Josie Munnelly - the grandest Mayo footballer of them all

GAA enthusiasts from all over the province gathered at the Imperial Hotel, Castlebar, on Thursday night, February 13, 1958, to pay tribute to Josie Munnelly, one of the greatest exponents of Gaelic games Mayo has ever produced.

So read the introduction to a report in The Connaught Telegraph, dated February 15, 1958.

The report went on: Josie, who recently signified his intention of hanging up his boots after a record playing career of 28 years, was guest of honour at the annual dinner dance of Castlebar Mitchels Club.

To mark the occasion, the club made presentations to himself and Mrs. Mollie Munnelly, and also to the captains of the Mayo teams with whom Josie had won All-Ireland honours - Seamus O’Malley of the 1936 team and Dr. Mick Loftus of the 1957 junior team.

The function, presided over by club chairman Mr. Michael Flanagan, was a memorable one. Over 200 sat down to supper, and so great was the demand for tickets that at least 60 more had to be disappointed.

On display at the function was the Sam Maguire Cup, brought from Louth by Dan O’Neill, former Mayo star, and a member of the 1957 Louth All-Ireland winning team.

The chairman proposed the toast to ‘Eire’, which was duly honoured. He later welcomed all in attendance, particularly the old colleagues of Josie who had won honours with him in the ‘30s.

Proposing the toast to the GAA, Mr. Denis Gallagher, N.T., chairman of the county board, said the association to Mayo people was a second religion.

The organisation had grown from one small unit to a powerful body which had spread not only through every one of the 32 counties, but was extending its influence and ideals across the seas.

The association had a wonderful part to play in the life of the nation, and its members should be proud of its traditions and that they were not led to follow any other organisation.

While we have men like Josie Munnelly to give example to the youth they could be confident that the association would continue to prosper.

Mr. Patrick Mullaney, N.T., Mayo representative on the Central Council, said, in reply to the toast, that what makes the GAA was the club. For some quarter of a century he had been watching the Castlebar club and following its work.

He said: “If I say I think they are one of the foremost clubs in the country I am only stating what I believe to be true and what I have told on many occasions to people outside this country.

“We have been fortunate in Mayo all along in having in our large towns very fine promoters of the GAA. First it was the famed Ballina Stephenites who kept alive the flame when it was very low in the county. Then came Castlebar Mitchels to assist and equal them.

“And I am sure Ballina would not think ill of me if I say that Castlebar even surpassed them in certain things. The work on MacHale Park here will be a standing memorial to the strides they have made.”

Proposing a toast to Josie Munnelly, Mr. Paddy Quinn, T.D., Castlebar, said: “Having played with Josie in the mid ‘30s to the ‘40s and having watched his progress since to his last game with the county when he came back to win an All-Ireland junior medal last year (1957), I feel if any player deserves the distinction to be guest of honour at his own club’s function then that player is Josie Munnelly.

“When you come to think of it, the majority of the team with whom he played last year were not born when Josie had an All-Ireland, National League and Railway Cup medals tucked in his belt and 24 or 25 years afterwards that he was able to hold his own with the best of them, I think that in him Mayo has certainly something to be proud of.

“I still feel that even though Josie has decided to hang up his boots that the sound of a football being hit by some young lad will be as sweet as music to him as it was when he left his native Crossmolina to come here 25 years ago.

“Looking round here tonight and seeing all the famous players and ex-players; Seamus O’Malley, and a lot of his colleagues; Dr. Loftus; Sean Flanagan and the other representatives of that grand team in the ‘50s; John Nallen, the present Mayo leader; Sean Purcell, the ace forward in Ireland today; and that old hard as nails booter from Roscommon, Brendan Lynch - I feel that as much as these people normally like to associate themselves at an annual dinner that they have come here tonight for one reason and one reason only - to pay tribute to the grandest footballer of them all.”

After paying tribute to Josie for his magnificent performances with county and club, Mr. Quinn said: “Don’t think I am trying to paint him as an angel. He was always able to look after himself and a little bit more. In the latter years only for the helping hand he got from his charming partner, Ms. Munnelly, Josie would never be the footballer we cracked him up to be.”

Mr. Sean Flanagan, T.D., said anyone who thought Josie Munnelly was finished playing football should have their head examined. He was sure if there was a street league match in Castlebar next week Josie could not resist playing in it because he loved the game.

One of those present remarked: “Ask his Mrs,” to which Mr. Flanagan replied: “She won’t mind him playing another 20 years.”

Josie Munnelly passed away in June 1996, aged 81 years.