Photographs Athy G.F.C. Annual Dinner 1990 / Group with Michael Kelly

This week I am giving over the column to two photographs.  The first photograph was taken 19 years ago in the Clubhouse of Athy Gaelic Football Club on the occasion of the Club’s annual dinner.  It shows the then Club Chairman Denis Wynne presenting an honorary Club membership to his father Ned Wynne, while his mother can be seen in the background.  That same night honorary Club memberships were presented to several former great players of Club and County.  Sadly all of them are now dead, including Denis, his father Ned and his mother Margaret.  The photograph is a poignant reminder of a historic night in the Athy G.A.A. Club’s history and of the Wynne family connection with the Club which stretches back over 70 years or so. 

The second photograph is of a group of good friends, the last of whom, Michael Kelly passed away recently.  Michael is pictured with the dark glasses and on the left is Mick O’Shea who was the last person to live in Butlers Row before the houses last owned by Mona Sylvester were demolished.  To the right is Kevin Watchorn, a lifelong friend of Mick O’Shea and Michael Kelly.  The photograph was taken in Jim McEvoy’s pub.  I have been unable to identify the couple in the centre of the picture.