Happy 50th Anniversary St Kevins Boys!!

Michael O’Callaghan (Chairman, SKB), Liam Brady(former SKB player/Honorary President and Assistant Manager of the Rep.of Ireland) and Brendan Bermingham (Secretary, SKB) pictured at the book launch

Our 50th Anniversary celebrations got underway during the month of March with a very special Mass in the Church of the Holy Child on Sunday, 22nd – appropriately enough Mothers Day, with the amount of Mums who ferry their young footballers to and from games and also wash the gear!
A large attendance for the Mass were welcomed by a Guard of Honour courtesy of our U11.2 and U13 Premier teams. The Mass was celebrated by a former pupil of Club Chairman, Michael O’Callaghan – Fr Michael Carey.  During the Mass Nathan Keenan and Mathew Dempsey of our U12.2 presented a club jersey and football to Fr Carey as gifts.
There was great involvement from everyone within the Club as Brian Halpin and Mick Nolan did the Readings, Bren Bermingham, Eoin Mooney, Rita Browne and Ciaran Heffernan said the Prayers of the Faithful and Gavin McCabe and Patsy Browne brought up the gifts.
The following night a large attendance congregated upstairs in the Comet to celebrate the launch of our 50th Anniversary book.
The evening kicked off with Dermot Wilkins listing out the various events planned for the coming months to celebrate 50 years of St Kevins Boys.
Dermot thanked all in attendance for their support over the years and appealed for support from everyone for the events to come; our International Football Tournament at Easter (where lots of volunteers will be required over the few days), the Golf Classic in May (the proceeds of which will go to offset the cost of the Tournament), the Gala Ball in May (which is very heavily booked to date so there is currently a waiting list) and our Fun Day planned for September.
Dermot finished by saying that those in the room had set in motion, by their example, a football club that now celebrates 50 years and it was up to us all to ensure that there will be people who follow us who will celebrate a 100th!
Dermot was followed by Club Chairman, Michael O’Callaghan who gave an outline of the book itself.  He said that in setting out    to produce the book it was decided to allocate 50% to what took place over the first 40 years and 50% to the last ten years, a period that has seen dynamic changes within the Club.  The book covered all the favourites of the 50 year history including the famous “SKB Camps”, the St Christophers, the fundraising activities and the immense people involved over the years.
Mick paid tribute to the late Bobby Redmond whose family donated boxes of photographs taken over the years by Bobby.  Not only had he kept them in order but every photograph was dated, people named within and a reference to the event it pertained to!
Finally, Mick had a very special thank you to both Dermot Wilkins and Mike English whose help in the production of the book were invaluable.
He finished by saying that the book contained memories, stories, reports and photographs from so many and he again thanked everyone for their contribution be it big or small – the book was a legacy for others to follow.
Liam Brady, Honorary President, then officially launched the book.  Liam spoke of the importance of Maurice Coffey, Tom Byrne and Fr. Des Williams who started the Club and reminisced about what the area was like as he grew up.  The fact that he was there launching a book celebrating 50 years was testament to what a great football club it is.  Liam spoke of the managers and players he looked up to in those days, Lar Madden, Des Lawlor, Brian Halpin and the fact that they are still involved in the Club to this day. He told us about his one and only trip to “Camp” where he had to be collected by his mother after only 6 days of the two weeks – cold and hungry and about being in the St Christophers alterboys – he got sacked!!
Finally, Liam read his own contribution to the book to great applause.
Afterwards Liam spent a long time signing books, having his picture taken and catching up with old friends while the assembled throng searched the book for photos of teams, players and friends from the last 50 years.  It turned out to be a very successful and long night!
The book is available from the Clubhouse, priced €10.

Fran O’Neill(left)  can’t believe they found that photo!