Clara childhood inspires Vincent’s personal history

A former Offaly footballer and retired teacher has written a new book about his childhood in Clara.

Vincent Henry's book, 'One Last Bend' features interesting stories about his childhood working with his father in a van which doubled as a travelling shop selling groceries to people across Offaly.

“It was a shop on wheels. We sold all types of groceries, animal foods, coal and briquettes, everything you'd need. We spent six days a week going around Rahan, Ballinamere, Clara, Durrow and Cappincur. A lot of business was through barter in those days. Money was very scarce. Sometimes we would go home with very little money,” said Vincent.

He and his father Peter also sold eggs to the Garda depot in Dublin and the surplus supply was exported.

He said his father was an incredible salesman during those years.

“Sometimes, they could be working in the van till 10/12pm.

“He'd stay out until he could sell something,” he said. Peter also had a big business selling turkeys for about five years. Every Saturday the van was emptied and the crates were taken out and on Sundays Vincent would go to a match with his father, whether it be local or afar. “My father was a real GAA fanatic.”

Speaking about the new book Vincent said: “There are a lot of interesting stories in it all based on true stories. It's a history book. What people will gain from it is the way people lived in the 60s, 70s and 80s.”

The author explained that things changed during the 80s with the increasing use of cars and the introduction of bigger stores killed off small enterprises. On one particular occasion, a local farmer had to bring pigs to the mart but had no way to transport them there so his father Peter put them in his van.

The book will also make reference to some of the more significant sporting achievements of Vincent's life. “Clara was the greatest place to grow up if you liked sport. I spent all my time working or playing football or hurling. Sport was my life and working every Saturday in the van.”

According to Vincent, his mother got fed up of looking at him do nothing but football and decided to send him to school in the Carmelite College in Moate as she thought it would be more academic. Ironically, Vincent said: “Moate was football mad.”

While he was in fifth year in the Moate secondary school, Vincent reached the All-Ireland final but was beaten by a point by St Jarlath's of Tuam.

The talented footballer won the All-Ireland colleges senior football final with Carmelite College in 1976.

“Leaving Cert year was a good year for me. I was fortunate enough to captain the team and score a goal. It was a bit of a fluke of a goal but they all count.”

“Fr Cremin was the catalyst that helped us win the All-Ireland. He was an institution in Moate football.”

Unfortunately, for two Leinster final medals which Vincent holds he didn't get the opportunity to play in the matches due to an injury. “In school I was brought onto the Offaly senior panel. To be in the same dressing room as some of these guys was phenomenal.”

During his career as an Offaly footballer, Vincent won two Leinster senior championship medals and he played in the 1981 All-Ireland football final when his team lost out to Kerry.

The Clara man has also managed many local football club teams. Speaking about his experience managing teams he said: “I loved managing teams but nothing beats playing. I'd rather play on a Z team than manage an A team.”

He also had a spell as manager of the Castledaly football team, leading the club to a Westmeath senior football final appearance in 2004.

He led Moate to win a Feis cup and Erin Rovers to get to their first county final in over 30 years.

“I just enjoyed getting the best out of players,” said Vincent.

The biggest thing he gained from playing football was friends and he is expecting some of them to attend the launch of the book.

Vincent also worked as a primary school teacher for many years at Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada in Tullamore. “It was the only school I taught in. I had no ambitions to work in a Gaelscoil but my children were there, and they had trouble getting teachers. I taught learning support for the last six years of my teaching career. I really enjoyed my time in the Gaelscoil.”

The book will have two launches in Clara GAA Centre on Friday, October 21 at 8pm and in the Millenium Room at the Bridge House, Tullamore on Friday, October 28 at 8pm.