1950's G.A.A Presentation By Jesus and Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone.

List of Clubs in Sligo in 1950's Grange Keash Kilglass Knockalassa Mullinabreena Skreen Sooey St. Nathy's Tourlestrane Tubbercurry Ballisdare Ballymote Bunninadden Coolera Craobh Rua Curry Dromard Drumcliffe Easkey In 1958 Skreen and Dromard joined to become St. Patricks

County Senior Champions Year Club 1950: Tubbercurry 1951: Tubbercurry 1952: Craobh Rua (Calry & St Johns) 1953: Craobh Rua 1954: Craobh Rua 1955: Tubbercurry 1956: Tourlestrane 1957: Tubbercurry 1958: Mullinabreena 1959: Sooey

County Champions 1950 Tubbercurry Senior County champions

Historical Events On May 22nd 1955 Markievicz pitch opened in Co. Sligo. The President of the G.A.A. Seamus Uasal MacFearmann who performed the opening ceremony declared his address: “Thus through the medium of the G.A.A. and this fine new pitch with the name Countess Markievicz become a daily household name in Ireland. May its usage inspire people of Sligo to greater glory and success.”

Historical Events On May 22nd a crowd of 10,000 people turned out to see a hurling challenge match between 1954 All- Ireland Hurling Champions Cork and Galway and a football game between Sligo and Mayo. Markievicz Park hosted many prestigious fixtures including the staging of the All-Ireland minor and junior football championship semi-finals in 1956.

Countess Markievicz Markievicz Park is named in honour of Countess Markievicz who was the first lady to be elected to the Dáil in Europe..

Nace O' Dowd The 50’s witnessed the rise to the prominence of one of the greatest players that county Sligo has ever produced, Nace O’ Dowd. O' Dowd was a native of Mullinabreena but spend his formative years playing with Tubbercurry. O' Dowd went on to play with the county team and Connacht team and was honoured to play twice on the All – Ireland team which played exhibition games against the combined universities. In 1955 O' Dowd played on the Connacht team that lost to Leinster in the final of the Railway Cup.

Nace O' Dowd

Nace O' Dowd Nace O' Dowd pictured with his team at the Connacht Railway Cup Semi Final 1959

Sligo Mens Senior Connacht Results in the 50's Quarter Final: Sligo reached the quarter final stage of the Championship in 1958. Semi Final: Sligo reached the semi final stage of the Championship in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957 and 1959.

Sligo Mens Senior Connacht Results in the 50's Final: In 1954 Sligo reached the Connacht Final against Galway. The match was played in Tuam, with the final score being Sligo 2-10 Galway 3-4 In 1956 Sligo reached the Connacht Final against Galway. The match was played in Sligo, with the final score being Sligo 1-5 Galway 3-12