Derry Gowen - Ceannródaí agus Laoch Scór
Bliain mhór í seo do Chumann Lúthchleas Gael agus Scór 50 bliain ar an bhfód. Seo thíos alt, atá curtha in eagar ag Aodán Ó Braonáin, Cathaoirleach Scór. Tá an t-alt seo bunaithe ar óráid a thug Proinsias Ó Murchú ag sochraid bhunaitheoir Scór, Derry Gowen. Beidh sraith ceolchoirmeacha ar siúl i mbliana le comóradh a dhéanamh ar iubhaile Scór agus beidh an chéad cheann acu ar siúl i bPáirc Uí Chaoimh ar an Satharn, 26 Eanáir. Tuilleadh eolais le teacht anseo.
Derry Gowen, Father of Scór
Derry Gowen was born in McDermot Place, Fermoy on February 1st 1933 to John and Alice Gowen. He was educated at the Oliver Plunkett Hill National School and Fermoy Vocational School. He married Breda Harte a native of Rossmore, Clonakilty and had four children, Gráinne, Órla, Diarmuid and Sinead. Derry was a devoted family man.
Derry worked for Magniers of Fermoy and later took over their business. He was a very successful business man specialising as an Estate Agent and Funeral Director. He was honoured by the Fermoy Town Traders when receiving a Community Award for “Best Administrator” in recognition of his outstanding service to the “Business, Community and Sporting Life of the Town”.
Derry played as a Juvenile in the first North Cork Hurling Championship in 1946. He won Minor Hurling and Football North Cork Championships with St. Patrick’s, Fermoy and also won a Junior Hurling Championship with the Club.
He gave dedicated service to his club, attending the first meeting at which the St Patrick’s Minor and Juvenile Club was founded by his father John Gowen (Senior). His brother Fr. Declan Gowen was its first Secretary. Derry served as Secretary of St. Patrick’s from 1950 to 1961 and contributed immensely to the success of Fermoy at Minor level both in North Cork and in the County. He was Chairman when Fermoy won the County Minor Football Title in 1953.
A first-class administrator, he was Secretary and Vice-Chairman of Fermoy Adult Club for a number of years. As Secretary of the club in the early sixties he arranged for the G.A.A. to buy back the lease of part of Fitzgerald Park, which is now part of the Pitch and Putt Course. In fact Derry acted as Secretary of both Senior and Minor Clubs at the one time.
Derry was the founder member of the North Cork Juvenile Board (Avondhu) and was its first Secretary.In 1960, Derry was elected Chairman of the North Cork Divisional Board, a position he was to hold until 1987. He was the youngest ever to hold that office. Success followed almost immediately as Avondhu reached both Senior County Finals that year, winning the Football title. Derry was a Selector on both teams. He was Trainer and Selector of the Avondhu team that won the County Senior Hurling Championship in 1966.In 1983 Derry Gowen was the recipient of an award for outstanding service to the North Cork Board and in the following year he was presented with an Avondhu Merit Award by the Cork Juvenile Board.
Derry gave magnificent service to the County Committee. He served as an Officer of the County Committee for 20 years holding the offices of PRO, Treasurer, Vice Chairman, Chairman and Central Council Delegate. He served a further three years as President.
Derry served as Selector with Cork Minor and Senior Football and Hurling Committees helping to bring home a first Minor Football All-Ireland Championship in 1961 and Senior Football title in 1973. A very active referee in both Hurling and Football he officiated at divisional and County Championship Finals, Munster Colleges Finals, National League and Munster Championship games. He organised County Referees’ Courses for the Co Board in the sixties.
Derry was a marvellous innovator. On Derry’s initiative an Under 21 Football Competition was held on a trial basis in North Cork in 1961. In 1962 he moved a Motion at Munster Convention proposing the inauguration of a Munster Under 21 Competition in Football. In 1963 both Hurling and Football Competitions were held. He was one of the first people to mention the subject of Ladies Football in Cork.
Derry Gowen was the founder of Scór in North Cork in 1969 before it was formally organised nationally in 1970. He moved a motion through Congress to set up a National Competition. It was he too who compiled the first rules for Scór. He was the first and long serving Chairman of the National Committee of Scór at Croke Park, the first Secretary and later Chairman of the Munster Scór and was Cork Co. Scór Secretary for 18years. He was a recipient of awards for Scór from the Munster and All-Ireland Scór Committees, the Waterford Scór Committee and the East Kerry Board. He can be considered the ‘Father Figure’ of Scór.
Derry was responsible for setting up the Cork Co. Board GAA Year Book in 1972. He seconded the motion of Sean McCarthy at the Cork Co. Board that Páirc Uí Chaoimh be built in the old Cork Athletic Grounds. He was Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee in the early ‘80’s when the Páirc Uí Chaoimh Stadium was in serious debt. It was he who proposed the motion at a Co. Board GPC Meeting that the County Senior Football Cup be called the Andy Scannel Cup.
Derry Gowen was an extraordinary gentleman – a man who served the town he loved so well and the Gaelic Athletic Association with distinction. Life was not always easy. The untimely passing of Breda left a great void in Derry’s life and sadly his latter years were not blessed with good health. He left behind him a record of service that would be hard to surpass. And his influence continues to grow as more and more young boys and girls, at home in Ireland and as far away as New York learn to enjoy and preserve their Irish culture through that unique vehicle that Derry created....Scór
