BARTLE LANDY
The Louth team that faced Meath in 1973, front l/r: Bartle Landy, Danny Culligan, Danny Nugent, Damien Reid, Benny Gaughran, Terry Lennon, Anthony Hoey. Back: Paddy O’Hare, Leslie Toal, Richie Brennen, Gerry Morgan, Michael Clarke, Gerry Sheridan, Bartle Faulkner, Richie Barry
BARTLE LANDY - A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS Bartle Landy is known as the player who can get a vital goal towards the end of matches. He did this on several occasions both at schools level and at club level. Bartle is the son of Paddy Landy (R.I.P). Paddy was born at Marshallrath, Dunleer, and he married Kathleen Mackin from Corderry, Knockbridge. After a short stay at Dromin, the Landy family moved to Ardee. Bartle’s National school teacher introduced him to football. Bartle has four brothers, John, Pat (remember that famous back-heeled goal for St. Marys against Fechins in 1968), Paul and Peter. His sisters are Colette (McMahon), Catherine (Tormey) and Bernadette (Svender) and Sarah (Brady). When Bartle arrived in Ardee, Brother Adrian was teaching second class. Both Brother Adrian and Brother Vincent helped to develop a love of Hurling and Football. The under 12 team were beaten in Downpatrick D.L.S in the Merville Cup final. De La Salle schools from Ardee, Downpatrick, Ballyfermot, Finglas, Dundalk and Skerries took part. By Sean Ross.
I
n secondary school, De La Salle, Ardee won the senior school Clonard cup in 1970. This was the Leinster final and Bartle scored a last minute goal against St. Aidens C.B.S of Whitehall, Dublin in Kells on February 8th 1970 when Des Ferguson was the referee. Des was a member of 1963 All-Ireland Dublin team and taught in Kells at that time. The whole school marched behind the Ardee band up the town of Ardee afterwards. At 17 Bartle played for the Louth minors who beat Meath in Navan, Dublin then beat them. He played again at 18 but with no luck in the Lenister championship. But the Louth Minors won the North eastern league against counties Armagh, Tyrone, Antrim and Down. At 18, Bartle made his senior club debut against Tallanstown in Knockbridge. St Marys got to the final but were beaten by a good Blues team.
66
He remembers playing minor football for Ardee in 1968, 1969 and 1970. In 1969 Ardee drew with the Blues in the final but the Blues won the replay in Louth Village. Jackie Hanratty and Mickey Rossiter helped the Blues to victory. Ardee minors then got to four finals in a row 1970-73 and they won two of them. Bartle was also on the 1970 St. Marys senior team. The Blues were late (30m minutes late) because of a funeral. St. Marys suffered because of this and when Pat O’Neill hurt his hand, Paul Judge made hay of this with a goal. Another goal followed and Ardee went back to the Deeside very hurt indeed. Again in the 1971 final Cooley beat St. Marys but the Marys won the Cardinal O’Donnell Cup. With all of these defeats, St.Marys put in another effort in 1972 and they won the minor and senior championships. They also