GAA ‘inmates’ do time with Michael

GAA ‘inmates’ do time with Michael

11 November 2015

A NUMBER of local politicians and GAA officials found themselves behind bars last Friday night but they were not found guilty of any impropriety.

Joining former Down and Loughinisland player Michael Madine at the Crumlin Road Gaol were

South Down MLAs Sean Rogers and Chris Hazzard and a number of well known GAA officials.

Michael teaches at St Patrick’s Primary School in Crossmaglen and in an amusing sketch last week forced students and teachers at the Co Armagh school to wear the red and black jerseys of their deadly derby rivals Down.

The move led to the school principal’s arrest for “crimes against football” for which he was sentenced to one night behind bars in the Belfast jail.

Wearing his black and white prison uniform, inmate 94-91-68-61-60 – reflecting the years Down won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship — arrived at the Crumlin Road with 30 other ‘inmates’ taking part in the Down GAA Jailbreak fundraiser. The school principal was assigned to  B wing of the former prison in north Belfast.

As principal of St Patrick’s Primary in Crossmaglen, the former player — who has more than four decades of involvement with Down GAA — has to face the wrath of his rival county on a regular basis.

And it was that battle with his Armagh and Crossmaglen opponents that saw the creation of a hilarious 10-minute sketch showing his crimes, trial and sentencing.

The recording saw Michael inflict his love of Down GAA on his school from the uniform they had to wear, the flags flying outside and the official school song before his ‘arrest’ in front of his screaming school pupils.

Two weeks ago, the head teacher toured his home county and took a penalty at each of the 48 clubs he visited as part of his fundraising initiative, with sponsors paying to guess the total distance he had travelled.

The Loughinisland man was accompanied on his tour of all Down’s GAA clubs by his son Mal (7) who was also his cameraman, taking photographs to prove his father had indeed visited every single ground.

Michael said he was delighted with the amount of money he was able to raise and said he met some great people during his tour of the county. His visit started at Jack Mackin Park, home of Newry Bosco and ended at 2.20am at Clonduff.

Mr Rogers joked many would be delighted if they could lock up their politicians, explaining the event concluded with a banquet at the historic jail.

“I felt it was important to participate in this event not only to raise much-needed funds, but also to acknowledge the contribution the GAA makes to local communities, not just those interested in sport, but the whole community and also to recognise the importance of sport as a great life leveller,” he explained.

The MLA said with recent developments in the Down County management structure and the introduction of a GAA Academy, he looks forward to a more integrated approach between school,  club and county to ensure young GAA sportsmen are developed to their full potential and Down returns to it’s winning ways.

Mr Rogers added: “I want to thank everyone for their generous donations as part of the jailbreak initiative. The weekend will go down as a great experience.”