Phoenix Park – the Spiritual Home of Camogie witnesses new chapter

(24 Jun 2017)

The Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Carr couldn’t have timed it better.  On his last day in office, the St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh man was on hand to perform his final official function as Dublin’s first citizen when he opened the Sheila Browne Pavilion in the Phoenix Park.  It was a special event for the Lord Mayor as he recalled his long association with the club in the presence of his father Denis who has an even longer pedigree.   He was delighted that the occasion also marked the first game on the newly refurbished St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh pitch where he changed, played and “carried the whole team on my back”. 

He recalled the great work that Sheila Browne did for camogie in the club and on the Navan Road generally with the splendid assistance of Brigid McEvoy and Bernie Potts.  He was particularly delighted that Sheila’s husband Tom was present.

Poignantly he also recalled the contribution of the then Club Chairman Pat Bugler who passed away earlier this year.   He added “There are many great organisations but they become even greater when they co-operate. The partnership of the Dublin Camogie Board and St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh was an example of what can be achieved.”

Club Chair John Quilter echoed these remarks and paid tribute to Marie O’Brien and Brendan Cooper for their part in the delivery of this project which was spearheaded by Sean Rooney of the club and has led to the provision of 6 dressing rooms and two referees rooms.  He thanked OPW/Phoenix Park officials John McCullen (who announced that he is currently writing the history of sport in the Phoenix Park), Margaret Gormley and others for their input.  Referring to Sheila Browne, he highlighted her great work for camogie at a time when the game was in its infancy in the club.  Now the club is thriving in the sport having just captured the Senior Division 1 league title while the numbers playing the game in the area are at an all-time high.

He was delighted that the occasion also marked the naming of the dressing rooms after five individuals who have given great service to the club – Kevin Matthews, Joey Towell, Muiris Prenderville, Jim Byrne and Christy Hayes – manager of the last Dublin team to win a senior camogie All-Ireland in 1984.

John also thanked Stephen Harrison, Tadgh O’Connor and Sean King for the work they have done during the week to get the pitch ready for the opening.

Dublin camogie chair Pat Martin revealed that he once played for Eoghan Ruadh when he was a “Brunner Boy”.    In his words for the occasion, Pat revealed that the three rooms had been named in honour of great servants of the game in the club – Frank Malcolmson (Thomas Davis), Phyllis Breslin (Naomh Bríd) and Máire Uí Scolaí (Cuala) all of whom were present to witness the event at the “field of dreams”.  He also thanked MMI for their sponsorship support for the game which the Dublin Premier Junior team beat St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh by 3-10 to 1-9.

Responding on behalf of the family Philip Browne recalled the many Sunday afternoons he and his siblings spent with their parents Sheila and Tom in the Phoenix Park.  His family was both proud and grateful for the great honour bestowed on their mother.  He was delighted to see members of the Sliabh Bloom club present with whom his mother had played before that club merged into St Oliver Plunketts and eventually St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh.

It was as Fr. John Moran who blessed the building said “a happy and pleasant occasion and I see the weather agrees.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Carr cuts the tap at the entrance to the Sheila Browne Pavilion watched by from left Phyllis Breslin, Tom Browne, John Quilter, Pat Martin and family members.

Some more photos from the official opening



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