Marvellous memories of the way they were will be ­revived in leading Fermanagh club ­Devenish, as they celebrate a ­remarkable treble.

For on August 22, 1948, ex-GAA President Dan O’Rourke officially opened St Mary’s Park in Garrison on August 22 before a crowd of 5000.

This is the 75th anniversary of that auspicious opening but it is also 60 years since the club won its first SFC and League double in 1963 when the late Canon Patrick Lonergan had God on his side and the Holy Ghost in his boots as he hit a hat-trick of goals.

But the club is also honouring the team that won the Fermanagh SFC in 1993 – as part of a remarkable treble.

Devenish historian Sean Treacy said: “The origins of this came from us having a very successful Centenary Year in 2017 and we also brought out a club history to mark the occasion.

“It showed us the value of keeping in touch with previous generations and we found it very helpful for the club and the community in general to travel back into the past and celebrate the Devenish successes and failures.”

He added: “It is the 75th ­Anniversary of the opening of our pitch in 1948 and it’s the 60th ­Anniversary of the first ever double-winning team in 1963 and it is the 30th Anniversary of the adult teams of 1993 when we won a ­senior treble.

“We won the SFC Championship, League, Seven’s and we won the Junior League which made it three-in-a-row and it also the 30th Anniversary of the formation of Ladies Football in Fermanagh.”

A huge amount of work has gone into the events on Saturday, but for Treacy, it is a “labour of love.”

“I think it will be great to see Devenish and its people ­remembered so well.

“A past historian has said that if we want to know where we are ­­going, then we need to know where we have come from before we face into the future and we are glad to have so much to celebrate.

“It will be an emotional weekend too as so many of our people have gone to their eternal reward.

“It is something that thousands of GAA clubs all over the land can relate to.

“And it is very important for a community to have a collective memory and of course, it brings people together.”

There is a poignant picture of local GAA legends like John P McCann, Kevin McCann, Eddie John Gonigle, John Doogan, John Francis O’Brien and Jimmy Mulrone who all played at the opening of the pitch in 1948 and who have all sadly passed away.

A Corlea/Devenish selection played North Leitrim and a ­Fermanagh selection played New York.

“John Doogan, Eddie John ­Gonigle, Patsy Rooney Kavin ­McCann, John Francis O’Briee and Jimmy Mulrone played for Corlea/ and John P McCann played for Fermanagh that day.

“We have a photograph of these legends, and it is great to have and what we are doing is delving right into the heart of what the GAA is all about and it is handed down from generation to generation.

“All the events will be held on Saturday evening and the members of the 1963 and 1993 senior and junior teams are invited to the Bilberry in Garrison for a meal around 4pm.

“And then we go to the Gillaroo Hall for an exhibition of memorabilia and a bit about the current development and then Gerard Treacy will take the mic and have a question-and-answer session and it is opening to the public from 6pm. People can meet up and a video of the 1993 winning team will be shown in the Melvin Bar later on that evening.

“And we still have a few survivors from that day in 1948 s Joe, Sean and Pat O’Loughlin are all still alive.

“Sean O’Loughlin has vivid memories of that day.

“Terry O’Loughlin, who played in the 1963 League final, is coming in from Stoke at the weekend.

“Three of the O’Loughlin brothers were playing, in that league final and Joe was a selector.”

He concluded: “I grew up on past Devenish heroes and it will be great to see them again.

“The great PT Treacy and two of his brothers will be there and it will be great to see all those teams together again for the first team as the1963 team would have won five county championships as did the 1993 teams.

“And most of them will be there.

“It has all the hallmarks of being a sentimental, nostalgic and emotional occasion as great battles recalled, matches replayed, referee’s decisions examined and we will also remember all of those who are no longer with us.”