Throughout the West of Ireland the Annual Local Sports day was an eagerly awaited event for many communities. Garrafrauns had organised very successful sports days during the late 40’s and the 50’s. While the event lapsed during the 60’s and early 70’s it was resurrected again in 1979. This 1979 sports day took place in a field just south west of the local primary school. As well as a mixture of races for young and old and a selection of popular side shows the highlight of the event was the inter village tug o war for both ladies and men. Such was the enthusiasm for the sport it was agreed that “outside” teams would be invited to the following year’s sports where they would be challenged by the “locals.”  In 1980 the sports were arranged for “Reddingtons” field just across from the old school. This field has had a long history of staging events such as horse racing, 7 a side football and dance carnivals.

At Hollymount Sports

Back; Pat Hession, Christy Varley, (unknown), Tommy Keaveney, Patrick Greaney;

 

Front; Johnny Kielty, Lawrence Ryder, Michael Greene, Christy Reddington

In the final the local tug o' war lads pulled a much vaunted Castlegar team from the outskirts of Galway city. Unfortunately the locals were overcome by the combination of technique and power of the visitors. With their pride severely dented after losing in front of their home supporters they vowed to be ready for all comers the following summer.

On the Rope in Dunmore FestivalThe following spring a new rope was purchased, a barrel of concrete was filled and the hoist erected. The local pump house became the clubhouse and sound of “take the strain” and “pull” echoed through the shrill evening air. All the hard work was paying off and the finely tuned local athletes gained their revenge on the “Castlegars” on home ground in 1983 while becoming the parish kingpins in Dunmore on August Monday.

Connaught Champions

In Ballycastle