A Celtic weekend to remember in Clonakilty, West Cork

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The Celtic Star

·15 October 2024

A Celtic weekend to remember in Clonakilty, West Cork

A weekend in Clonakilty…

Con and Maura’s Bar, Clonakilty Co Cork Ireland. Photo Con and Maura’s

Myself and six old school pals recently spent a long weekend in the West Cork town of Clonakilty and had the time of our life. There are a few Celtic stories from that weekend that I hope are well worth sharing on The Celtic Star…

3. DENIS NOONAN – who played in goals against Celtic

Con & Maura’s, one of West Corks oldest traditional bars. Photo Con & Maura’s Bar

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We arrived on the Thursday and went wandering along Wolfe Tone Street looking for a bar to watch the Finland v Ireland Nations League game. We found Con and Maura’s (a play on Connemara?) Bar and what a discovery that was! When we went in – all seven of us – we were the only ones in the pub, apart from Carmel, the most friendly and helpful bar worker you could come across. We were happy to stay there, because it had a TV showing the Ireland game, so that was us sorted.

Denis Noonan was in goals for University College Dublin (UCD) for the friendly match against Celtic on 19 November 1969 which Celtic won 10-0. Photo Manus Gallagher

One or two people drifted in to the pub and we had great craic having a chat with them. I got chatting with one of the locals, Denis Noonan, and when he spotted the accents he asked if we are all Celtic men. I told him that we were, absolutely. It was then that he dropped into conversation that he once played in a football game against a Celtic team that included Kenny Dalglish and George Connelly amongst others! That information stopped me in my tracks because I wanted to hear this story.

He recalled that the game was when he attended University College Dublin (UCD) and it took place in Dalymount Park, Dublin in 1971 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of UCD and Celtic won the game 10-0 with Derek being in goals!. Clearly he was very proud of the fact that he played against Celtic Football Club, irrespective of the scoreline.

A quick google search confirmed the details that Denis recalled. The only difference was that the game took place on Wednesday 19 November 1969. When I raised this with Denis he agreed that, yes, the game did take place in 1969. He could remember Dalglish (2) and Macari (4) scoring. When I mentioned that the match reports stated that someone called Foley scored an OG Denis immediately started laughing and recalled that Foley was an eejit and had moved away from the near post and mishit a clearance into his own net away from Denis!

A young Lou Macari (centre) scored 4 goals in Dublin in Celtic 10-0 win. Photo The Celtic Wiki

19 November 1969, 75th Anniversary Match – University College Dublin 0 Celtic 10, Dalymount Park, Dublin. Kick-off 8pm…

CELTIC: Williams, Quinn, Hay, W.Murdoch, Connelly, Cattanach, Wilson, Davidson, Dalglish, Macari, Gorman.

Scorers: Macari (4), Dalglish (2), Foley og, W.Murdoch, Cattanach (2) pic.twitter.com/ZZLlVBmlwi

19 November 1969, 75th Anniversary Match – University College Dublin 0 Celtic 10. Photo via The Celtic Star

Denis pointed out that he was only 5 foot 9 inches tall and he was aware that he was too small to become a top class goalkeeper. Denis ’10 Past’ Noonan had earned a nickname. He claimed his lack of height prevented him from reaching a few and the rest weren’t his fault – and who would argue with this humorous, talented, generous man with devilment in his eyes?

The Dubliners, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, John Sheahan und Jim McCann in the 1970s. Photo Roba Schweigmann, United Archives – IMAGO

A popular singer and percussionist, Denis also plays regularly at the famous DeBarras folk club in the west Cork town of Clonakilty. He counted the legendary Luke Kelly of The Dubliners among his many musical friends and is on first-name terms with troubadours like Andy Irvine of Planxty fame. Originally from the south Dublin suburb of Islandbridge, his repertoire consists of many songs gathered by his childhood near-neighbour, the late Frank Harte, a renowned collector of traditional ballads.

The Irish folk singer and bouzouki-player Andy Irvine in Oberhausen, Germany 2018. IMAGO / Sven Thielmann

At one point in the evening Denis went home and returned to the bar shortly afterwards with two photographs to show to us: a picture of Andy Irvine from years ago and another one of Andy Irvine last week in Clonakilty. Denis was loving the football and music chat.

We pointed out to Denis that he should always be proud of the fact that he played against Celtic Football Cub. He has done something that most of us will never manage to do. Nobody can ever take that away from him. Ever.

Denis Nolan with Manus Gallagher at Con and Maura’s in the West Cork town of Clonakilty. PhotoManus Gallagher

We exchanged contact details and Denis mentioned that he has never been to Scotland . We encouraged him to visit Glasgow and try the Celtic Park Tour. He said that he would definitely think about it.

When we were in the bar again over the weekend, Carmel (the bar maid) made a point of coming over to thank us because Denis was so visibly overjoyed that he could share his Celtic and musical history with us.

Tam in our group had brought some Celtic bits and pieces from Glasgow so we were able to give Denis a Celtic tie pin and Celtic cuff links! To say that he was over the moon would be an understatement.

Finally, Denis treated us to a brilliant version of “On Raglan Road”.

Oh yes, Ireland won 2-1.

A top, top day.

2. JOHN THOMSON always remembered

We were booked on an Irish War of Independence tour conducted by the very knowledgable Tim Crowley. One of our stops was at the cemetery in Rosscarberry, Cork. As we were entering the cemetery an older man and woman were leaving . The woman recognised our Scottish accents, and asked if we were familiar with John Thomson!

We proceeded to talk about John, about how he was only 22 years old, about how he was already Scotland’s goalkeeper, about the fact that an estimated 30,000 mourners travelled from the west of Scotland to Fife to attend the funeral in Fife , mainly by foot.

1931 – John Thomson Goalkeeper for Celtic and Scotland Who died AS A Result of to accidental collision with Rangers player Sam English during to Old Firm match at Ibrox. Photo Imago Color Sports.

We then proceeded to jointly quote the John Thomson song..

I TOOK A TRIP TO PARKHEAD, TO THE DEAR OLD PARADISE AND AS THE PLAYERS CAME OUT, SURE THE TEARS FELL FROM MY EYES FOR A FAMOUS FACE WAS MISSING FROM THE GREEN & WHITE BRIGADE AND THEY TOLD ME JOHNNY THOMSON, HIS LAST GAME HE HAD PLAYED…

And that wee old woman, in Rosscarberry, County Cork, knew every word of that verse.

Incredible.

3. MICK CONROY – a Celtic and Cork legend

We got talking to Aidan, the youngest ever Mayor of Clonakilty, who pointed out to us that he knew ex Celt Mick Conroy, who had also played and managed in Cork.

Celtic’s midfielder Mike Conroy coming out for the Old Firm derby at Celtic Park, photo courtesy of The Celtic Wiki

Given that Mick Conroy had played in the 4-2 game from 21 May 1979, we ran through the game and Aidan and his good lady, Roisin, were stunned at how the game unfolded and the eventual outcome. The next time Aiden sees Mick Conroy he is going to ask to be told about the 4-2 game!

Press cutting on Celtic’s midfielder Mike Conroy, courtesy of The Celtic Wiki

We still had some bits and pieces from Glasgow so we were able to give Roisin a Celtic tartan scarf and Aidan a Celtic credit card holder! Roisin kept repeating “they’ve give us presents, for nothing!”.

Another two Celtic fans!

Manus Gallagher