A Word from
the Chairman Michael Breslin (Junior)
Forty Five Years a MemberBy Jim Fay
Home Away from Home Pat McGovern
Looking Even Further Back Joe Finegan
“When It’s Primrose Time in Cavan” Mel Doherty
Happy Recollections of the CYMS Arthur Downey
Recollection of Charlie Leddy Former President
A Grateful Member Sean McManus
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t is always nice to extend a welcome to others to share in a happy occasion.
This year,the CYMS in Cavan is celebrating such an occasion,the Golden Jubilee and I feel that we can be justifiably be proud of our Society’s achievements during those fifty years.
For me ,it is both an honour and a privilege to be Chairman in such an eventful year and I would like to thank all club members for their continued support and dedication.Our present Committee and officers have maintained the traditionally high standard of service in the interests of the Club and I personally am indebted to them for their generous advice,capable guidance and willing co-operation during my term of office.
I would particularly like to remember those members who have passed away.In a sense,they are still with us-in our thoughts in our prayers and in our conversations.A thriving club is a legacy and a measure of the value of their contributions over many years. May our endeavours be blessed with the same success and bring similar benefits.
To the many who have helped the Club, financially and personally, I would like to extend a most sincere thanks. Their help which could so easily be overlooked, is and has always been essential to the survival of the Club.
In conclusion ,I would like to wish the CYMS Cavan every success in this special year which marks not just the passing of one fifty year period but the birth of another.
Michael Breslin
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n this the Golden Jubilee of the CYMS,I pay special tribute to its founder and all who have served it throughout the years.
I remember one day in 1941 while playing handball with my
pal and next door neighbour, Seamus Smith RIP, Gerry Lovett came along and
stopped to talk to us, his ex pupils from the nearby
In the 1940s billiards was the most popular game.Competition was keen among the top players,Tom McCusker,Michael Breslin,Joe Higgins,Joe O Rourke,Packie Leonard,Joe Cullivan and many others.Snooker was played by a smaller group prominent among them Jimmy McCormack,long time Vice President.The members who enjoyed a game of ‘Solo’ were Frank Fitzpatrick,Father Jimmy,Peter Mullen,Jimmy Brennan,and Joe Finegan of Main Street who is still a member of the Club.
We had a good membership in the 1950s.The Sunday night Whist Drives were much appreciated and were supported mainly by middle aged people who made it their weekly night out.The MC was Gerry Lovett who was assisted by the Secretary Eugene Monaghan and Treasurer Mick Fox.
The Club’s big annual event was the Whist Drive held in the Town Hall which always attracted a large crowd (around one hundred tables).The proceeds from this were used to send two Invalids to Lourdes each year.Duringt the 1950s the Club had a very good membership and was running smoothly, helped by the good work of the President Charlie Leddy,Larry Clarke,Anselem Lovett and Paddy O’ Reilly (present long serving member) and this year Chairman of Cavan Urban Council.
During the early sixties the Club were forced to quit these
premises and move to our present abode ‘The Hut’ in
In the late sixties the emergence of Lounge Bars and televised soccer affected the membership badly as a result the number of members actually fell to below twenty and seemed in danger of ‘folding up’.
At this time however Snooker began to get popular on the television and this threw us a much welcome ‘life line’.Paddy O’ Reilly was in touch with the Manager of Alex Higgins (Belfast) with a view to an exhibition game in the ‘Hut’We just didn’t have the facilities to accommodate the crowds although Alex (World Champion at that time) dropped his fee from £100 pounds to £80
With the influence of coloured television,snooker became the premier game.I have fond memories of my Saturday night’s jousts with Paddy Reilly,Oliver Malone and BennyCafferty, who with his brother Andrew were two of our most foremost members.
About 1970 Father Desmond O Dowd became our enthusiastic Chaplain.Among his suggestions was a recommendation to try ‘table tennis’ as an attraction for the members.He arranged facilities in Saint Augustine’s Hall and the club purchased two new tables and membership of the table tennis section was thrown open to boys and girls.At the first meeting we had forty members including Seamus De Faoite (Former Ulster Champion),Brian Tighe ,Vincent O Connor,Sean Walsh and Jimmy Cullen.In that year (1972) we held the first County Cavan Table Tennis Championships which were very successful for a number of years into the late 70s.
In 1974 the Club suffered a great loss on the death of my dear friend Benny Cafferty who devoted much of his spare time to keeping the club in existence during that very lean spell in the 60s.Ned Kinsella’s death too was a cruel blow as he devoted all his energies to the smooth running of the Club and was very highly respected by all of the members of the CYMS.
The most memorable event of 1976 was the purchase of the premises from Lord Farnham who sold it for a very reasonable figure to provide recreation for the youth of the town.We Had not sufficient monies to pay the purchase price and are indebted to the generosity and faith of Father McManus Adm, who guaranteed the Loan.
We would at this stage like to salute the memory of Michael Donohoe our excellent Caretaker at this time(1976) Both himself and myself were workmates in McCarren’s Factory for very many years.
It was an honour to be Chairman in 1980 when we undertook massive redevelopment of the premises which cost £6000 at that time.We rewired the premises ,installed a proper central heating system, new cement floors,together with the painting and redecoration of the entire premises.In addition we refurbished and recovered the two Snooker Tables.
The officers of the 1980 Committee were-Jim Fay (Chairman),Jimmy Mulcahy(Vice Chairman),Paddy O’ Reilly (Treasurer),Pat Kinsella (Secretary),Jerry Higgins (Assistant Treasurer).Committee were Michael Breslin,Tom McCusker,Edward and Bernard Sharkey,Andy Cafferty (RIP) and H L Smith (RIP) both the latter founders and lifetime loyal members of Cavan CYMS. We were fortunate at that time to have a man of Arthur Downey’s (ESB) calibre-his help and advice were just invaluable
To day we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of our foundation and I am proud to be associated with our continued success under the very popular Chairman Michael Breslin (Jnr),our long time Treasurer Paddy O’ Reilly who has the responsibility of keeping the funds under control.Our Secretary Paul Carey is doing an enormous job particularly in the organisation of the Club’s Competitions.The recent Open Competition was a marvellous success attracting 36 teams from Counties Cavan and Monaghan and thanks to Paul the competition was run off in an exemplary manner.
A special word of thanks to the joint Editors of this Golden Jubilee Booklet Kieran Cullivan and Anselem Lovett who is continuing a long Family tradition started by his late Father Gerry .
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rriving in Cavan in 1936 as a shop apprentice in John
Magee’s
We provided our own entertainment playing ‘Bagatelle’ at one pence per game ,snooker and billiards at 3 pence per game.Card games were the highlight of the night-the ‘Solo’ school being the most famous of them all.I had the honour of playing in the ‘Senior School’ with such famous characters as TJ ‘Killer’Connolly,Joe O’Rourke,Frank Fitzpatrick,H L Smith(Highie),Father Jimmy ,Matt McCutcheon,G M Lovett ,Joe Cullivan and many others who I have probably forgotten.Unfortunately none of them are still with us (RIP)
I look back on my many happy nights spent playing with my old friends,remembering the crack and excitement we shared and will always remember the CYMS as my ‘Home away from Home’
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hile I was among the first members of the CYMS in Cvan.,My memories go back to the old Catholic Club which was the predecessor of the CYMS.
While serving my time in Sullivan’s shop beside the Poor Clare’s Convent Club was the place top go to enjoy the free time’Penny Nap’ was the game of our time and the experts were Frank and Bill Fitzpatrick,Joe Cullivan and Peter Shreenan,a Monahan man who worked as a Baker in Pat Mc Donnell’s.Later on we were joined by Joe Higgins, Michael Breeslin Tom McCusker,John Weston and Mick Fox.
Once I had my time served in Sullivans I was a free man,given the key of the door and free to come in at any hour of the night.It meant with five or six others I could cycle to the country dances in Knocknagilla and Lower Lavey,leaving the town on Sunday afternoon after tea and often returning at 4 am on the Monday morning.
It also meant that I could stay late in the Club and I remember one Sunday morning in particular when the late Father John O’ Reilly then a Curate in the Parish on his way to the 6:45 am Mass in the Convent noticed a chink of light coming from the Club.He came in asking “what the devil are you doing here at this hour of the morning”?We told him that we were playing cards and to go on up himself to the Convent and we would be up after him.There was never another word about it.!
I was an active member of the CYMS for the first ten years of its existence playing cards constantly and also paying the odd game of snooker but never getting into the Winner’s Enclosure.The winning wasn’t as important as the fun and the good companionship.
Another event always worth looking forward to was the Sunday Whist Drive during the Winter months. The Club membership in the first few years was twenty or thirty members mostly shop assistants like myself but of the Fitzpatrick brothers, Frank worked on the Railways and his brother Frank worked in the ‘Anglo Celt’. The membership fee was 10 shillings about 60 cent or just over ½ a €.
I’m forty years away from the Club now,but I still look back on the many happy hours I spent there.It was a grand simple life when simple pleasures satisfied.It’s a long time ago and times have surely changed.
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t was primrose time in Cavan
I thought I was in Heaven
As I heard the Cuckoo calling
And the skylark sing his lay
I spied a little mother
As primroses she was gathering
To beautify her altar for the station the next day
Says I
“God save you kindly”
Says she
“God save you stranger come in and have a cup of tea
And make yourself at home
I have been cleaning and a scrubbing
White washing and rubbing
For its primrose time in Cavan
And the childer comin home”
As I walked into that kitchen
Oh wasn’t it bewitchin
A I saw the big turf fire and heard the kettle sing
Said she
“Oh!what would you be takin
Some duck eggs and bacon?
They were only laid this morning and fit for any king”
Says I
“ I don’t feel hungry”
Says she:”I don’t believe you
Sure you must have walked from Kingscourt or maybe from Stradone
Would you like a goat’s milk pancake
Or a piece of two of boxty?
You know the childer loved it
When they were all at home”
She says
“You’re a stranger
And your clothes they look like a Yankee”
Says I
“You’ve guessed it rightly
I am from the good old
Then her Angel face did brighten
And her handshake did tight’n
“Sure it must have been God sent you
Around this road to day
In
I have two more up in Heaven
Last June their Father joined them
And left me all alone
But I’m not a crying
Or from God’s face a flying
For its primrose time in Cavan
And the childers coming home”
“There’s the cradle where we rocked them
There’s the hearth stone they played on
There’s the little altar where I thought them how to pray:
There’s the schoolbooks and the fiddle
And the books with all the riddles
Sure it keeps you from being lonesome
while the childer are away”
Says she
“A stor,you’re crying”
And I was not denying
I never shall forget her
Until my dying day
But to night I’ll pray God Bless her
May Angels lips caress her
For it’s primrose time in Cavan 3,000 miles away.
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y association with the CYMS in Cavan began in the 1960s after I had come to work in the ESB in Cavan town. I had previously been a member of a thriving Saint Mary’s Club in Kilsaran County Louth.There was lots to do in Cavan then with great interest in Gaelic football,dancing etc but I soon became aware of the CYMS.I knew it to be a place where men could gather for a game of snooker,cards or just for a chat about anything and everything that was happening in those great days.
The CYMS was and of course it still is alcohol free and I have no doubt that it contributed to me remaining a Pioneer.
Cavan had an abundance of great characters at that time, and then of course the’Club’its fair share.Brothers Benny and Andy Cafferty ,Mattie Corcoran (Providers),Joe Higgins,Hughie Smith to name but a few.I
I became a Committee member in the early 70s and remained
active until the early 80s.We held several successful draws and raffles to
defray the cost of our recent purchase of the Club in 1976 and the
refurbishment of the premises. I was also very please to be associated with a
number of dances promoted by the Club with the purpose of sending an invalid to
I remember with affection men like Hugh L Smith (Courthouse),Frank Fitzpatrick, Ned Kinsella, Mick Donohoe,the Cafferty Brothers who contributed enormously to the running of the Club.Others like present UDC Chairman Patrick O’ Reilly,J P Malone,Michael Breslin (jnr),Jim Fay who now work tirelessly to keep the flag flying in these difficult times (1986).
I wish the Committee and the Members of Cavan CYMS well in their Golden Jubilee Year and my wish is that more young men and there is a place for women too would become members and help the CYMS to provide a service which is badly needed by another generation of young adults in the town. and area.
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uring my years of involvement with the Club ,the times I
cherish most are those in my very early years in the mid forties. I was a
student in the old Tech,then situated in Farnham
Street and now part of
How many now can remember the then Clubrooms situated on the site of the new Presbytery?.It consisted of two fine Billiard Rooms, a Function Hall and a Ball Alley.The Function Hall was known as the Temperance Hall but I can assure you it was not all TTs using it. In the hall table tennis and badminton were played and there was even a Library. I mentioned Billiards and the Club had the finest team in the Country then.The highlight of the Club’s activities were the Sunday night Whist Drive which were enjoyed by young and old.
I remember too distributing fliers at the old Cathedral gate which read “CYMS Whist Drive Top Score €3,First Lady €1.30,First Gent €1.30-Score Cards 10 Cent each”.
At the end of the 1950s Mr Lovett retired as President and proposed me for the vacancy. I held the post for a couple of terms,I could not have done without the wonderful work and co-operation of my numerous friends.Many of them have now passed to their eternal reward.May they Rest in Peace.My thoughts will always be with them.
It was during my term as President that Father P J Gargan Adm. Was Spiritual Director-an era came to an end when we left our clubrooms at the Presbytery and took up our new abode in the ‘British Legion Hut’
Many incidents and yarns I could relate but space will not allow.I conclude by wishing the Members every success in their Golden Jubilee year and for many more years to come.
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rom my first introduction to the CYMS in Cavan,I recall so many happy memories as well as deep friendships which I will always cherish.
Every time I pass the Club and hear the ‘clink’ of the snooker balls those memories come flooding back to me.
The cold nights when I looked forward to a game of snooker.The warm welcome especially from the Caretakers,be it Frank Fitzpatrick or Ned Kinsella.The stories around the old stove,the nail biting games,let it be singles or doubles.Listening to both Frank and Ned recalling some of the great players and times..Ned loved to talk about the old trains and his days with GNR in both Cavan and Clones.
The courtesy and silence in the room while playing a competition or when the Seniors were involved is something to admire and cherish.
To watch games played by players such as the late Benny Cafferty,Tom McCusker,Jim Fay ,Paddy O’ Reilly was a treat .These memories and much much more will always live with me.
To crown it all was the famous night when I won the Snooker tournament in 1970 beating my good friend and adversary Mickey Breslin in the Final.
Lastly being asked to sing at the Annual Mass in the Clubrooms for deceased members and friends was a great honour which I will always cherish.
Yes the letters “CYMS are very special to me-“ A Grateful Member Sean Mc Manus.