Connacht Tribune 21^st October 1966

At a meeting in the Western Hotel, Athenry on Saturday night, Mr. Stephen Jordan handed over the colours of the original Athenry De Wets to Mr. Seán T. Clarke, captain of the new athletic club of the same name.

Athenry De-Wetts County Senior Football Champions 1906. Front Row: Mike Duffy, Leo Mahon. Middle Row: Patrick Kennedy, Dick Murphy, Ned Kennedy, … (Photo: Athenry GAA Club)

Mr. Jordan performed the handing over ceremony on behalf of the old De-Wets, of which he is a surviving member. The other surviving members are: Mr. James Sweeney, Athenry and Mr. Francis Kilkelly (captain) now living in America. The old De-Wets were formed in1901 and named after the very famous Boer War General, De Wet. At their initiation, they expressed the wish that they would be as elusive on the football field as he had been on the battlefield. (He had succeeded in escaping from the British on numerous occasions).

The De Wets became quite famous and  won  no  less than three county senior titles in that decade. As if to show their versatility, eleven members of the original football team formed a hurling team and won the Co. Galway Junior hurling title in 1916. The game was played after the rising when most of the players were released from jails in England and Wales.

When handing over the colours Mr. Jordan expressed the wish that the present generation of athletes would wear the black and yellow jerseys with the same esteem as the old one and that they too would be as successful as the great General De-Wet.

Continuing, he said, it was a great honour for him to be asked to hand over the colours and it was gratifying to see that the youth of today appreciated the respected the achievements of previous generations.

The captain, Mr. Clarke, and the officers of the new club thanked Mr. Jordan.