The Naughties have proved to be a mix of ups and downs for the Senior footballers of St. Patrick’s Eglish. After gaining promotion to Division 1 in 1997 Eglish held senior status until eventually being relegated to Intermediate ranks in 2004. On 2nd March 2004 Eglish lost its most famous son with the sudden passing of Cormac McAnallen.
The next few years proved very difficult as the loss of such an influential player and figure left all within the club shattered. A re-building progress began from underage through to senior level and Eglish eventually gained promotion back to Division 1 with league success in 2007. Relegation followed in 2009 but Intermediate league success was immediately secured in 2010 and in the current year Eglish has maintained Division 1 status with a few games to spare.
In the aftermath of the passing of Cormac, the committee of St. Patrick’s Eglish G.A.C. sat down to discuss how they could best honour his memory. It was agreed that it should be something tangible, vibrant and practical. In particular it should be somewhere where youth could flourish, providing an environment where they could not only strive to be better footballers or better at Gaelic games, but in the process become better human beings.
Later this year Páirc Chormaic will be opened, bringing to fruition the tireless efforts of successive club committees over the last six years. Páirc Chormaic is a state of the art playing field which is floodlight to match playing standard and the club has gone to great lengths to ensure that it is a fitting tribute to the man whose name it bears.
As a final fundraising venture to pay for Páirc Chormaic, St. Patrick’s Eglish has organised the Páirc Chormaic Development Draw where the 1st Prize is £10,000. The tickets are £20 each or a book of three for £40. Alternatively tickets can be purchased for €20 each or a book of 3 tickets for €40 with a first prize of €10,000.
If you would like to find out more about St. Patrick’s Eglish please check out our Gallery section where you can see photographs of Páirc Chormaic at various stages during its development.
Pictured above are Brendan McAnallen, Sheila McKenna (Secretary of St. Patrick’s Eglish G.A.C.), Brigid McAnallen and Ciara Kerr (Chairperson of St. Patrick’s Eglish Camogie Club).
