John Lockes Callan GAA

[HISTORY]



JOHN LOCKES - 1911 JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONS

Front row (l to r): Paddy walsh, Dick Finn, Jimmy Corcoran, Bill Fitzgerald.
Second row (l to r): Jim Lavelle, Mick Fitzgerald, Jack Fitzgerald, Ned Roche(capt), Matty Fitzgerald, Mick Buggy, Jack Fitzpatrick
Third row (l to r): Johnny Walsh, Bob Mahoney, Dinny Fitzpatrick, Jimmy Stableton, Paddy Mckenna, Gerry Fogarthy, Jimmy Russell
Back row (l to r); Jim Tobin (trainer), Paddy Kerwick (treasurer), Paddy Cuddihy (Secretary), Michael J.Lynch (chairman), Mick Martin, John Fogarthy

Since the establishment of the GAA in 1984, there was always a number of hurling enthusiasts in Callan who entered teams in the county Championships but apparently did not find there way into the record books. In 1902 a number of local business people got together to form a strong representative section of young men from the town into a new club. I don't imagine many problems were encountered at the christening. As the GAA was composed of a staunch patriotic element, what better banner could the club carry than the name of a John Locke, the callan born fenian poet and author. As the far as the writer can ascertain Club officials in those years included, Con Phelan, Paddy O'Dywer, Paddy Kerwick, Jim Canavan, Tom Frisby, Jim Tobin, Michael Shelly, Paddy Cuddihy and J.J Dunne. Mick Joyce became a member of the committee in 1913 and was probably the best known Callan official both at the club and the County Board level for over half a centuary

John lockes first county title was won in 1911 when the club won Junior honors. I can remember quite a few members of this team when I was a younster, amongst them, Edward Roche, the captain who was a postman. Jack Fitzpatrick held a clerical position with Callan creamery. John walsh had his harness making establishment in new market lane. Paddy walsh of green lane was a timekeeper and gaffer with the county council. Also on the 1911 team were four members of the Fitzgerald family. When in training for an important game the four Fitzes spent most of their Sundays hurling in the fair green. So Much was their dedication that their dinner had to be brought in from Bauntha in a basket so that their training would not be interrupted. Another of the gallant hurlers who brought the first championship to Callan was Jim Lavelle whom I never new but consider him worthy of a mention. They had no pen pictures of players in those days but I understand Jim was small in stature and was handicapped by a short leg. However he was larger in spirit and his grit and determination outweighed his physical disabilities and he was considered a real terror when he gained possession of the ball in the vacinity of the square. Another player whom I remember quite well was Dick Finn who was a carpenter by trade and no doubthis services were often called upon to fashion the camans which were made entirely by hands in those days.

Short Note on John Locke Himself

John locke was born in Minauns, Callan, on July 26 1847. His father was Thomas Lockes, an accountant in the leather firm of Mr. Patrick Cody, and his mother was Mary Ryan, a Tipperary women. At school John was known as The Little Officer because of his black braided cap, but attracted more attention for his ability to the play the game of hurling . John Locke was regarded as the most stylish hurler that Callan Noational Schooh had ever seen.
When in school John used to write verses of poetry on slips of paper and went on to have his first of many poems published in 1863 at the age of 16 years. The most famous of these poems was Dawn on the Irish Coast , written in 1877 and later included in school books by the Irish Christian Brothers.
He is best remembered in Callan for his poem The Calm Avonree . As a teenager John became involved in the Nationalist movement through his poetry and journalism, and became a prominent figure at Nationalist meetings held in this country. During the year 1867 John was arrested and after the formality of a trial was sentenced to six month's jail in Kilkenny. He was later released on bail but he was determined to continue as a member of the I.R.B. Locke then went to Manchester and after that to America and continued to be an active Nationalist.
In 1881 John Locke married Mary Cooney - a native of Kilkenny city - in Villanova College in New York. This ceremoney was performed by Rev.Dr.Joseph Locke O.S.A., brother of John. The partnership was brief and on January 31 1889, John Locke, a man of rare talents, died at the early age of 42 years.

Seamus 0'Brien