The birth of the community project came in 1968, when local resident, Willie McGivern, recent Captain of Warrenpoint Club, suggested to local plumber and leading Forester, Nicholas McCormack, that some sports facilities should be provided for young people in the locality.

So the Barcroft Youth Club was born, assisted by Pat McKevitt, Harry Thomson, Teresa Maney, Rose Bann and Patsy Downey. The local council provided the Barley Field for sporting purposes.

A vacant Georgian mansion on Doran�s Hill was acquired. But disaster struck in 1975, when it was burned to the ground in an arson attack. The committee had to move its centre of operations to a building in Dominic St.

Six years later, after intensive lobbying by councillors Eugene Markey, Tommy McGrath, Noel Collins and John McEvoy, the present purpose-built centre was officially opened.

It became a hive of activity, including bowls, indoor football, keep-fit classes, luncheon club, pre-school play-group, Parents and Toddlers Group, with tea and craic, with grannies and grand-dads also participating. The centre, in which youth leaders were involved, became a base from which young people set off for hill-climbing, canoeing, swimming and adventuring.

Sport played a major role, especially football, with Con Donegan in charge of the senior squad, Val Matthews the under-18�s, while John Doran was coach of the 10 to 14 age group.

Tommy Jones was the boxing instructor, producing such talent as Young Bannon, Gerry McAllister and the McEvoy brothers. His brother-in-law, Gerry Donaghy had a boxing club in Francis Street. Four community groups would come to the centre for a range of activities under Tommy�s supervision.

There were seven brothers and two sisters in the Jones family, who were born in the building at Patrick Street, now Joe McDonald�s newsagents shop. They were Paddy, Edmund, Johnney, Tommy, Billy, Charlie and Jimmy; also Mrs Maria Marks, Mrs Kitty Donohue, Sally and Stella.

Incidentally, Tommy�s wife, formerly Bridie Donaghy from Boat Street, described how as a child, she had been rescued from her burning home by a neighbour. Rose Ellen Treanor had fought her way up the stairs, grabbed young Bridie, and jumped from an upstairs window with the child in her arms.

Her brother, Gerry, had a shoe-maker�s shop in Francis Street, while a cousin, Geraldine Donaghy has played a central role in the Confederation of Community Groups since its foundation.

Of course, the Confederation owes its existence and outstanding success to pioneers like long-time chairman, Vincent McCormack, who saw his dream come true when European Commissioner, Padraig Flynn, officially opened Ballybot House.

A native of Monaghan Row, Vincent is a plumber by trade, married to the former Maureen Keenan from Ballyholland. He had three brothers, Billy, Noel and Charlie (RIP), as well as two sisters, Mrs Kathleen Maguire and Mrs Phil Duffy (RIP).

Joining the INF, he became Chief Ranger at the age of 21, helping to mastermind the development of the Foresters Social Club, And he presided when the Annual Convention was hosted in Newry by the John Mitchel Branch.

Brother McCormack believes that unemployment has been �one of the root causes of the conflict.� And he pointed out that Barcroft Park had suffered from �one of the highest rates of unemployment in the North.�

No one has done more than the strapping tradesman, and his brother-in-law architect, John Duffy at Derrybeg, to create a vibrant, harmonious and prosperous community, - where even one of Ireland�s top sportsmen can feel at home!

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