On Friday November 15th 2024, our club members gathered at Wexford Golf Club for our annual Club Celebration Night. This year we took the opportunity to make presentations to 3 of our founding members who gave so much as volunteers to our sports for many years.

Jimmy O’Neill

First up was a presentation to Jimmy O’Neill who retired in 2022. Jimmy was one of the founding members of our club and served in all officers roles on the committee at one stage. He has coached so many juveniles and adults its hard to put a number on the amount of people he has helped. His love of track running showed in his coaching and he saw many athletes compete and win titles right up to National level. A number of his famous relay teams medalled right up through the age brackets with some record breaking performances along the way and it was fitting his final race was the County 4x100m relay which he won in unique style with his 3 sons, a feat unlikely to be rivalled for some time. He loved to keep athletes involved whatever their ability and always sought out a way to help each athlete improve.

Mags Malone

The next presentation was made to another founding Mags Malone who has retired from years of officiating at many levels of competition right up to National level and all the top athletes would know her from the call room and check in area of almost every competition. Always welcoming all athletes with a smile which helped calm many a nervous competitor and always diligently ensured everything ran smoothly and efficiently. Mags was instrumental in the installation of the 200m track in Rosslare Strand along with Rosslare Community Development Association and now the track is enjoyed by many juveniles and adults as they train towards their goals.

Mick McKeon

The third presentation was made to founding member Mick McKeon. He has also retired form officiating Athletics Ireland events where he has been the start official. He served as Wexford County Chairman and also Menapians AC Chairman on a number of occasions.

Mick has coached many athletes who have won county, Leinster and national titles over many decades. He has also coached athletes who have represented Ireland at international competition. Mick has coached many athletes who may not have won medal but he has invested time into each of these athletes to give them good memories of being involved in athletics.

With significant help from Mick (planning, fundraising, grant applications) a tartan track was developed in Rosslare in partnership with Rosslare Community Development Association. This training facility has enabled the club to train athletes all year round at a high level, national senior champion (David Hynes) as well as training young and old athletes in the different athletics events. The facility is also used by other Wexford athletics clubs and sports so was an important benefit to the community.

On a national level during the 1980’s his involvement moved from local to national and he assumed the role of national coaching administrator for Bord Lúthcleas na hÉireann (BLE) (now known as Athletics Ireland). He also served as the PRO for BLE in the late 1980’s. In the 1995 he was elected president of BLE, a role he held for 3 years, until 1998. During this time, he remained active as a coach with his club in Wexford . While being a member of the national coaching committee which was responsible for the administration of coach education in Ireland, drafting detailed coach education material and systems which are in use today. He was also involved extensively in international competition being a member of the Irish management team for numerous athletics competitions from the Olympics to European Leagues.

After his term as President of our National Governing Body he continued to volunteer for 25 years which is a testament to his commitment to the sport.