Second edition of ‘1957' launched in Drogheda as Louth players unveil fundraiser

Irish Independent

6 hours ago

Prof. Cunningham, who grew up in Ballymakenny just outside Drogheda, is a distinguished figure in Irish medicine, having served as Consultant in Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine at Beaumont Hospital and Professor of Anaesthesia at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland before retiring as Medical Director of Galway Clinic.
Now living on the shores of Lough Corrib, he has never lost his deep affection for his native town and county. That connection inspired him to chronicle the year 1957, a landmark year in Louth and Irish sport and culture. It was the year the Wee County lifted the All-Ireland, Baltray's Philomena Garvey shone on the golfing stage, and Drogheda's Tony 'Socks' Byrne fought his way to international acclaim.
Originally published several years ago, the book quickly sold out its first edition. The fresh launch comes at a poignant moment, with the current Louth senior football team bridging a 68-year gap earlier this summer by winning the Leinster Championship.
Current players Conor Grimes and Tommy Durnin attended the event and received a rousing ovation when introduced by compere Gavin Duffy. Both spoke of the squad's joy at their Leinster triumph and their determination to build on that success. They also used the occasion to announce the launch of the Players Fund, a new initiative led by members of the squad to directly support the development and elite performance of the Louth senior football team.
They acknowledged the financial pressures facing Louth GAA as the new stadium project progresses, and stressed that the fund will be player-driven, aimed at ensuring resources are available to sustain the team's upward momentum.
The evening was rich in nostalgia, with footage shown of the 1957 All-Ireland final and of 'Socks' Byrne famously defeating Olympic gold medallist Dick McTaggart at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Welcoming the large crowd, Prof. Cunningham expressed his delight at the response his 'literary ramblings,' as he called them, had received from readers. He said it was a joy to see Louth football back on the rise and to have members of the current team present at the launch. He also reflected on the research behind the book, acknowledging those who had shared their memories and paying tribute to the many sporting heroes of 1957 who have since passed away.
The event drew dignitaries and guests from across the sporting, medical and social worlds, along with many of Prof. Cunningham's friends. For those present, it was an evening of celebration – both of a year that still resonates deeply in local memory, and of the promise of a bright new chapter for Louth football.