RTÉ show to focus on life and times of Dundalk FC legend Jimmy Hasty

An episode of Creedon's Road Less Travelled - filmed in Dundalk and dedicated to one of the famour players in Dundalk FC's history - is to air next weekend. 

The programme, hosted by RTÉ broadcaster John Creedon and focused on the life and times of Jimmy Hasty the famous one-armed centre forward who starred for the Lilywhites in the 1960s, will air on RTÉ One on Sunday August 5th at 6.30pm. 

Filmed last month at County Musuem in Dundalk, where Hasty's contribution to the club is celebrated in the ongoing 'One Team, One Dream' exhibition, the programme will see a number of Hasty's relatives, friends, former team mates and supporters joining Creedon to discuss the great player's acheivements and share their recollections of one of the club's most prolific and well-known goalscorers. 

At the age of 14 and on his first day of work he had an accident involving a milling machine that resulted in having his left arm amputated, leaving only a short stump. He played for Newry Town before joining Dundalk at the age of 22. 

Despite playing with just one arm, he scored 109 goals in 169 appearances for Dundalk, picking up a league championship winners medal in 1963 in the process as well as numerous cup wins. He was named the club's Player of the Year on three separate occasions in the 1960s. 

"We were delighted to host John Creedon and the extended Hasty family at County Museum Dundalk for the recording of this special episode of ‘Creedon’s Road Less Travelled’. It’s a fitting setting to honour a player whose confidence, skill and strength shone through his career," musuem curator Brian Walsh commented.

"Tragically, Jimmy Hasty was killed in a sectarian incident in 1974. Though his life was short, his legacy is evident at Dundalk FC and in this ‘One Team, One Dream’ exhibition.”

 The exhibition remains open at Louth County Musuem on Tuesdays to Saturdays, between 10am and 5pm. Entry is free. 

Meanwhile, a second, new football-inspired exhibition, ‘The Abbey Ballroom indoor football exhibition’, will be officially launched at County Musem Dundalk next month. 

A collaboration between Drogheda Local Voices, Drogheda Museum Millmount and County Museum Dundalk, this exhibition will recount the eclectic history of the Abbey Ballroom which was the home of successful men’s and women’s indoor football teams in the 1960s. All those who played or attended indoor football competitions during that era are invited to attend the launch.  

 The launch will take place on Thursday, August 9th at 7pm and the exhibition itself will be open to the public from the next day, Friday August 10th.