* It is with great sadness that we open this week’s notes with the sad news of the passing of Pat Rodgers former Player, Manager, Chairman, Trustee, President of our Club and brother of our current Club President Kevin Rodgers. Pat was Castlewellan through and through and had a life long association with our Club. He was the first man who lived in “The Town” to bring home an All-Ireland medal to the Club when he was part of the Panel when the Down team beat Warwickshire in the Junior Championship Final at Croke Park in 1946. He shared his memories of that time when he recalled how he and his team mates had to billet in the old St Colman’s Hall in Newry for a week before that final where they bedded down on the floor for the night. He spoke of the primitive showering facilities of the time and how they trained before that game. Pat won a Senior Championship Medal with ‘The Ford’ in 1941. The Town had folded in 1938. When we reformed in 1942 Pat was straight back up the road again to join up with his home town again. He had hung up his boots by the time his brothers Jim and Kevin came on the senior scene. His Club loyalty never faltered after his playing days when he joined the club committee and immersing himself in the administration duties and managing club teams. In 1969 he became Club Chairman where along with others set the seeds for the modernisation of our club. He remained in the post until 1973. During that time a lot of the major decisions were taken about the redeveloping of St Malachy’s Park and the opening of the new social club. He held the position of Trustee until the early nineties. He was honoured as our Hall of Fame recipient in 1982. This reflected the measure of the great man and the esteem that the generation of before during and after 1982 held him in. In deed he was given the honour of Club President in 2003. He held this post until 2005. On St Patrick’s Day that year he had the honour of unveiling our Centenary Plaque. Above all that he did for our club he was a family man, a loving husband and father. To his wife Sheila, Son Paul and daughter in-law Caroline we offer you our deepest sympathy and condolences on your loss.  We also offer our sympathies to his brothers Club President Kevin and John on their loss. Ar dheis de go raibh a anam dilis.