In recent weeks, Matt Aherne has been installed as President of the Passage Hurling and Football Club, where he succeeds Tommy Lester who has completed his two-year term.
It was hardly surprising that Matt got involved in his local club at a young age, as his great-grandfather Ned Cadogan was the first chairman of the club in 1885, and the club was founded in his family home, in which Matt still lives.Also, in the first fifty-five years of the club’s existence, the fields they used were owned by Matts family.
Even though he was not even seven years old, Matt has vivid memories of the opening of Manning Park in 1952. He particularly remembers the Carrigaline Pipe Band leading the Blackrock and Barr’s Senior Hurling teams around the field prior to the opening match.
Seven years later, on St. Valentine’s Day 1959, he wore the Passage colours for the first time when he lined out in a U15s football match against Ardaroistig (Bishopstown).
He subsequently played in all grades for the club up until 1990, when he lined out in goals with the Junior B Hurling team. Even while playing he got involved in various teams, hurling and football, both as a coach and a selector.
In the early 1970s due to the steady growth in the underage activity in the club, it was felt that a separate committee should be set up to oversee the progress of these young players. Matt Aherne became the first chairman of this committee; he fulfilled this role for a number of years.
He says he was honoured to be involved with many of the players who subsequently backboned the great Passage football team who won county titles, in 1982 (Junior Football) 1983 (Intermediate Football) and lost narrowly to a star-studded Barrs in the senior semi-final in 1984.
In the late 1960 and early 70s, Matt acted as Passage delegate to the city division board, where he was accompanied by the late Hugh Geary. He then took an interest in the maintenance of Manning Park, a role he fulfilled for fifteen years, after which he was succeeded by Ned Harrington, who carried out this duty for further twenty years.
In 2006, Matt, ably assisted by Sean Geary and Derry Doody, penned the 120-year history of his beloved club. It was very pleasing for all concerned when the finished book won the McNamee award in Croke Park for the best history book of the year, against twenty-five other entrants.
For the past ten years, Matt has acted as a hurling delegate for the Passage club at the Cork County Board.
Matt is pictured here with his granddaughter, members of the executive committee and chairperson John O’ Connor.
