Earlier this year, it was announced that former President of Ireland, Dr. Mary McAleese had been appointed as the independent chairperson of the steering group on the integration of the GAA, the Camogie Association and the LGFA. It’s a pity the group did not get a chance to meet Margaret Francois who almost 50 years ago managed that feat without any to do.Although Margaret only played “a bit” of camogie in school, as a young mother she was determined that her girls, Margaret and Antoinette, and their friends would get the chance to play the game.
Her first involvement with camogie was through the Baile an Chlocháin (Churchtown) club. The minutes of the Junior Camogie Board of early 1972 record Margaret as a delegate of the club and on 5 April she was registered as a referee. On 11 October, Margaret went a step further when she was registered as a player. In the minutes, it was noted that Margaret was married for 17 years.
However, her involvement with Baile an Chlocháin was relatively short and on 12 September 1973 she wrote to the Secretary of the Camogie Board requesting permission to set up Naomh Éanna Camogie club.
Naomh Éanna drew its players from Loreto High School, (now known as Loreto High School, Beaufort) and the Churchtown area with “one or two from Rathfarnham”. But in just over a year, the word “merger” would reappear on the Ballyboden St. Endas agenda.
On 21 January 1975 (the Club History records), an informal meeting took place in Margaret’s home with the GAA club to discuss a merger. Among those present were Peter Molloy (Chairman BBSE), Seán O’Sullivan (Vice Chair, BBSE), Paddy Ring (Secretary BBSE) and Mr. Lowe of Naomh Éanna Camogie Club. No obstacles were raised and the partnership was formally agreed at an Executive Committee meeting of Ballyboden St. Endas on 30 January 1975. Soon after, training began on the Scholarstown Road pitch where Templeroan estate now stands.
Two years later in 1977, Margaret secured access to a camogie pitch in St. Enda’s Park, a facility the club continues to use.
Margaret served on the Club Executive from 1978 to 1980. Her husband John, a native of Nantes, held the position of Club Chair in 1977-78 and Vice Chair 1975-77. Remarkably, their son John Jnr was Club Secretary also in 1975-77. Their daughter Margaret was an active player and helped create a bit of history on 21 October 2006 when she invited the club’s Senior B Camogie team (Mona O’Sullivan, Martin Donohue) to play the Brussels team in the Belgian capital where she worked at that time. It was the first camogie game to be played on the European mainland. Needless to say Margaret Snr. was 100% behind the venture.
In a strange twist of fate, Margaret’s passing comes just weeks after the death of her camogie comrade Maeve O’Sullivan. While Margaret was the first Chair of the Camogie Committee, Maeve was its first Vice Chair. Together they were mentors of the first camogie success in the club’s history – the Junior B Shield winners in 1978 – a team that included their daughters Margaret Francois and Doirín O’Sullivan. Maeve’s husband Seán was Club Secretary from 1969 (foundation year) until 1975 and Club Vice President from 1981 to 1998.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.