The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-12-02
Run,ors And Reality Gathered From ThiS Sporting World
 By JOHN A. CLUNEY The Grist Of Athletic Contest
When Gaelic Football Was In Flower

For the very excellent review of the football days of long ago. am indebted to wellknown Irish gentleman opportunity recall the days when of the finest sport in the state was played at the Old Driving park o Gaelic football teams days when Waterbury ooastea some of the greatest players in the land In this present day and ago. it is refreshing to present. only for the pur poses of comparison with current sporS such as the fol- lowing, which am proud to give you
 December g. 1885 Dear John-
 The news that WPA funds and workers to be used to convert the driving park into an enclosed athletc field unloosens train of memories. do not refer to the horse and buggy decade though signs of them St cling to circular track at the time of which write. refer to the period of 20 to 25 years ago when Waterbury boasted of the best single Gaelic football team in the United States. Then now, the gaelic talent in the country concentrated in the city of New York and on two occasions when the champions of New York; Kerry and Mayo, on consecutive years were brought here, though the local team lost the margin of victory was little that there still doubt of their supremacy New York then held the cream of the Gaelic football talent of the world and irrespective of what county was used, all the stars of New York were usually in- cuded in excursion to the sticks
 Thus it was that Gaelic followers here had the op- portunty to in action-Big Paddy Casey and Jack Kennedy of Kerry county fame, Eddie Casey and Jim Ferguson of Mayo and the one and only Tpperary Billy Barrett of whose educated toe American rugby coaches of to-day dream about but hardly
 The Waterbury team included such we'll known men as the Brady Brothers Dave and Mike Martin Dennie and the late John Shugrue, the late Gene Mccarthy Mike Sullivan of the school department Pat and Jim Rice the latter street department foreman Patrolman Pat Hughes and his brother Bill of New York, Tom Reidy sexton of the Immaculate Conception church and Pat McKenna father of the popular Joe and Frank danc who exhibit the brand of dancing their father did at football Pat Griffin janitor at the Town Plot school official state referee, and how Pat man. aged to travel with the team after adverse decision probably due to that contagious grin which he still wears.
 Tom Hayes, father of Lieutenant Governor and Mayor Frank Hayes then the owner of the Driving Park. do not recall how by whom he contracted, but do know that he gave us power to use it we fit, being very enthusiastic admirer of outdoor sports of all kinds, particularly Gaelic sports We bor rowed few Scythes to down the tall grass, some picks and Shoves to level off the many depressons abolished side lines and erected goal posts all in the love of the sport in which brought in Ireland
 Alderman Frank Bergen will probably recall the time he dynamited that big elm tree which stood in the ce ter of the playing field which handicapped efforts quite little The last of Frank when the blast went off he disappearing in the wldS of Bunker Hill How ever seeing he got back to town in time to be made city father, presume that he is to be excused.
 wonder how many of the sports enthusiasts of today would make the sacrifices that Gaelic teams of 20 years ago made cheerfully.
 Any mention of athletic outdoor sports especially Gaelic football would be incomplete, indeed positively offensive, without mention of manager, guide, counselor, and friend, the late Tim OConnen Tim accepted the responsibility for everything oresaw every thing Smoothed out the various problems which beSet uS and is with firm conviction that state his memory is still green among his friends though his death but yesterday
 But as I am trespassng on both space and patience perhaps had better just sign myself HishAmerican and an OLD GAEL.