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| The Cárna/Caiseal team for the 2005 Galway senior football final. |
It is very fitting that the cup the teams play for be named
in memory of Coley Lydon. A native son
of Carna, and one of many who made and continue to make, the 3,000 mile journey
west across the ocean, Coley was a Gaels stalwart and the contribution he has made
to the club cannot be understated. Coley
was a dedicated servant to the Gaels in every way imaginable, both on and off
the field. There is not a committee
position in which Coley did not serve and in many ways his tireless work with
the club has helped to ease the culture shock that many others who have made
the same journey felt, leaving the familiar surroundings of home to come to
Boston. The Gaels club continues to be
a home away from home to emigrants from the area, and this year it was evident
with 4 Cárna/Caiseal men in the Gael’s starting lineup for their opening senior
football championship match. Coleman
Mulkerrin, James Flaherty, Kieran Killeen, and Sean Corbett would also be team
mates with Cárna/Caiseal, and with Pauric McDonagh also involved with the
Gaels, the connection between the clubs is as strong as ever.
The Cárna/Caiseal club was formed with the amalgamation of
Carna and Naomh Conaill in 1987, a move that was necessitated by the emigration
of many young people from the area. At
the time the club competed at junior B, went up a level to junior A the
following year, and in 1996 made the leap to Intermediate. 2002 was a big year for the club competed at
senior football level for the first time.
The big prize was almost captured in 2005. Coming into the Galway county final as
underdogs, Cárna/Caiseal faced a Salthill team that was led by Michael
Donnellan and included Finian Hanley.
The Connemara men fell by three points to a team that went on the win
the All-Ireland the following St. Patrick’s Day, beating Antrim’s St. Galls in
the final. Subsequent years have seen
the club move up and down through the levels, currently competing at
Intermediate level. Emigration has hit
the club harder again recently, as was evident from the composition of the
starting Gaels side in 2017.
The game is next Saturday, November 4 at 2:00 at the Irish
Cultural Center in Canton, and will be followed by food and entertainment at
the ICC. There will be plenty of other
opportunities to renew acquaintances and welcome the team and traveling party
this week. JJs Irish Bar and
Grille on Dorchester Ave. will host the travelers on Tuesday, Oct 31. Wednesday night it will be the 12 Bens in
Dorchester, and Thursday the party will be at the Goal Post in Quincy.
By Rory O'Donnell
