Bord na Móna - Source Issue 11 - (Page 25)
Parade of competitors at the Turf Development Board’s Annual Sports
in St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, on 29 July, 1945.
T
HERITAGE
CORNER
AN EXTRACT FROM AN SLEÁN, AUGUST 1, 1946, BY
WILLIAM REILLY, LULLYMORE CAMP
Nua. Bord na Móna is completely blameless with
regard to this tardiness, but I am afraid that the
same cannot be said of yours truly. Heavens!
When I reflect that this could easily have been my
fifth gala day in Droichead Nua, I feel like kicking
myself well and truly.
“B
“Until I sat in the Depot – in company with the
other forty odd Stewards awaiting instructions –
I did not have even the faintest idea of the
amazing, almost unbelievable system of
organisation which ensures the smooth, faultless
running of the Bord na Móna Sports.
Mr. Stapleton has – I merely state a well-known
fact – that infinite capacity for taking pains and
the devotion to detail that always makes for
success in any venture.
“Everything was planned down to the last tiny,
most minute detail. Every possible contingency
was provided for in so far as it was humanly
ord na Móna and myself had
one thing in common on July
21st, 1946 – we both enjoyed
our first Sports day in Droichead
possible to do so. Even the weather was
mentioned, but the preparations were of such a
colossal scale that even postponement at that
eleventh hour was absolutely out of the question.
Mr. Stapleton stressed the fact that it was
necessary to make allowance for the human
element: the unknown quantity, the unexpected,
for which indeed, we should do well to prepare for
always, even in our own lives.
“The rain was a very saddening sight, especially to
those of us who knew the enormous amount of
labour, worry and energy which had been
extended for this one afternoon’s sport. But, ‘the
sports must go on’ was everybody’s motto, and go
on it did despite the ungrateful elements which so
energetically and so vainly tried to dampen our
spirits.
“Mr. Stapleton and Mr. McCarthy, the Judges, and
the dynamic Starter, Mr. Hartigan, were here, there
and everywhere on the field, throughout the
sometimes intense downpour, inspiring everyone
by their example and amazing unfailing
cheerfulness.”
PROFILE
MARATHON
MAN TOM
here can’t be many men in Ireland
who have run 119 marathons –
including all of the Dublin City
marathons. Tom Morgan (76) from
Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath, is
one of them. Running since he was 17, both
cross-country and on roads, he has
concentrated on marathons since he was 42.
Now retired from Bord na Móna, he worked
in Derrygreenagh for 31 years, drawing milled
peat to the power station. Marathons have
taken him all over the world, as far afield as
Australia, Scotland, Italy, Germany, and the US.
“I did five marathons last year. Running in
Mullingar along the canal is my favourite route
and the Berlin marathon was the best one ever:
running alongside Checkpoint Charlie and the
Berlin Wall was an experience.”
Running has been a lifeline for Tom through
tough times, including the death of his first wife,
Ellen, in 1990; the death of his son, Sean, in
1995; and the death of his second wife, Eileen,
in 1996. He lost another son, aged just 12
months, in 1961. “You forget everything when
you’re running; you’re just focused on what
you’re doing. You’re on top of the world after it.
It has lifted me the whole time.”
He has great memories of his time in
Derrygreenagh. “I loved every minute of it; there
was great craic with the lads on shift work.” In
his home nearby, he helped to rear his sons and
daughters, including Margaret and Eileen, who
both worked in Bord na Móna for a spell.
With such a varied life, it’s no surprise he has
written a book detailing the hardships of
growing up in the Forties, working in England,
and all that running. Watch this space!
INFORMATION
S
To find out more about the sports
and social life in the company
in years past, why not visit our
website at www.heartland.ie
www.bordnamona.ie Source | 25
HERITAGE
http://www.heartland.ie
http://www.bordnamona.ie
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Bord na Móna - Source Issue 11
Bord na Móna - Source Issue 11
Contents
News From
Crisis Management
Midland Power
Clean Energy Future
The Need for Change
The Gathering
Game On
Developments In
Heritage Corner
A Nationwide Spotlight
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