Champion Sports Volunteer: Gaelic Games Category:

Steeped In Mayfield Passion For Over 50 Years

Historical Club (Cork) celebrated the first year since July 2010 foundation by announcing the establishment of a special award to honour the unsung volunteers of sports clubs and voluntary associations in Cork city and county. 

The Club & Community award was presented at Mayfield GA.A. club, Cork, when lifelong Mayfield gael, Mr. Pat Finn, was the recipient of a special tribute and presentation by Historical Club (Cork).

Over 200 patrons attended a great night of music and song and a big screen presentation took Pat on a trawl of his youth and adult life and his enormous contributions to his beloved Mayfield club were foremost. From the early 1960's when he returned from London exile, Pat enrolled with his native club and still maintains a great committment, keeping a close watch on club activities at all levels.

Now a resident of a residential home in Montenotte, 76 years old Pat has endured many twists and turns with his health in recent years but his passion for gaelic games and its history still flourishes proudly. Down through the years he kept a scrapbook on teams from all four corners of Ireland and he had a special place of honour for Christy Ring, Jimmy Doyle and Nicky Rackard. These hurlers were his idols and footballers such as Seán Purcell, Frank Stockwell, Mick O'Connell and many more giants all had their own slots in his scrapbook.

He won a Munster Dr. harty Cup medal with the famed Cork colleges nursery, North Monastary C.B.S. in 1955 and with the Sarsfields club in Glanmire he won a Cork senior hurling championship medal in 1957 as a panel player. Soon after he left for London for a temporary exile and on return to Mayfield he lined out with the junior hurlers of Mayfield and became one of the clubs greatest ever club ambassadors on and off the field. He represented the club at Cork county board and city division levels for many years and became a household name with the boards. 

He was accorded outstanding acknowledgements by officials of both boards who remarked on his loyalty to all he served for and with as a delegate. The Mayfield club chairman, Mr. A.J. Cronin, also congratulated Pat on receiving due recognition with the Club & Community Award.

A collection of some of Cork's finest singers entertained guests and pride of the night was a marvellous rendition by Mr. Batt Dunlea, winner of the Cork 2012 over 60's Song Contest.

Batt received rapturous applause for his performance whilst renowned Cork duo, Jonty and Pa of Cork G.A.A. fame, paraded Pat into the function room with bag pipes and roaring of the drums to set the tempo for a really special night. Celebrations on Pat's big night stretched to a mighty sing song by the Mayfield choir boys and the milkman was almost out doing his rounds as some weary eyes were looking for the way to go home.

Pat Finn of Mayfield G.A.A. club is now enrolled into our Champion Volunteers category and his club and Community Award is but a mere reflection of a lifetimes association with gaelic games as a true Mayfield G.A.A. volunteer.

On Saturday 28th March 2015 a large gathering of gaels, and family and friends of the late Pat Finn and club colleagues at Mayfield G.A.A. club, assembled at St. Joseph's Church, on Old Youghal Road, Cork, for the requiem mass for Pat.

His funeral to Kilcully Cemmetry later followed and glowing tributes to one of Mayfield's greatest ever servants were in abunbance.

May the green sod of Kilcully rest lightly over your grave.