St Killian’s GAC held its annual dinner dance at the Canal Court Hotel on Friday night.
Guests were delighted to be joined by Uachtarán Jarlath Burns for a very special 50th anniversary tribute to the Reavey brothers.
2025 was a very busy year for the Whitecross club with much to celebrate from Scór to handball, men, ladies, underage football, social and wellbeing events, and a hugely successful fundraising campaign.
The club’s Scór musicians welcomed guests with traditional music as they arrived, before dinner and the awards ceremony hosted by Claire Shields, Assistant Secretary.
The event was an opportunity for St Killian’s to commemorate three cherished members John Martin, Brian and Anthony Reavey on their 50th anniversary. A special roll of honour was produced of all the men who have received the prestigious Reavey Brothers Memorial Trophy for senior player of the year, since it was first presented by the family in 1976. Photos and keepsakes were on display and memories shared from the past five decades.
Chairman Kieran Shields reflected on the tragic losses in the local area during the 1970s and how important the club and the GAA has been in offering support and a sense of community through difficult times. He acknowledged the very significant and positive contribution that the Reavey family have made to St Killian’s over the years, before Seamus Reavey presented the 2026 award to Callum Toner.
Club President Sean Reavey also paid tribute to John Moley who was presented with the Pat O’Hanlon Hall of Fame Award. Sean recalled how John started his distinguished involvement with GAA as a player for St Killian’s in the 1950s, before taking on many roles throughout the club including chairman and also chairman of both south board and county.
He described John as the glue that held St Killian’s together in the most difficult days of the 1970s, leading the club with decency, integrity and respect, and being instrumental to important achievements including the development of Pairc Naomh Cillian in 1978 and bringing the Atty Hearty Cup home to Whitecross for the first time.
Uachtarán Jarlath Burns recounted his own personal stories of playing football against St Killian’s. He said he had the utmost respect for the club for promoting all aspects of GAA, and offering something for everyone, from football to handball and culture.
The president thanked St Killian’s on behalf of the GAA for nurturing, protecting and supporting the Reavey family, and paid tribute to both the Reaveys and the family of Majella O’Hare for responding to the tragedy they faced in such a positive way.
Addressing all the room he said: “You should be proud of what you have achieved, the best is yet to come because in the GAA, the past builds the present, the present builds the future, and the future, with you people in charge, is so bright for the people of Whitecross.”
some of the u21 intermediate championshield winning team
senior mens management team Shane McSherry Paddy Lavelle Cathal Reavey P McGuinness Darren Shields with Chairman Kieran Shields
Senior ladies manager Raymie ORourke presenting most improved player of the year to Eimear Cooney
Senior Ladies Management Raymond ORourke Captain Anna Ferris John Collins and Julie Murphy with the league shield
Senior ladies league shield winners
Raymie O’Rourke presenting senior ladies player of the year to Caitlin McSherry
P McGuinness Manager presenting U21 player of the year to Oisin Cunningham
Manager P McGuinness presenting the Intermediate Championship Shield to Kian Rigley
Cultural Officer Eimear OHanlon presenting to Roisin Reavey on behalf of grandaughter Eimear County Scor Solo winner
Cultural Officer Eimear OHanlon presenting to County Scor Quiz winning team Ryan Cathal Michael and James
Club secretary Eileen McCann presented the Rosemary Ferris award for young personality of the year to Ruby Murphy
Club President Sean Reavey wife Una and Chairman Kieran Shields with GAA president Jarlath Burns
Club president Sean Reavey presenting Mark Shields for 14 years of service to Armagh
Club Chairman Kieran Shields presenting the Doyle family handball awards to Una and Sean Reavey on their behalf
Chairman Kieran Shields Sean OHanlon with John Moley the Pat OHanlon Hall of Fame recipient
Cathal Reavey from the management team presenting AJ McGuinness with young senior player of the year
50th Reavey Brothers Senior Player of the Year Callum Toner with Seamus Reavey
Awards
· Scór na nÓg quiz team, Armagh County Champions – Cathal McKeown, Ryan McGuinness, Michael McKeown and James McKeown – presented by Cultural Officer Eimear O’Hanlon.
· Scór Sinsear Solo Singing Armagh County Champion Eimear Reavey – presented to her grandmother Roisin Reavey by Cultural Officer Eimear O’Hanlon.
· Special Recognition Award – for achievements in handball – the Doyle family, James and Máighréad and Fíachra Ó Dúill, who this year won County Handballer of the year and all-Ireland senior wallball title adding to his previous titles presented by Chairman Kieran Shields to grandparents Sean and Una Reavey.
· U21 Intermediate Championship Shield – presented to Captain Kian Rigley – by P McGuinness, Manager.
· U21 Intermediate Championship Shield Medals – presented by Mark Shields, U21 Management team.
· U21 Player of the Year Oisin Cunningham, presented by P McGuinness, Manager.
· Senior Ladies captain Anna Ferris received the Division 4 League Shield – presented by Caroline McKeown, Vice Chair.
· Senior Ladies Division 4 League medallists, presented by Caroline McKeown, Vice Chair.
· Senior Ladies Most Improved Player of the Year Eimear Cooney – presented by Raymie O’Rourke.
· Senior Ladies Player of the Year Caitlin McSherry – presented by Raymie O’Rourke, Manager.
· Presentation to outgoing Senior Ladies Management, Raymie O’Rourke, Julie Murphy and John Collins by Chairman Kieran Shields.
· Presentation to outgoing Senior Men’s Management, P McGuinness, Shane McSherry, Cathal Reavey, Darren Shields, Paddy Lavelle, Gavin Malone, Nial Boyle by Chairman Kieran Shields.
· Rosemary Ferris Award for Young Personality of the Year – Ruby Murphy presented by Eileen McCann, Secretary.
· Special recognition to Mark Shields, for his service to Armagh GAA – presented by Sean Reavey, Club President.
· Young Senior Men’s Player of the Year AJ McGuinness – presented by Cathal Reavey, Senior Management Team.
· Reavey Brothers Memorial Trophy for Senior Men’s Player of the Year Callum Toner– presented by Seamus Reavey.
· Pat O’Hanlon Hall of Fame Award – John Moley – presented by Sean O’Hanlon.
