Fifty finals not out for jim

While the Moore family from Mullingar are well known for their sporting endeavours in Westmeath, one of them celebrated a rare milestone in Croke Park at the recent All Ireland football final between Kerry and Dublin.

Surrounded by family and friends, Jim Moore attended his fiftieth consecutive All Ireland football final, excluding replays. What makes Jim’s 50 not out even more impressive is that since 1988 he has lived in London where he has a successful construction firm.

Jim attended his first final as a seven year old in 1964 along with his brothers Ned and Martin (who has attended 46 finals and only missed out on the half century due to four years in New York) .

The brothers, who were brought to the game by their father Eamonn, had just moved to Mullingar from their native Galway and Jim says that there was great excitement as the Tribesman were up against Kerry.

“We came from Dunmore and there were five or six from Dunmore on the team. Our father brought us onto Hill 16 and I never looked back.”

The Moore boys first three deciders all ended in celebration with the great Galway team of Enda Colleran, John Donnellan and co winning an historic three in a row including two famous victories over the Kingdom.

“Obviously the three in a row was very memorable because we had neighbours playing, but one of the stand out games for me was when Offaly stopped Kerry from getting the five in a row in 1982. God be good to Páidí ” Sé, I shared many a pint with him and he believed that the five in a row will never be achieved,” Jim said.

Jim says that he still gets excited about his trip to Croker every September.

“I meet up with people from London, New York and Ireland in the Gresham Hotel before hand. We also had a do in Con’s at the weekend. Going to the final helps keep us all together.”