Inside Track: Former players walk the Cooley Mountains in memory of Pádraig

Louth and Cooley Kickhams players of other days joined together in a walk across the Cooley Mountains last Saturday week. They were commemorating a son of the peninsula, and at the same time raising funds for a worthy cause.

Pádraig O’Neill played with both Louth and Kickhams, as did his brothers, Gareth, Redmond and Ógie. His lamented death took place last July at the age of 58.

Louth Past Players have staged a walk over the past few years. This was the fourth outing, and given the connections of the one in whose name it was being staged, the setting was entirely appropriate.

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Starting-point was The Lumpers in Ravensdale, which was bedecked in red-and-white for the walk and, you could say, the times that are in it.

From there the 50 or so walkers made their way across the side of the mountain, and along the way were joined by others, including members of the O’Neill family, Padraig’s wife Susan, and her children, Cillian, Neasa and Aoibhín.

The frontwalkers arrived in Carlingford about three hours after setting out, with others coming in at respectful intervals. They were heartened by the number that came out to greet them, among them Susan’s parents, Paddy and Mary Kirk.

It was Susan’s choice that the money raised would go to the Irish Heart Foundation.

There was never a chance of me taking up the invitation chief organiser, Séamus O’Hanlon, had sent this way to go on the hike. The occasional walk up to the Bluer Anchor is my butt.

However, I got along to the start and, and because O’Hanlon had suggested in his message to all those taking part to wear a county jersey, I brought the one I got while training with the county team along with me – under my arm, of course – and just missed out on meeting a former Louth colleague, Leslie Toal.

I got the jersey around the late 1960s, and this being a time when there were no perks for county players, this hand-out was a rarity.

My jersey was that well worn at the time, it could now be over 60 years old. There’s no cuff on the right sleeve, and the number is missing.

But the crest is intact. It’s an embroidered green St Brigid’s Cross in a shield stitched on to the jersey and is much more attractive than the one worm on today’s jerseys.

Fintan Murphy was proud to tell me it was Carlingford lady, Lily Woods, John Woods’ aunt, who suggested having a crest and came up with the idea of a St Brigid’s Cross.

Séamus O’Hanlon says the craic was mighty on the walk and afterwards in Carlingford. Some of the old stories lost nothing in the re-telling – in fact, some were probably embellished, and may even have been true, he says. The singing was good, as well.

The former Clan na Gael player, helped in organising the event by JP Rooney and Peter McGinnity, says another outing is planned for next year, and again the money raised will go to a deserving cause.

The three walks that took place prior to this one were in memory of Stephen Melia, Benny Reilly and Colm Quinn.