FR FRANK’S SACK FULL OF SILVER!

These days Fr. Frank Fahey always appears to be in a perpetual hurry. In a hurry to prayers, in a hurry to meetings, in a hurry to supervise some innovative project, in a hurry to serve his flock and the faithful in any way he can. A former Mayo Person of the year, he is widely known and respected for his outstanding community work, his deep spirituality and his tireless leadership qualities on many levels.
But Fr Frank harbours a great secret! This genial Curate has a sackful of silverware after an outstanding football career that he packed into seven eventful and highly successful years.
He played with Ballyhaunis at Juvenile level and in 1951 he won a Mayo Minor Championship. Fr Frank won a Connacht Colleges Junior Championship medal in 1952 and in 1953 with St Jarlath’s College, Tuam, he also won a Connacht Colleges Senior Championship in 1953.
As a Mayo Minor he won Connacht Minor Championship medals in 1953 and 1954 and a deserved All Ireland Championship medal also came his way in 1953.
In 1955/ ’57 he played club football at Senior level with Erin’s Hope, Dublin and the Civil Service club in Dublin. During this period also he donned the Green and Red Jersey of Mayo in challenge games. In 1958 he went to England and thus ended his illustrious football career, Phew!
Rumour has it that in the next year, 2,000, the Ballintubber Senior team management intend to strengthen their squad. The names of many veterans who have been approached to come out of retirement are mentioned daily. Those same mentors could do worse that invite Fr Frank Fahey to make a comeback, this time in the red jersey. Fr Frank would surely be able to roll back the years, have a stern word in the ear of the Almighty regarding miracles, and perhaps bring many major football titles to the Abbeyside he loves so well!
How about it Father Frank?