It was a very memorable day that willlive long in memories for many years to come. We’ve now brought together over 100 pictures of Jim Gavin and the Dublin team’s homecoming that saw thousands line the streets of Clondalkin to welcome Sam Maguire and the All Ireland Champions. The pictures are courtesy of Peter Parker, Ted Keane, Peter Stafford of Clondalkin Camera Club and Paddy Barrett of The Echo. You can view the pictures here. The article below relives the special day of Sunday 29th September.
Roads, pathways, poles, houses and shops were covered in blue this weekend as Round Tower GAA Club welcomed the All Ireland Football Champions and Clondalkin’s very own Jim Gavin for a very special parade. It was an historic occasion for the Monastic town as the ceremonial parade was greeted by thousands of supporters of all ages who donned the Dublin colours and cheered, waved and applauded the heroes as their open-top bus slowly moved past the enthusiastic well-wishers towards the town’s 129 year old home of Gaelic Games: Round Tower GAA Club.
This was an historic, unique and special occasion. An All Ireland winning Gaelic Football team coming to a town is a very special occasion, but this event had added significance and gravitas. The leader of the Dublin team was one of our own: Jim Gavin, a fantastic Round Tower servant and ambassador. He really has delivered since assuming the mantle of Dublin Senior Football manager, with the National League, Leinster Championship and All-Ireland Cups now to be paraded around GAA Clubs and schools in the coming months.
Crowds had begun assembling two hours before the parade, with many kids lined up outside Round Tower clubhouse on Convent Road, the finishing point of the route. As the Dublin team prepared to depart Monastery Road just past 6pm, crowds five deep had assembled on the side paths along the route. Clondalkin Youth Band, whose ambassadorial role for the area extends overseas, led the way and a Garda convoy escorted the team bus. Round Tower representatives strode proudly alongside the Dublin team, highlighting the club’s respect for the team and their achievements.
The bus drew to a stop at Round Tower clubhouse on Convent Road. Frank Roebuck, a man who has given immense service to GAA in Clondalkin through his teaching of Gaelic Games at Clonburris and as a player and manager of Round Tower, held Sam Maguire aloft to loud local acclaim. The thousands who’d lined the streets to applaud the team formed a procession behind the bus and stood assemble behind it.
Paul Flynn and Jim Gavin spoke to the crowd on the bus of their great pride in achieving All Ireland glory and of their gratitude for the magnificent welcome. Frank departed the bus with Sam in hand and Jim and players spent considerable time satisfying the autograph hunters and picture takers – young and old alike.
Within the confines of the club, the All Ireland winners mixed with Members and dignitaries and were extremely obliging and courteous to all. Jim and Frank were provided with a rapturous reception when they entered the hall. Andy Kettle, Dublin County Board Chairman, paid tribute to the club volunteers who are the backbone that enables the county develop players of the calibre that will win an All-Ireland Final. Frank spoke of being overwhelmed with the reception and his pride in his community. He spoke of the fantastic individual Jim is and the manager paid tribute to the club and people who shaped him over the years, including past mentors and his parents Jim Senior and Ann. Tony Delaney, club chairman spoke of the club and community’s immense pride in Jim and Frank and their accomplishments and subsequently presented the Bainisteoir with a specially commissioned picture to mark the occasion.
Tony says: “I wish to take this opportunity to extend a very big thank you to our Members and the wider Clondalkin community who made Sunday such a brilliant and memorable success. The superb turnout reflected immense local pride and support for Jim and the Dublin footballers. It will be an event that will be remembered and recalled for many years. Thank you to those who helped plan the event and the stewards who volunteered their time to assist in ensuring it went smoothly.
Thanks to local people and businesses who assisted us in accommodating Sunday’s event and also to An Garda Síochána. A special thank you to Vincent Dolan and Clondalkin Youth Band who brought a carnival atmosphere that helped create such a memorable occasion.
On behalf of the club I extend our gratitude to Jim and the Dublin team for the courtesy and friendliness they extended to club Members and the Clondalkin community on Sunday. It highlighted what fantastic ambassadors they are for the GAA and quiet rightly, the people of Clondalkin are immensely proud of Jim.
As a club, we are extremely proud of being an integral part of the Clondalkin community and it was fantastic to see the numbers who turned out to show their appreciation for the team, Jim and also Frank Roebuck. It reflects a keen interest within the town for Gaelic Games and this is a source of great pride.
We will continue to strive to harness this enthusiasm to its full potential and develop ambassadors both young and old who will bring great pride to the area through their representation of Clondalkin on GAA playing pitches. We can only do this through the commitment and time that is very generously afforded to us by the excellent volunteers who mentor, play and work tirelessly for the club. I extend a sincere thank you to all and say to the wider community young and old you are very welcome to Round Tower GAA Club in a playing, volunteering or social capacity. I’d urge local people who have not seen our new state-of-the-art playing facilities on Monastery Road to visit them one Saturday morning where you will see young kids learning the skills of GAA and forging friendships in a fun, friendly setting. Míle Buíochas.”
