Coiste CLG Chill Dara and the Mick Sammon Commemoration Committee (MSCC) have developed a Referee Award Scheme for referees at county and club levels in the name of Michael Sammon, who refereed the tragic game that was ended by the Bloody Sunday shootings, 21 November 1920, when 14 people lost their lives and hundreds more were injured.

The awards will honour referees who volunteer to serve the GAA and their communities across County Kildare.

The County Award will acknowledge referees at that level. The Mick Sammon Shield will include the recipient’s name, year of presentation and an image of the Bloody Sunday whistle.It will be presented annually to a referee on a suitable occasion, e.g, on County Final day or Annual Awards Ceremony. Criteria under which the shield will be awarded will be decided by the Referees Assessors and the Referee Coordinator for recommendation to An Coiste Contae. The 48 Club Awards will reward members who take up this important role and help incentivise more members, especially younger members, to become referees and offer their services to their own clubs. It will aim to develop their talents to higher levels where they will be capable of refereeing club games.

The awards will be a very important means of providing new referees for the County Board over time. Criteria under which the shield will be awarded will be decided by the County Referees Administration Committee for recommendation to An Coiste Contae. Currently, there are 63 active referees at county level. Retirements and other commitments mean that new referees are needed every year to ensure that the very extensive games programme is carried out. Mick Sammon’s grandnephew Fergus Sammon from the Ardclough Club, and his family,have donated the Mick Sammon Shield to the County Board and the club awards are supported financially by Coiste CLG Chill Dara and Kildare County Council. The award scheme will be reviewed after a three-or five-year period, as decided by the County Board in conjunction with a representative/s of the Mick Sammon Commemoration Committee.

You can find further information including a historical profile on Mick Sammon who was born in Clane in 1893 by clicking here.