Pat Rooney wins County inaugural 'Hall of Fame'

The first ever Down GAA County Dinner incorporating awards in Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and ladies football took place in the Canal Court Hotel Newry on Friday 28th March attended by more than 400 guests from most football, hurling and camogie clubs in the County.

Castlewellan was represented by the Club Chairman, vice Chairman and Secretary with special guest Pat Rooney who once again brought great honour to our Club winning the inaugural Hall of Fame Award.Conratulations also to Turbo Jennings and Eamon Hardy team members of the Down Junior Hurlers Leinster Shield Winners 2007 who were also honoured at the County Dinner,

Pat Rooney is no stranger to picking up awards throughout his long and distinguished career spanning more than half a century.

In recent years the East Down Committee honoured Pat for his life time service to refereeing in the County and for his long service on the East Down Committee at the East Down Awards dinner on Friday 28th February 2002 In receiving this Award Pat became the fourth Townman to enter the East Down Hall of Fame following in the footsteps of John O’Hare (1986), Dan Rooney (1989), and Johnny OÂ’Neill (1991).

His outstanding contribution to Gaelic games in the County was also recognised by the Down County Committee in 2003 at the Centenary Presentation Dinner held on Friday 31st October 2003 in the Canal Court Hotel Newry when Pat was one of only 4 recipients of a prestigious one-off “Spirit of Down Award” The Spirit of Down awards were presented in ‘recognition of outstanding personal commitment to the Gaelic Athletic Association in Down over a lasting period, and reflecting the faithful contribution of those whose dedication has fostered and enriched the Spirit of Down’.
The awards were presented to;
Hurling David Bel, RIP received by George Bell,
Football; Sean ONeill,
Refereeing; Pat Rooney,
Administration; T P Murphy RIP, received by Mrs Josephine Murphy.

Pat was also honoured by his own St Malachy’s Club as far back has 1989 when he became the 11th Club Member to be inaugurated into the Club’s prestigious Hall of Fame (see Club History Section for profile of Pat Rooney’s GAA career)

In 2007 in his 79th year Pat finally decided to call it a day and retire from administration with East Down and we all wish him well in his retirement.