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A Club for All
By Ronan Scott
St.Mary’s Rasharkin is truly a club for all.
This year they mark their 70th Anniversary an occasion that they will celebrate with a number of occasions and events.
But they shouldn’t merely be celebrating a landmark date in their history, but rather their commitment to improving their community.
You see, Rasharkin are more than just a sporting group. For them, merely providing games for people to play and watch is only one part of being part of the GAA.
"The great thing about the GAA is that it has something for everyone," said PRO Paul Hasson.
"You can play Football, Hurling or Camogie, but there is also something for the man who wants to coach, to administrate, to referee, to help out, or the photographer, or the match reporter, or the man with a business who wants to sponsor the club."
Sometimes we forget, but this is the ethos that the GAA was founded on, but not every club embraces it.
But it is not the sporting endeavour that sets Rasharkin truly apart from other GAA clubs, rather their efforts to be a part of the community.
That’s not to say that the two don’t ever crossover. Four years ago, the playing side of the club and the dancers met for a unique fundraising event based on the TV show strictly come dancing called Reeling Round Rasharkin. "We first ran that in 2009 where nine Irish dancers were paired with people from around the club and Rasharkin area to compete in a dance off. It was a great night’s entertainment and massive success," Hasson said. So much so, there was a repeat event last year.
According to Hasson, each year the club try to run at least one big fundraising event, whether it be an event like Reeling Round Rasharkin, Rasharkin’s Got Talent, Night at the Races or a Gala dinner, they will also have a few smaller events as well.
The purpose for this is not solely to raise money, but also to encourage the social aspect of the club. I suppose similar to most clubs around about the "bread and butter" money spinners for the club are the weekly lotto, our 300 club, and support from dedicated sponsors.
"In the current economic climate raising money is extremely difficult, plus you are constantly trying to come up with different ideas," he said, "this has added difficulty when you are competing with a lot of other club in the area, yet sometimes having so many neighbours can be a good thing.
"We are so close to other clubs like Portglenone, Dunloy, Ahoghill and Kilrea, and we are not that far away from Glenravel, Ballymena or Moneyglass either.
"South West Antrim is very clannish. That is the good thing about the clubs, when we do things in this area we would support each other. Dunloy did their boxing nights, and Dancing on Ice and we tried to support them so you only hope other clubs return the favour."
A good example of the close knit nature of Antrim came recently when Glenravel played host to Rasharkin in their first meeting of the season. Geographically, the two clubs are rivals, but they haven’t met competitively for some time. So, to mark the occasion, Glenravel put on a corporate dinner for the visiting Rasharkin administrators and fans. It was a rugby style event, appropriated for a GAA match. "It was a nice gesture," said Hasson. "They have the facilities to do that, and it was a very enjoyable day and a good result on the pitch" he happily added.
The rivalry with Glenravel is just one of many rivalries that have existed in that corner of Antrim.
Rasharkin have been in existence in their current format since 1943, however, former club chairman Anthony McMullan, through research for a club history book to be launched later this year, discovered that GAA activity in the parish dated back to 1909, through a club known as St.Olcan’s. The first ever recorded game for St.Olcan’s was against Loughgiel Shamrocks in July 1909. The club held a special Commemorative Centenary rematch in July 2009 between St.Mary’s and Loughgiel to mark this great milestone.
This year St.Mary’s are marking their 70th Anniversary with a number of events.
On the day of the 17th of March, which was the actual date the club officially came into existence, a special concert was held in St.Olcan's Parish Centre Rasharkin. A new banner was unveiled on the stage to mark the occasion before a minute silence was held to remember the past Gaels of St.Mary's who carried out sterling work to preserve the games and culture through hard times.
A passage was read by pupils from St.Patrick's PS telling the story of St.Mary's so far accompanied by a slideshow of photographs.
They would have charted the changing face of the club, which has grown gradually during the past 70 years.
"We have been constantly working on our grounds," Hasson said.
They now have one full-size pitch and one 3/4 training pitch.
At the moment they are hoping to get grant funding to expand even further, and will include a hall, new changing facilities and a pavilion.
The need for greater facilities suggests growing numbers.
For Rasharkin, when it comes to recruitment, they place a lot of importance in the links with the local schools.
"We are a rural club," Hasson said. "With the local primary school we are trying to develop a field behind the school that will be used by the school and the club. It is owned by the parish but both would be able to make good use of it".
They have coaches that go into the school, Seamus Hassan and Paul Doherty. Paul Doherty is employed by the Antrim county board and he coaches within the school along with Roisin McAleer an Ulster Council Coach.
Paul Hasson said that they are fortunate to have 43 coaches, 26 different teams and 350 members in the club. Some of those members are not living in the area anymore, some are down south, in Australia, others in America but they still contribute to the club such is the strength of the bond.
The club are keen to promote ladies football at the moment, which follows on from Hasson’s opinion that a GAA club should provide something for everyone.
But all that can’t happen without the right structures in place.
"The finance committee headed by Dominic O’Neill and the events committee headed by Thomas Doherty and Benny Hegerty deserve a lot of credit amongst others who work tirelessly for the betterment of St.Mary’s". He said that they also deserve credit for being able to keep so many sponsors connected with the club in these austere times.
However, Hasson would also suggest that the fundraising activity is helped when the teams are performing well.
"When you see teams going well then it makes everything easier."
But it seems, on reflection, that even when they aren’t winning, things still are easy for St Mary’s Rasharkin.
Roll of Honour
1943 Naomh Mhuire Ros Earcain was founded 17th March
1948 Minor Football Championship Winners
1957 Junior Football League Winners
1957 Junior Football Championship Winners
1960 All County Football League Division 2 Winners
1977 All County Football League Division 2 Winners
1978 Intermediate Football Championship Winners
1982 O’Cahan Cup Winners
1989 All County Football League Division 2 Winners
1991 Junior Hurling Championship Winners
1994 Minor Football Championship Winners
1995 All County Football League Division 2 Reserve Winners
1996 All County Football League Division 2 Reserve Winners
1997 Under 21 Football Championship Winners
1997 All County Football League Division 2 Winners
1997 All County Football League Division 2 Reserve Winners
1997 Intermediate Reserve Football Championship Winners
1998 Ladies Football Senior Football Championship Winners
1999 Minor Football Championship Winners
1999 All County Football League Division 2 Winners
2003 Junior Football Championship Winners
2006 All County Hurling League Division 3 Winners
2009 Junior Hurling Championship Winners
2010 Intermediate Football Championship Winners
2010 All County Football League Division 2 Winners
2011 O’Cahan Cup Winners
How they’re doing now
The footballers at the St Mary’s club are currently in third place in division two having won five of their nine matches so far this season. The club PRO Paul Hasson expects the club to finish in one of the top two spots in the division. The hurling team are currently mid table Division Three and making good progress under the stewardship of Antrim and Dunloy hurling great Gregory O’Kane. The Camogiers are also making a good impression this season in Division three, they have been unlucky to have lost out in two Junior Camogie finals in recent times but this season could have a Fairytale ending for the industrious Camogs.
Former/Current players
Paul Doherty is Rasharkin’s one county man, he came on as a sub against Monaghan last weekend. Hasson said "our club is fortunate enough to have members who have represented our club at senior county level right throughout our history. Jamsie McLernon a true gentleman and cornerstone for St.Mary’s was the first member to wear the saffron jersey back in the 50’s followed by John McGarry in the 70’s. John collected a great accolade in 1984 when we was selected on the Antrim Team of the centenary. Mickey McAleese and Frank Hasson were well renowned county men in the late 70’s early 80’s and more recently Ryan McAleese, Owen Quinn, Johnny McAleese and Benny Hasson donned the saffron shirt in the 90’s and 2000’s".
Map of location
St.Mary’s Rasharkin has been providing Gaelic games in the parish of Rasharkin for nearly seventy years, perfectly located in North Antrim and South West Antrim this club boosts a strong Gaelic games ethos and offers Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. Nestled between the villages of Kilrea, Dunloy and Portglenone.
Club Characters
The St Mary’s club are by no means short of recognisable characters within their ranks Hasson said, he told me about a few of the men that have been at the core of much of the club’s development over the past number of years.
"There are a few men that you wouldn’t need to travel too far in Rasharkin to find out about. Michael Hasson is a member of the Rasharkin club who hopes to take on the role of Ulster Council President in the very near future. He has held numerous posts throughout club, South West and County before taking the provincial path. He has been an Antrim delegate to Ulster, Ulster PRO, Treasurer and is currently the provincial Vice President. Danny McLernon, a former club and divisional board chairman similar to Michael has held office with the South West and County board and is currently Antrim Delegate to Ulster Council. This section wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the famous Hardy family name around Rasharkin; Michael Hardy is a man who has served the club with distinction including a stretch of thirteen years as excellent club secretary he is our current chairman, a club referee, juvenile coach and dual player. According to PRO Paul Hasson, the new leader has brought a real feel good factor to the club. Paddy Kelly won the Hughes Insurance Sports Volunteer Awards 2013 for the Coleraine district. According to Hasson, Kelly works tirelessly for the club as Coaching and development officer but his duties far outreach this role. The reliable Under 14 football manger is the current Feilé Peil na nOg club administrator who proudly holds numerous coaching certificates which recently include a Level 3 Diploma course in management.
Rasharkin’s star man is Paul Doherty who is an inspirational character and a true leader, with superb athleticism. He has represented his county from ‘03 to ’08, the pinnacle of which was in 2008 when he and Benny Hasson were part of the Saffron team to win the Tommy Murphy Cup at Croke Park. Paul, whose workrate off the ball is outstanding, puts everything into his performances and gives 100% every time he pulls on the blue and amber hoops; he is back playing with the Saffrons under Frank Dawson.
John McAuley has managed the financial affairs at the South West Antrim Club for 46 years, and stepped down in 2012. John is a former member of the Antrim County Committee, a regular member on sub-committees within the county and a county selector in the 1980’s.
John joined St.Mary’s in 1952 as a youthful U14 footballer, one of four brothers who all gave tremendous service to Rasharkin; all were members of the famous St.Mary’s team in the late fifties / early sixties. John McAuley is truly steeped in the blue and amber of his beloved St.Mary’s, a trustee of the club, although he has taken a well earned back seat in financial affairs his expertise still remains in the executive committee.
Another well-known character that passed through the Rasharkin ranks many moons ago is professional soccer star Chris Baird who won a Minor Football Championship with the club in 1999 before pursuing a career in the Premier League where he played for Fulham FC as well as representing Northern Ireland at International level.
Club colours
Blue and amber
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