Celebrations

Victory Celebration Poster

This is the poster which advertised the victory celebration dance for Seamus Mc Cabe after winning the All-Ireland softball Senior Handball Championship in 1966 - The first Ulster man ever to do so.

Victory Celebration Poster

Victory Celebration Poster

This is the poster which advertised the victory celebration dance for Seamus Mc Cabe after winning the All-Ireland softball Senior Handball Championship in 1966 - The first Ulster man ever to do so.

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Northern Standard Top 10 Sports stars (1966)

'The Northern Standard', Co. Monaghan's local paper published a list of its top 10 sports stars for the year 1966. This article appeared on the 6th of January 1967. Mr. Seamus Mc Cabe was listed in first place, a place he truly deserved for his achievement in winning the All-Ireland Senior Softball championship, the first Ulsterman ever to do so.

Northern Standard Top 10 Sports stars (1966)

Northern Standard Top 10 Sports stars (1966)

'The Northern Standard', Co. Monaghan's local paper published a list of its top 10 sports stars for the year 1966. This article appeared on the 6th of January 1967. Mr. Seamus Mc Cabe was listed in first place, a place he truly deserved for his achievement in winning the All-Ireland Senior Softball championship, the first Ulsterman ever to do so.

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Defeat was very bitter, especially with the Double apparently so secure in his grasp, but Monaghan, and Ulster, were still very appreciative of Seamus McCabe's great achievements during 1966.

 

This was proved very definitely on October 27th when they turned out in their hundreds to honour the Clones star at a huge banquet held in the Hibernian Hotel, Clones. Among the guests were the President of the G.A.A., Alf Uasal O'Muiri , who paid glowing tributes to Seamus in a memorable address.


During the festivities, the people of Clones presented Seamus with a very valuable V.H.F. transistor radio as a token of their appreciation. Mr Mick Duffy, Chairman of the Monaghan County Board G.A.A., and many other also joined in the tributes. As I spoke to him on that very happy occasion, Seamus explained to me that he had always felt much happier when in arrears and when the odds were really stacked against him. Looking through his games of 1966, this is clearly brought out – in all his great victories he came from behind to win while in the Final that he lost, he had been way out in front.

 

Time is very much on the fair-haired Clones man's side, however. He is still in his early twenties and that coveted All-Ireland Handball Double cannot possibly elude him much longer.

 

(Extract from 'The Monaghan Gael' 1966 Permission to reproduce kindly granted by Mr. Seamus Mc Cluskey)

Mc Cabe's great year ended on a high when he was awarded 'Sports Star of the Year' by 'The Northern standard' for his achievements in bringing the first ever All-Ireland senior medal to County Monaghan. It was noted as the greatest feat ever accomplished by a Monaghan Sportsman.