’S greatest ever Gaelic footballers will be honoured with a Golden Jubilee banquet to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the All-Ireland three-in-a-row winning teams of the sixties.

Tickets for the banquet to honour the heroes of the All-Ireland senior football champions of 1964, 1965 and 1966, are selling fast, according to the organiser, Galway GAA Chairman, Noel Treacy.

The 30 or so squad members from that golden era of football in Galway will be honoured with awards at the banquet which will take place in the Salthill Hotel on Saturday, December 6.

Football greats from the three-in-a-row team such as Bosco McDermott, Liam Sammon, Séan Meade, Johnny Geraghty, Noel Tierney, Martin Newell, Mick Garrett, Jimmy Duggan, Christy Tyrell, Colie McDonagh, John Keenan, Séan Cleary, Cyril Dunne, Séamus Lydon, John Donnellan, and Mick Reynolds will be honoured at the banquet.

Two other stalwarts of the era, the late Enda Colleran and Mattie McDonagh, the goal scorer in the 1966 final, who are gone but not forgotten, will also be remembered at the celebration.

In 1964, Galway captained by John Donnellan overcame Kerry in the final on a score of 0-15 to 0-10; and Galway, captained by Enda Colleran defeated Kerry the following year, in a tighter game, by 0-12 to 0-9. Galway then completed the three-in-a-row when, again captained by Colleran, they overcame Leinster champions Meath by 1-10 to 0-7.

As well as the greatest football team the county has produced, Galway’s hurlers who won three-in-a-row US senior hurling championships in the same years, will also be honoured at the banquet.

Galway GAA Chairman, Noel Treacy said ticket sales for the event have been swift and that in some outlets, including Pearse Stadium, up to 90% are sold out.

Treacy added:  “It’s a once in a lifetime achievement and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for past players, current players and supporters to mingle and reminisce on the greatest ever Gaelic football team to represent Galway. They were unique and a special team not just in Galway, but in all of Ireland and they are fondly remembered.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.