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Meet Clann Residents – Charles “Freddie” Stewart
Charles “Freddie” Stewart turned ninety in September. In honour of such a significant milestone, we asked Freddie to share a favourite memory with us. Freddie took us back to a very special occasion in 1947. Read his story below.
A lifelong GAA fan, one of Freddie’s fondest memories was listening on the wireless to Cavan beating Kerry at the Polo Grounds in New York in 1947 (the first and only time the All-Ireland final was ever play outside of Ireland). His sister, in her early teens, had gone to work in Belfast and sent home 30 shillings to his father to buy a wireless radio. His father cycled to O’Grady’s in Ballyconnell to buy the wireless. The wireless needed a wet and dry battery, and the aerial was put on a tree outside.
Freddie’s family were among the first families in Drumlane to have a wireless, and all the neighbours gathered around to listen to Mickey O’Hare doing the commentary of the All-Ireland final. They thought they had fallen out of heaven when John Joe O’Reilly, the Cavan Captain, lifted the Sam Maguire that day. It was such an achievement as football in Kerry was like a religion.
It has been 71 years since Cavan last won the All-Ireland, but Freddie has remained a true GAA fan. He has supported his local team, Drumlane, through thick and thin. He is the honorary president of the club. In recent years, Freddie has been unable to attend the matches in person as much as he would like. When the Drumlane Ladies Team won the senior Cavan championship in late September, the ladies ensured Freddie didn’t miss out on the celebrations. Freddie got a lovely visit from some of the team ladies with the Michelle Keating Cup.
Freddie enjoyed the festivities with his grandson Adam, who shares his love of Drumlane.
Thank you so much to Freddie for sharing that special memory with us.