The Mourne folk are proud group of Gael’s, who have toasted many Down successes over the years. Yet, this year their celebrations are closer to home, as the Gaelic footballers of St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel have brought great honour to the towns and town-lands on the foot of the Mourne Mountains.

The capture of three Ulster Colleges titles and the magnificent victory over Portlaoise CBS, in the All-Ireland Senior Colleges ‘B’ final in Navan last May, completed a fantastic year that few could have foreseen. Fittingly, the Kilkeel Co-educational Grammar school, celebrated their achievements in the Balmoral Hotel, in Warrenpoint last Wednesday.

Felix Higgins, Sean Kelly, Houston Mc Veigh, Cathal Murray with Ulster & All Ireland Cups at Saint Louis Celebration Dinner

Such was the occasion, St. Louis went straight to the top and Sean Kelly, President of the GAA, was invited to attend. Delighted to be invited, Sean Kelly quickly praised the Mourne-folk for their dedication and efforts in promoting all aspects of Gaelic culture in the area. The magnitude of the achievements of St. Louis was “beyond comparison, and made even more remarkable giving its youthful age in Gaelic football terms,” he remarked.

Father Murray PP for Upper Mourne presents the BT Ulster Colleges Treanor Cup to John Fitzpatrick.

St. Louis, initially an all-girl Boarding Covent, first opened its doors to boys in 1970. Although Camogie and hurling enjoyed some successes through the efforts of Gerry Sheehan and Rosemary Colgan, football would not take off until the 1990’s, when after relative successes in Ulster Colleges ‘C’ competitions, the school moved up into the ‘B’ competitions. From 2001 to the end of last year, the school has amassed seven Ulster Colleges titles and of course, an All-Ireland. The sterling efforts of Cathal Murray, Peadar McLoughlin, Steven McVeigh and Oliver Sloan was highly praised, as was the support offered by former principal, Dr. Celestine Devlin, and new principal, former vice-principal, Sean Rogers.

The main guests of honour were the members of the McLarnon and All-Ireland winning squad themselves. Down county chairman, Eamon O’Toole, marvelled at this new nursery of future county players available within Down. “ I have no doubt that Down will be back challenging for honours and as I look around this room I am sure that some of these St. Louis players will play their part in future successes for Down”, he claimed.

Father Murray PP for Upper Mourne presented John Fitzpatrick with the first Cup of the evening, the BT Ulster Colleges Treanor Cup.

Down County Board Chairman Eamon O’Toole presents An Riocht and Down Minor star Martin Clarke, with the BT Ulster Colleges Herald Cup and the Newry and Mourne District Council Youth team of the Year award

Eamon O’Toole then presented Down Minor star Martin Clarke, with the BT Ulster Colleges Herald Cup and the Newry and Mourne District Council Youth team of the Year award.

Sean Kelly presented the Captain of St. Louis Senior team, Aidan Flanagan, with both the Bank of Ireland McLarnon and All-Ireland Senior ‘B’ Colleges Cups. At this point Aidan praised the joint management pair, Cathal Murray and Peadar McLoughlin for their patience, endurance, enthusiasm and faith in guiding the team to its successes.

It was a night of mixed emotions for Peadar McLoughlin, as he has since left St. Louis to take up a teaching post in the Abbey Grammar School, in Newry, after seven years at the Kilkeel school. As St. Louis have opted to participate in this year’s McRory Cup competition for the first time in their history, the prospect of a St. Louis v Abbey CBS tie would bring up a turmoil of emotions for the Camlough man.

President of the GAA, Sean Kelly presented the Captain of St. Louis Senior team, Aidan Flanagan (An Riocht), with both the Bank of Ireland McLarnon and All-Ireland Senior ‘B’ Colleges Cups

Principal Sean Rogers highlighted the input from the clubs in this success. “ What we have achieved at St. Louis should be a source of pride for all the clubs involved, these young men have achieved these heights as much for you as our school”, he told the large gathering. All five ‘Mourne’ clubs, An Riocht, Atticall, Ballymartin, Glasdrumman and Longstone provided players for the squad. However, this squad also included players from Warrenpoint, Rostrevor, Castlewellan and Bryansford, to whom Father Murray quipped “We’ll make your honoury Mourne Men from now on”!

Mr. Rogers called on former Principal, Dr. Devlin, to make a presentation to Sean Kelly, to mark his visit to the Mournes. It was a fitting gift that he presented him with beautiful piece of Mourne Granite with the GAA and St. Louis crests marvellously en-scribed on to the surface. Mr. Kelly finished the night posing for many photographs with the players and proud families of the All-Ireland Colleges Champions.