GAC freedom motion defeated
Thursday, 12 June 2008
A MOTION to grant the Loughgiel Shamrocks 1983 hurling team the Freedom of the Borough was defeated at a specially called meeting of Ballymoney Borough Council on Monday June 2.
The special meeting was called after a requisition signed by the five Sinn Fein and SDLP Councillors was received by the Mayor , who subsequently called the meeting to 'discuss awarding Loughgiel Shamrocks GAC 1983 team the Freedom of the Borough."
The club won the All Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championships in 1983 a feat that has not occurred before or since.
In proposing the motion Sinn Fein Councillor Anita Cavlan said, "This is the 25th anniversary of the Loughguile Shamrocks victory. It is the only Ulster team to win an All Ireland Final and as I say it the 25 anniversary of this victory. It is a good news story for Loughguile and for Ballymoney council." The motion was seconded by Cllr Daithi McKay.
The Mayor, DUP Cllr John Finlay said, "It was very important to get this right. Other teams and other people have achieved great sporting success and haven't got the Freedom of the Borough." He continued that a few years ago a ladies hockey team had won an all Ireland competition and did not get the freedom. He commented that two successful local bowlers didn't get the freedom either. "We have to be consistent," He said
Cllr Cavlan said "It was 25 years ago, it is not something that has happened again since and did not happen before that. It was a once off."
