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Renowned Soccer player Seamus D'Arcy was Posthumously awarded a Civic Award by Newry and Mourne District Council at their Civic Awards Ceremonyy held in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre.
Some 13 inspirational individuals and organisations from Newry and Mourne were honoured at this year’s prestigious Ceremony.
Seamus D’Arcy also known as Jimmy was a renowned soccer player from Newry.
Born in 1921 he spend much of his early footballing career in the League of Ireland during the years of the Second World War, playing for Limerick and Dundalk, before joining Ballymena United. In February 1948 Jimmy was transferred to English First Division Club Charlton Athletic in a £5,000 deal.
Just before his 30th Birthday Jimmy was transferred to Chelsea in a £10,000 deal where he finished the 1951/52 season as Chelsea’s equal top scorer with 12 goals. He was also awarded his first Ireland cap in March 1952 where he remained for the next four internationals.
In October 1952 Jimmy moved to Second Division Brentford and in the summer of 1953 he was a member of the Irish FA’s touring party to the USA and Canada. However, whilst in America he badly twisted his right ankle from which he never really recovered and was forced to retire from the Game in January 1954.
With his playing days behind him Jimmy re-joined Charlton as Development Association Liaison Officer. He later settled in Suffolk and passed away in February 1985, aged 63. Jimmy has passed into folklore as one of Newry’s soccer legends.
Many local champions were remembered at the Awards which are designed to honour individuals and organisations who have in their own unique way have been wonderful ambassadors for Newry and Mourne.
Speaking at the Awards Ceremony Mayor McArdle said:
“I speak on behalf of the Council and the community when I say we are immensely proud of the remarkable people who are present here tonight.
These awards give us the opportunity to officially thank you for your hard work and commitment. It is a privilege to be able to pay homage to you, both for your achievements and for the wonderful work you do on a voluntary basis.
We want each of you to know that you are the pride of Newry and Mourne and that your achievements do not go unrecognised.
We in Council have an important role to play and I am proud of my Council’s record to date in the provision of cultural and leisure facilities as well as our financial contributions to the community and voluntary sector. This we believe will enhance and enrich the lives of our citizens and will encourage and foster the talents which are evident in our community.
To all of you may I say thank you and well done. On behalf of my Council I wish each and everyone of you great success and I have no doubt you will all continue to be great ambassadors for the Newry and Mourne area.
The full list of the Award Recipients are below.
Ivan Graham
Ivan had given almost 40 years to managing Valley Rangers Football Club before having had to retire as a result of have a very bad accident at work.
Valley Rangers was formed in 1973 when a group of boys came together at the Valley Corner near the Silent Valley. A football team was formed which played in the Newcastle League in 1973. They won the first division and were moved to the Premier League where they have remained every since.
Valley Rangers have over the years won numerous League and Cup Titles and are now renowned as one of the most successful Football Teams in the area.
Ivan has been nominated for this award in recognition of his commitment and service to soccer in the Mournes area.
William Davey
William, as he is affectionately known, has over his lifetime spent much of his free time in and around Glassdrumman AOH Hall. He is very involved with the community who frequent the Hall and has over the years organized the Sunday night dances which have been going for over 70 years.
Willie encourages the participants of the various groups that gather in the AOH Hall to fulfill their ambitions and goals. He supports the dart teams, the line dancers and pool players and is on hand to open and close the premises for them at all times of the day and evening.
He is a past member of Glasdrumman AOH Band, which has made many trips to America. He was an organizer and leader of the Band group and ensured the safety and wellbeing of all who traveled. Willie is still supporting the band and its members and continues to accompany it and help with instruments on outings to sports days, festivals and religious feast days.
Hillary McGuinness
Hillary has been a founder member of St. Joseph’s Flute Band, Ballymartin for 25 years and its Chairman for 15 years. Over that period he has imparted his considerable musical ability and experience to teaching hundreds of young people how to play the flute.
The band attends many cross community festivals and events and has been to America on three occasions where they were very well received.
Hillary has shown great dedication and commitment to the Band and its members. He has made the young people of Ballymartin proud of their band and their community and has ensured that the band will continue well into the future.
Theresa Campbell
Theresa has been the chairperson of the Creggan Community Association since its formation 15 years ago. She has worked tirelessly within the community and has completely transformed the village of Creggan. The Association has completed more than five major projects along with annual litter picking and weeding projects. Theresa has been the driving force behind them all. She is never afraid to get her hands dirty and can often be seen working in the flowerbeds at Creggan
Theresa is a worthy of a Civic Award due to her hard work and commitment to the community. She is a born leader, always gets the best out of people and has inspired the whole village to get involved in the Associations’ projects.
Bernadette Quinn
Bernie has been involved with Warrenpoint Pantomine Club, for around 40 years. This interest was nurtured by her Father and this years sees the Pantomime putting on its 57th Production, thus ensuring that a very valuable element of Warrenpoint’s fabric and history survives.
The Panto involves many young people, initiating in them an interest in the arts and community involvement.
Bernie not only is the main driving force in the Panto Club, taking rehearsals, acting as secretary, organizing child protection, costume making, baking for rehearsals and evening cleaning the Hall, but through her kindness of nature, helps generate a ‘family’ atmosphere in the Club which will ensure its survival for the next 50 years.
Seana Talbot and Patsy Russell
Seana and Patsy are the faces of Destination Newry’s video coverage of local club and inter-county GAA matches. While Destination Newry may be a fledging commercial enterprise, Seana & Patsy are volunteers and are not paid for all of their input into this valuable service.
This duo provides pictures and gleaming humorous and enlightening commentary on local GAA games to an audience of local people who are unable to attend matches due to illness or disability. Matches can also be viewed by ex-pats across the world which makes this a very unique service.
Indeed Seana & Patsy are recognized widely in GAA circles and across the world from New South Wales to New York and China to Canada and now have a following of thousands benefiting from this invaluable service.
Mourne Underwater Search Team
Since it was established in 1999, the Mourne Underwater Search Team (MUST) has provided a voluntary search and recovery service that has helped families in the most tragic of circumstances. It has grown from its original 2 founding members to the current team which consists of 9 commercially trained divers and 6 non-diving support members.
From the outset their key objective has been to provide a service to the community by answering the call of families who are anxiously awaiting the recovery of a missing loved one. Over the years, MUST has assisted in the rescue efforts of the Emergency Services where tragedies have occurred on lakes, canals and on the coast across the six counties and in border areas.
The MUST Team have been nominated for their outstanding dedication and commitment, not only to Newry and Mourne but the wider community as they have brought their expertise anywhere it is required.
Again it must be reiterated that this is an completely voluntary service and that the team risk their lives everytime they are called upon to assist in a search and rescue operation.
Irish Coastguard Helicoper Rescue Crew 116
Although working out of Republic of Ireland, the Irish Coastguard Helicoper Rescue Crew 116 have been involved in countless joint operations with the South Down Coastguard.
Their professionalism and dedication in carrying out what were often very difficult and hazardous sea and mountain rescues has been inspirational.
They have been responsible for saving countless lives on both sides of the Border and the links forged in the course of joint rescues have proven to be invaluable.
Rescue Crew 116 have been nominated to receive a Newry and Mourne Council Civic Award in recognition of their efforts and remarkable contribution to search and rescue in the Newry and Mourne area.
F. J. Charleton, Building Contractors, Kilkeel
10th UK Master Builder of the Year
In 1935 Francis John Charleton Senior started the family building firm of F.J. Charleton. His father James was a master bricklayer and stonemason, and Frank followed his father into the building industry.
Having worked as foreman bricklayer at the construction of the Silent Valley reservoir, Frank set up our business in the Co.Down village of Ballymartin, where the firm is still based today. With a reputation for first class workmanship and honesty in business, the foundations for success were laid, principles that have supported and shaped the firm for four generations.
Since the formation of our business, F.J. Charleton have constructed hundreds of new buildings throughout Northern Ireland and won numerous awards including the quality award from the N. Ireland National House Builders Council.
The Company’s latest achievement is being chosen out of an entry of 500 from right across the UK as ‘The 10th UK Master Builders of the Year’ by the Federation of Master Builders. This was for a house built in Newcastle which was featured in the programme Northern Ireland House of the Year presented by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. The house was known as Scotts on the Rocks and was a truly magnificent piece of architecture and planning.
