GAA President joins St Killian’s GAC for Annual Dinner Dance and 50th Anniversary Tribute to the Reavey Brothers

It was a very busy year for the Whitecross club with much to celebrate from Scór to handball, men, ladies, underage football, social and wellbeing events, and a hugely successful fundraising campaign.

The club’s Scór musicians welcomed guests with traditional music as they arrived, before dinner and the awards ceremony hosted by Claire Shields, Assistant Secretary.

The event was an opportunity for St Killian’s to commemorate three cherished members John Martin, Brian and Anthony Reavey on their 50th anniversary. A special roll of honour was produced of all the men who have received the prestigious Reavey Brothers Memorial Trophy for senior player of the year, since it was first presented by the family in 1976. Photos and keepsakes were on display and memories shared from the past five decades.

Chairman Kieran Shields reflected on the tragic losses in the local area during the 1970s and how important the club and the GAA has been in offering support and a sense of community through difficult times. He acknowledged the very significant and positive contribution that the Reavey family have made to St Killian’s over the years, before Seamus Reavey presented the 2026 award to Callum Toner.

Club President Sean Reavey also paid tribute to John Moley who was presented with the Pat O’Hanlon Hall of Fame Award. Sean recalled how John started his distinguished involvement with GAA as a player for St Killian’s in the 1950s, before taking on many roles throughout the club including chairman and also chairman of both south board and county. He described John as the glue that held St Killian’s together in the most difficult days of the 1970s, leading the club with decency, integrity and respect, and being instrumental to important achievements including the development of Pairc Naomh Cillian in 1978 and bringing the Atty Hearty Cup home to Whitecross for the first time.

Uachtarán Jarlath Burns recounted his own personal stories of playing football against St Killian’s. He said he had the utmost respect for the club for promoting all aspects of GAA, and offering something for everyone, from football to handball and culture. The president thanked St Killian’s on behalf of the GAA for nurturing, protecting and supporting the Reavey family, and paid tribute to both the Reaveys and the family of Majella O’Hare for responding to the tragedy they faced in such a positive way. Addressing all the room he said: “You should be proud of what you have achieved, the best is yet to come because in the GAA, the past builds the present, the present builds the future, and the future, with you people in charge, is so bright for the people of Whitecross.”