GAA Oral History Project Interview Report Form Name of Interviewer Joe Jordan Date of Interview 10 th Feb 2011 Location Name of Interviewee (Maiden name / Nickname) Gabriel Mallon Biographical Summary of Interviewee Gender Born Male Year Born: Home County: Armagh Education Secondary: Armagh CBS, Greenpark Third Level: Queens University Belfast Family Club(s) Occupation Parents Occupation Religion Political Affiliation / Membership Other Club/Society Membership(s) Middletown GAA [Armagh] 1
Date of Report 24 July 2012 Period Covered 1940s - 2011 Counties/Countries Covered Key Themes Covered Interview Summary Armagh Travel, Supporting, Grounds, Facilities, Playing, Officials, Administration, Celebrations, Education, Media, Emigration, Role of Clergy, Role of Teachers, Role of the Club in the Community, Volunteers, Rivalries, Culture, Scόr, All-Ireland, Club History, County History, Earliest Memories, Family Involvement, Childhood, Alcohol, Violence, Northern Ireland, Food and Drink, Socialising, Relationships, Economy / Economics This interview centres the social, sporting and cultural scene in rural Armagh in the middle decades of the twentieth century. The interview begins with a discussion around Gabriel Mallon s family background. The role of family in shaping his interests in football and music was crucial and Mallon recalls the influence of his father and, following his death in 1947, that of his uncles with whom he went to live. The influence of local schoolteacher P J O Neill in organising Gaelic football in the area was also crucial and Mallon reflects on the on the parish leagues and the competition it engendered between different teams. The success of the GAA Middletown of the mid 1950s is charted as its subsequent decline as unemployment and emigration began to impact. This marked the end of an era in the Middletown GAA story. However, the lack of football in Middletown in the 1950s and 60s didn t prevent many locals following the game and Mallon recalls the staunch support given to the county team by many individuals. Despite confessing to a lack of aptitude for sport, Mallon recalls his early experiences of playing in the 1950s. On leaving school, Mallon moved to Belfast to attend Queen s University and he recalls sharing digs with, amongst others, the great Down footballer Seán O Neill. Although not involved with any team at Queen s, the GAA was a popular topic of conversation among the GAA stalwarts with whom he shared accommodation. Mallon returned home to teach in 1964 and he reflects on the efforts of himself and Gerry O Neill, a wellknown footballer and schoolteacher, to revitalise Gaelic games in the area. These efforts were successful and he discusses the growing strength of the club in the 1960s and 70s and its involvement not only in football and hurling, but Scór as well. Alongside the GAA, Mallon had a major interest 2
in music, playing in a number of local bands. Mallon talks about his introduction to drumming and the involvement of his Uncles with various bands, as well as the social scene associated with them. 00:00:00 Earliest memories: Talks about his father, Barney Mallon, who was from the same area. Mentions that his father was 19 years older than his mother, but was still playing football when they were courting. 00:00:40 Has heard that his father was a useful footballer, playing in the half backs. 00:00:58 Mentions his father taking him to his first match at the sportsfield, now PJ O Neill Park. Believes it was a game between Middletown and Ballymacnab and recalls the jersey colours of the two teams. 00:01:35 Refers to his father s death in the big snow of March 1947, before young Mallon s 6 th birthday. Went back afterwards to his mother s home-place of Dromahane. Reared in his grandmother s house, alongside his aunts and uncles. 00:02:30 Mentions that his Uncles Mick and Jimmy had played a bit of football. 00:02:34 Recalls parish leagues organised by local schoolteacher PJ O Neill Master O Neill and the parish being split up into different teams: Middletown, Drumgoose, Doogary, Madden, Tullysaran. Says the idea was to find new talent, but it built up rivalries and divisions. Split between Drumgoose and Middletown, the former establishing a new headquarters at Davin Park, beside house of Paddy Davin. Refers to tin shed, bought by Drumgoose and used for dancing. Mentions that Peter Woods, a famous shopkeeper, provides the minerals and buns for dancers. 00:04:20 Says the team was always illegal and never recognised by the county board. 00:04:30 Main county board man in area was PJ O Neill, who kept Drumgoose out of legal competitions. Says they engaged in practice games instead, playing amongst themselves. 00:04:48 Recalls Drumgoose arriving at a sports in Middletown, late 1940s or early 1950s. Tells of Jimmy McGuigan and Seán Donnelly arriving in Middletown on bicycles, two officials of the Drumgoose team. Mentions that 3
after the minor match, a row developed when PJ O Neill took the ball. Row involved players and members of the flute band. Mentions that a drum taken and returned much later when peace was restored. 00:06:40 Says peace had broken out by early 1950s and a Middletown team which was parish representative...old ills were forgotten. Recalls that Middletown team playing in a mid-division league final in 1955 in Athletic Grounds. Refers to a mainstay of the team, Paddy McCardle, originally from Monaghan who worked in a skutch mill, Lappins Mill. Says there were a number of outsiders, but most of the players were local. 00:07:35 Refers to Jimmy McNally ( Jimmy of the bank ); Garbiel McGarry; Mickey Kavanagh; Charlie and Joe McGuinness; Jim McGuinness, Bill Callaghan. 00:08:00 Mentions the bank parading the team around the field in mid-division league final, beating Ballymacnab and band parading them through village. 00:08:30 Says a number of people left village after that. Skutching was at the end. Owenie McDonald and Patsy McCardle left. Also Middletown natives were lost to emigration to England. Mention club not having a team by 1957-8. 00:09:05 Talks about final game of Middletown in the mid 1950s against Armagh Harps. Mentions game ending in a row with fighting extending out of the ground onto the town road. Describes it as the end of that era of Middletown. 00:09:50 Mentions players going to neighbouring teams to Madden, Derrynoose and other clubs. Says that these departures led others to follow to neighbouring clubs refers to the O Hanlons, Charlie Hughes and others. 00:10:50 Says that a great void was left in Middletown. 00:11:00 Mentions being in school in Greenpark in late 1950s and not been good at football or any athletic pursuits. 00:11:20 Recalls beating St. Patrick s College in MacRory cup and the jubilation afterwards. Tells story of star player being seriously injured by accident and requiring to go to hospital. 00:11:35 Jimmy dawn became a legend. 00:12:00 Going to Queens in Belfast and not being involved 4
with any team. Mentions connections with famous players and rooming with Seán O Neill for two years. Description of O Neill as a gentleman and an exemplary student and footballer. Refers to the privilege of being associated with him. 00:12:55 Recalls a good Protestant woman who owned the digs on South Parade, off the Ormeau Road. Mentions men from Scotland from oil refineries and men from the shipyards, sharing the digs and also GAA men like Seán O Neill, Frank Higgins from Ballygawley, the McMahons, Seán O Boyle from Derry. Mentions GAA being a topic of conversation in the digs. 00:14:20 Being proposed as a kit carrier in Queens and the role going to someone else. 00:14:30 Travelling with Sean O Neill and Leo Murphy to Davitt Park when they were playing against Armagh. Mentions a row breaking out and an entanglement between Sean Quinn, manager of Armagh, and James McCartan 00:15:30 No football in Middletown in the late 1950s and early 60s. Recalls being taken to county matches in Clones and refers to wearing paper hat and rosette, as well as to the smell of oranges and ice cream. Refers to the feel and smell of excitement of county matches. 00:16:15 Recalls Armagh V. Cavan in Clones and players lining up in middle of field for throw in. Full back Gunner Brady for Cavan and Art O Hagan at full forward for Armagh. Mentions a collision between the two. 00:17:15 Talks about returning home after Queens and St. Joseph s in the 1960s. Mentions PJ O Neill s retirement, his replacement by son and becoming an assistant to him in boy s school. Recalls also his youth and imagining himself to be a good goalkeeper. Mentions playing on the main road, the makeshift goalposts they used and watching out for policemen, who would chase them away. 00:18:40 Coming back to teach in 1964 and discussing with Gerry O Neill, a well-known footballer, the lack of football in Middletown. Talks about the decision to resurrect football in Middletown and the steps taken gradually getting a team together, affiliating a team and the return of exiles. 00:20:00 Refers to winning a junior championship and the revitalisation of both football and hurling. Went straight into senior hurling and became one of the great dual clubs in 5
Armagh. Mentions having two separate clubs, but says this was in name only (Owen Roe s and Na Fianna). Refers to the overlap in players and administrators. 00:20:48 Mentions going to teach on a bicycle. Describes where he taught and the games they would play there as children the old house beside the stables. 00:21:55 Revamping the team and reference to going from strength to strength. 00:22:10 Serving as chairman, secretary and on committees in the 1970s. Talks about club s involvement in Scór. Recalls being part of a Quiz team and being asked a question about what colours Sligo wore. Mentions that Middletown went on to big victories in Scór. 00:23:35 Talks about being in Bessbrook at a Scór final on the night of Bloody Sunday in Derry. Mentions seeing the developments in Derry on colour television in Frank McNally s house says it was his first time to see colour television. 00:24:05 Refers to football taking root and says team is fully representative of parish... seeds have grown. 00:24:35 Talks about his involvement in Marching bands and how he started. Refers to his Uncle s involvement in drumming and being bought a wee tin drum. Mentions being involved in a flute band in Middletown and the others who were also involved. 00:26:05 Talks about his Uncle s involvement in other bands, including Madden Pipe Band. 00:26:10 Early memories and the enjoyment of getting to Middletown. 00:26:25 Recollections of the anti-partition league and the involvement of various family members, uncles and Paddy Joe Hughes and Mick Hughes. Refers to stirring meetings in the 1950s at the chapel in Middletown and the band playing. 00:26:55 Learning from Peter Hughes and drumming with the Band. 00:27:13 Expedition to Johnny Mullen s house and older members of band drinking from crates of stout bottles. Recalls parading back to Middletown afterwards. 00:27:45 Recalls other bands other individuals involved, including Caledon band. 6
00:28:08 Tells story about an excursion to Coalisland and playing in the middle of the street and instructions that band members shouldn t return worse for drink. Recalls the search for Joe Hughes. 00:28:50 Moving to Tamlet band and drumming alongside John Markey, Packie Mulligan, Frankie Walker. 00:29:30 Interviewer refers to pride in family s continued involvement in the GAA. 00:29:55 Gabriel Mallon mentions his sons lack of proficiency in football and hurling and their involvement as administrators. Refers, amongst other things, to the good service that his son Aidan has given. 00:30:40 Talks about Mickey McGuigan and recalls him working for his father. Says he was great man for the games, in particular attendance at county games. 00:31:33 Talks a number of men who were staunch county supporters who went constantly to football matches. Recalls travelling in Pat O Neill s car to match in Casement Park and stopping in Foresters club in Lurgan on return. 00:32:40 Talks about the knowledge of these men of the different county teams. 00:33:05 Talks about the influence of the radio in keeping interest in Gaelic games alive hearing names like Christy Ring. Involvement in GAA Supporter Player Manager Coach Steward Chairperson Committee Member Grounds-person Caterer Jersey Washer Referee None Other (please specify): Record as a Player (Titles won; Length of time played) Record as an Administrator (Positions held; how long for) 7
Format Audio Audio-Visual Duration Length of Interview: 00:33:53 Language English To be filled in by Interviewer: I hereby assign the copyright of the content of the above to the GAA Oral History Project on the understanding that the content will not be used in a derogatory manner. I understand that I am giving the GAA Oral History Project the right to use and make available to the public the content of this interview. Signed: Joe Jordan Date: 10 th Feb 2011 8