This page is currently under construction. June 2008
Clogherhead Credit Union Limited
40th Anniversary
1968 - 2008
40th Anniversary
1968 - 2008
Officers
Chairman: Noel Phillips, Vice Chairman: Peter McCann, Treasurer: Edel Reilly, Secretary: Sandra Kelleher
Directors: Tracey Pentony, Sheila Murphy, Liam Reynolds, Eithne Campbell, Elva Donnelly, Fiona Rath, Dympna Keenan
Credit Committee: Peter McCann, Tracey Pentony, Elva Donnelly, Edward Caffrey, Noel Phillips
Supervisors: Marie barron, Aileen Briggs, Brendan Hoey
************************************************************************************
1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968 1968
Officers
Chairman: A.F. Collier, Vice Chairman: T.J.O'Reilly, Treasurer: John Reilly, Secretary: John Reilly
Directors: Patrick Lynch, Val Reilly, Patrick McCann, Rev. Fr. Noel O'Donnell C.C., Joseph Meegan, James McNeill
Credit Committee: Patrick Lynch, Patrick Hadgins, Peter McGrane, Michael Devine, Patrick Treacy
Supervisors: Alec McClean, Peter Kearney, Peter Conry
************************************************************************************
Clogherhead Credit Union
A Poem by Noel Moore
In village town and country place
There are new helps for every case,
There's schools and chapels, sports and all
There's walks and talks and Bingo Halls.
But Credit Unions reign supreme
The likes of which will not be seen,
With loans, deposits, extra cash,
It gives advice which is not rash.
In Clogher we have such a 'gem'
From Labour, foresight, it did stem,
For forty years in strength it grows
Amiss its story not to know.
Without offending I'll be terse
And try to show in simple verse,
Of people who gave precious time
Some have since crossed the mortal line.
There was Andy Collier farmer tall,
Not slow to answer to the call,
Whose lands provided work for many,
A household name to rank with any.
John Reilly too from Big Strand came,
Unstinting time he did the same,
Gave us his best a 'true blue' too,
Did Trojan work to all who knew.
What can I say of Paddy Lynch
Vociferous when in a 'clinch',
When talk and deeds so much did matter,
For Pat be sure he did the latter.
Tom Reilly too, from out the Head,
A 'gentleman' 'twas always said,
He too was kind in many ways
These two their work will always stay.
The Harbour Master Paddy too,
Gave unbound thanks which is his due,
A solid man that one would say,
An ambassador in many ways.
To shop we went a victualler to meet,
A kindly man and yet discreet,
Val knew the 'stories' of the day,
What was disclosed it never strayed.
O’Donnell Park it has that name,
Called after one who sought no fame,
A pastor and a friend to all,
Was always there for every call.
At Murrays Cross there is Pat McCann,
The ‘Union’ ship he did command,
A quiet man the ‘giving’ kind,
The hours he spent he did not mind.
There are more besides that is the case,
Not eulogized in simple verse,
The weekly chore they did performe
To us who thought it was the ‘norm’.
The Phillips family did its share.
Their time they gave with love and care,
And many rogue he brought to heel,
Director also Jim McNeill.
In Gaelic matters or in the ‘Hall’,
Pete Conroy always gave it all.
And Paddy too from sandy Row,
With gentle ways you all should know,
Joe from the Glen and Mick Devine
And Pete McGrane not far behind.
The Maistir Alec’s input too,
Not small his work to all who knew,
Sean Lynch did well until the ‘call’,
To serve in Heavens ‘Union’ Hall,
Ger Murphy too was like the rest,
At peace with God forever blest.
‘Big John’ from Millstreet Co. Cork,
From work or deeds he did not balk,
To Credit Union he gave time,
His stories yarns they were sublime,
And Kelly, Kearney were of the race,
To make the ‘Head’ a better place.
What can I say of Ladies fair,
To single out I would not dare,
The mighty work that each performed,
With grace, panache they did adorn,
Abundant praise it is their right,
Give them a ‘’cheer’’ with all your might.
Lets take a break to re-iterate,
And all the facts assimilate,
A thousand thanks on these we shower,
The work they did for many an hour.
WE have today what they did found,
The ‘corner-stone’ is safe and sound,
The CreditUnion Thrives and thrives.
With folk like these it will survive.
************************************************************************************
Chairman’s Message
Dear Member,
Clogherhead Credit Union is celebrating its 40th Anniversary and in this time it has come a long way since its formation led by a band of dedicated people who steered it over the years to where it is today.
Peter Conry writing for the 25th Anniversary publication mentioned some of the men involved in the early years and in particular Fr. Noel O’Donnell who was the driving force in setting up Clogherhead Credit Union. From assets of just a few hundred pounds in the early stages they now stand in excess of five million euro. The Credit Union with its modern offices and an up to date computer system offers a better service to the members. This is mainly due to the dedicated work of the men and women who volunteer their time for the benefit of the community.
In the words of our first Chairman A.F. Collier and I quote, ‘It was worthwhile when a widow with a young family stopped me in Drogheda one day and told me what a godsend the Credit Union was for her and I realized that there were many more like her’ unquote.
Although time has moved on the relevance of the Credit Union is still as important today and I trust that it will continue to serve the community to the same high standard as it has in the past.
Noel Philips
Chairman
April 2008
*************************************************************************************
A Message from Fr. Clayton Lea
Clogherhead Credit Union
40th Anniversary 1968- 2008
As a young man like many others of my age and background my earliest involvement with a financial institute was with a Credit Union from which I secured a loan to buy my first car- A Fiat 500-which sadly had a short ownership (but that is another story!). The Credit Union offered then as now new possibilities for people of very modest means to achieve their ambitions. It also provided a friendly and community based service that the larger institutions still struggle, unsuccessfully for the most part, to emulate. I’m delighted to congratulate the Clogherhead Credit Union on serving its members for forty years and helping to realize so many ambitions for ordinary members of the community. May it continue its great work long into the future and receive the support it so richly deserves.
Fr. Paul Clayton-Lea
P.P. Clogherhead
April 2008
*************************************************************************************
A Message from Fr. Murtagh
It is good top write words of appreciation on this the 40th Anniversary of the foundation of Clogherhead Credit Union and to all those who gave their time and service to our community. We can only guess at the difference that service has given to individuals and families in our parish. We must also show our thanks to all those who kneed it. It is heartening to see young people taking up the challenge now the Credit Union movement has stood the people of Ireland in good stead over the past 50 years. It is to be hoped it will do so for many years to come.
There may be difficult times ahead. The financial outlook seems to be stormy. We have built a great service but it seems to have run out of fuel on the high seas. Fortunately we have provided sturdy and safe lifeboats in the form of Credit Unions. Small has become safe. People are beginning to realize that they may have to depend on their own communities for their well being.
Looking at the booklet published on the25th anniversary and especially the photographs, one can be saddened to see so many gone from us. We are thankful to them for the good they did for their parish. Times have changed, and we are living in a very materialistic world. Yet what those founder members started still thrives. It should be an encouragement to our generation to continue. We fret over the plight of those suffering in the third world. A few years ago a delegation from Gambia visited our Credit Union to learn about same and brought their knowledge back with them. We may not know what the full results were but we can be sure that they made good use of their experience. This knowledge would not have resulted in the purchase of guns I’m sure.
Credit Union is a movement based on Christian principals. It has brought great contentment to many in our own land and by example to many in dire need in the global village in which we all live. Long may it continue to do so.
FR. William Murtagh
P.E., AP.
April 2008
*************************************************************************************
Fr. Noel O’Donnell C.C
1964-1970
1964-1970
He came amongst us unheard and unsung-a quiet, holy and caring man. He left us without fuss six years later, to the consternation and grief of the people of Clogherhead Parish.
Who was this man-none than Rev. Noel O’Donnell who came to us as a curate in 1964 from the parish of Kildress. Fr. Noel was a man who was very much aware of his priestly calling and who was always ready to extend a helping hand to those who needed either spiritual or temporal relief.
Fr. Noel was born in the little village of Maghery in Co. Armagh on the shores of Lough Neagh. He was educated in St. Patrick’s College, Armagh and St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he was ordained on 21st June, 1953 for the Diocese of Armagh. Typical of the man, he volunteered to serve with the Kilteegan Fathers in Nigeria from 1953 to 1958. Indifferent health forced him to return to Ireland and the Diocese of Armagh. He served as assistant curate in Clonoe 1958/59, Kilreshil 1959/60, Kildress 1960/64 and in 1964 he was appointed curate to the parish of Clogherhead where he quickly endeared himself to one and all.
He immediately involved himself in the workings of the parish. His experience of running bingo in Kildress was brought to play and very soon he had a session going in Clogherhead. The Credit Union movement was beginning to take root in Ireland and branches had already been started in the neighbouring parishes of Togher, Monasterboice and Termonfeckin. Fr. Noel quickly evaluated the advantages of this new movement and set about a study group. He contacted the Munitir na Tire who set the wheels in motion. A special meeting of the study group tyook place in Callystown National School on Sunday 29th April, 1968, and Clogherhead Credit Union was on its way.
Fr. Noel was a simple man who enjoyed a chat and a bit of banter. I vividly recall the Monday nights when we met in his house to count the weekly envelope collection. A constant visitor on those occasions was the late Fr. Grimes, P.P. of Togher. He liked to think that his parish was doing better than Clogher, but we always managed to add a hundred or two, to keep the job right.
Bingo in the Ashling was his delight and he attended every session. In fact, it was at one such session, on 6th December 1970, that he suffered a heart attack and died in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital that evening. His sudden death caused deep sorrow in the parish and in the neighbouring parishes where he was a firm favourite with the clergy and people.
There wasn’t a dry eye in St. Michael’s church as we carried his coffin for the long journey to his home village of Maghery. He had expressed a wish to be buried there. His grave is at the gable end of the little village church, looking out on the wild and stormy waters of Lough Neagh to await the judgement call. May he forever rest in peace.
P.C.
*************************************************************************************
Callystown National School Parents Council
-
Credit Union
