Longford Slashers team

Paul Kelly gets the low-down on Longford Slashers. 

This is how things get done at Gaelic Star. Out of the blue the big boss sends me an email – ‘I was just reading something about a club called Longford Slashers – what a great name! – You’re doing a piece about them for the next edition.’

Simple enough you may think, except I’ve never heard of Longford Slashers. In fact, I don’t think I have ever been to Longford. I may have driven through it a couple of times. All I’ll say is, thank god for the internet.

 Longford Slashers is indeed a wonderful name for a club, but thankfully there is much more to it than an exotic moniker.

However, firstly (and mainly to satisfy the whims of the boss) we will deal with the whole ‘Slasher’ issue.

It’s widely accepted (according to the internet) that the ‘Slasher’ reference relates to a Cavan man, Myles O’Reilly, who died on the Bridge of Finea while defending against the English and Scottish forces under General Monroe on the 5th August 1646.

On August 3rd 1913 a memorial to the memory of Myles O’Reilly was unveiled in the Co Westmeath section of the village of Finea.
The main inscription on the memorial (a Celtic cross) reads as follows: – “The Slasher had with him 100 horse while the enemy was 1,000 strong. They fought them the whole day long till his followers were nearly all slain.

“Finally he was encountered by a gigantic Scotchman who trust the point of his sword through the Slasher’s cheek. The latter closed his jaw on the blade and held it as if in an iron vice while he slew his antagonist cutting him through steel helmet down to his chin with one blow, both falling together. At that moment reinforcements arrived from Granard and the Bridge was saved.” *

There is some historical debate about whether O’Reilly actually died at Finea but his legend has lived on. The term Slasher – ‘man of valour’ – has not always had positive connotations in Longford but in more recent times, the term has been embraced.

Now that the history lesson is over it should be noted that the Longford Slashers club is very much alive and well.

The club was formed in 1954 when two clubs, Longford Wanderers and Whiterock Slashers amalgamated. The club ground, Michael Fay Park, is located on the outskirts of Longford town in an area called Farneyhoogan.

It is much, much more than simply a pitch and clubhouse.

Unusually, the development of the clubhouse and complex has been the responsibility of a company, ‘Longford Slashers Ltd’, for almost 30 years.

Pat Chapman, who fills three roles with the club as secretary, President and company secretary explained the reasoning behind the radical decision to set up a company to manage the club’s facilities.

“When we set out in 1979/80 to develop our club grounds we found that the responsibility on the shoulders of a few people, particularly as we needed loans to do the development, was going to be enormous,” said Pat.

“We took some legal advice and formed a limited company which eased the burden on the individuals involved within the club.

Dermot Brady in action for the Slashers

“At the time it was a revolutionary approach. No-one else had attempted it.

“The company runs the clubhouse and facilities which ensures that there is money for further development and any funds generated can be allocated into the club and teams.”

As a result, Longford Slashers have a modern, up-to-date sporting facility that is used by the entire community.

There are a number of playing surfaces, including an all-weather pitch and floodlighting while the clubhouse contains a bar, function room, meeting rooms, squash courts and several dressing rooms.

The club grounds also host the Backstage Theatre and Centre for the Arts. In 1995, the club and the theatre group came together to build a state-of-the-art facility which has proved to be a great success and is acknowledged as being a great asset to the town.

More recently, in 2005, a gael scoil was built within the club grounds and now 190 pupils attend on a daily basis.

“The theatre kind of epitomizes what we are all about,” added Pat.

“Our club members have always been involved in the sporting, charitable, cultural and political life of the town and this is yet another example of our contribution to the betterment of the town we love so well.

“On the field we aren’t doing so well. We haven’t won a championship in the last decade and we haven’t won a minor title for many years (the club lost County Finals in 2006 and 2008).

“We are struggling football wise but we have plenty of people playing.”

The Slashers have embraced the entire GAA sporting family with hurling, camogie and ladies teams all competing in the club’s blue and white colours.

The underage levels are busy and successful and hopes are high that in the not to distant future, the Slashers might add to their 13 Senior County titles.