Footballer gets forgotten county medal 68 years on

A footballer from Galway who emigrated to the USA before he could collect his county medal will finally get his hands on the prize – almost seven decades on.

William Morrissey, originally Clonshee Trench, Ahascragh, was the winner of a North Board Junior Football medal with his native Ahascragh in 1953 – but he emigrated to the US before he could get his medal.

BY MATTIE KILROY

Now, a full 68 years later, his family have organised a special video and presentation of the medal to him on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

The interesting story of the 1953 North Board final was that although won by Milltown following a replay in Abbeyknockmoy , Milltown were subsequently stripped of their title for fielding an illegal Player and Ahascragh were awarded the  1953 North Board Junior title.

William never received his medal as, by then, he had emigrated to Chicago – and his medal has been in his home, largely forgotten, ever since.

Until recently when his younger brother Michael found it – and so a special presentation has been arranged to coincide with William’s 90th birthday on August 28 in Chicago.

William, who worked all his life in the construction business, has long been married to Mamie Rafferty of Loughlynn – and their family, Catherine, John, Michael Joe and Billy, will join them for a special party in Chicago with the video and of course the medal from Ireland.