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Mary Geaney Mary with Sean McIntyre Mary with former GAA President Liam O'Neill The Jim Geaney Hurling Cup

Mary Geaney, Melbourne via Clare

10th May 2015

I come across some great stories on my travels about Irish folk abroad but this one is a little bit different. 


It is not the fairly common tale nowadays about the vibrancy and enthusiasm of new Irish establishing Gaelic games in places where you would have least expected it. No, this story goes back more than sixty years to the days when leaving Ireland for Australia usually meant no going back. 


Mary Geaney from Clarecastle in County Clare said goodbye to her family and travelled to the land of Oz in 1954 and did not return to Ireland for a full thirty years. 


"Its not like today where you can go home every twelve months" says Mary. "You just did not think about going back, it was a one-way ticket".  


PRESIDENT 


The Clare girl became heavily involved in the GAA scene in Melbourne, helping to raise funds for the marvellous facility that is now Gaelic Park and serving in every capacity including President. The Senior hurling trophy is named after her late husband Jim Geaney. 


All the while, Mary led a busy life raising eight children and tried not to think too much about home where a new sister had been born shortly after Mary had departed for the other side of the world. There was no Facebook or Skype available to them in those days, so the sisters never saw one another. 


THE LATE LATE SHOW 


Some nineteen years later, The Late Late Show on RTE heard about the Geaneys and arranged secretly for her sister to be flown to Australia to meet her. The cameras were set up in her home on the pretence of interviewing Mary about the hotel business. 


"The doorbell went and this girl walked in. I did not have a clue at first, I was stupid. I had seen photos but it took me a while. It was unbelievable, very emotional and really lovely."


After the reunion, Mary finally went back to visit her family in Ireland and now speaks to her sister on the phone every week. She has still only had three trips home in sixty years but speaking to me at the 2014 Australasia Championships in Melbourne, Mary said she has no complaints.


"I have had a great life. I have always loved supporting the GAA and it is wonderful to see the biggest ever Australasia Championships here this week". 


VIDEO PROGRAMME 


Mary will feature on an upcoming video documentary programme from the 2014 Championships, sponsored by ONeills who now have a representative based in Australia (Antoinette Brophy). The programme will show match action and interviews from all codes and competitions, and it will look ahead to the 2015 Championships in Wellington, New Zealand. 


2014 Australasian Championships Report
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