Brother Gerry McCreesh has recently celebrated the great milestone of 60 years in the Order of the Knights of St Columbanus. His Golden Anniversary was celebrated with an online tribute and a presentation from his colleagues in Area 2.
Brother Gerry was born in Mullaghbawn on Saturday 2nd April 1932. He was one of four children of Gerard and Mary-Anne with brother Seamus and sisters Una and Aideen. He went to Mullaghbawn National School where he met Brother Peter McCreesh, now a life long friend. Afterwards, he went to the Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School in Newry.
After leaving school he was a sub teacher in the Mullaghbawn area for a few years. He then took up employment in the Provincial Bank in Belfast, and later in 1964 he joined the Ford Motor company where he remained until his retirement in 1997.
It was during this time that he met the young lady that would become his life-long companion, Annette Christy. And in 1958 the two married and began family life.
Soon the children followed and the McCreesh clan grew…
Brother Gerry was invited by a friend to come to a meeting with Council CK130 in Ballymena and joined the Order on Sunday 11th December 1960.
Brother Frank McGrath from Randalstown had a big influence on the new Knight and had a favourite saying…..“Hasten slowly”
Gerry’s path in the Order resulted in a journey that ended up with him sitting on the Supreme Executive as both Chancellor and Registrar.
Primary Offices within the Order
CK130 Council Secretary 1962 – 1964
Deputy Grand Knight CK133 1974 – 1976
Grand Knight CK133 1976 – 1979
Grand Knight CK1 1980 – 1981 (In 1981 CK1 won Council of the Year)
Provincial Offices within the Order
Provincial Warden 1976 – 1978
Provincial Chancellor 1978 – 1981
Deputy Provincial Grand Knight 1981 – 1984
Supreme Offices within the Order
Supreme Registrar 1987 – 1990
Supreme Chancellor 1990 – 1993
Trustee Offices within the Order
Secretary of KSC Trust No. 1 1993 – 1996
Chairman of KSC Trust No. 1 1996 – 2002
Secretary of KSC Trust No. 1 2006 – 2008
Chairman of KSC Trust No. 1 2008 – Present
Offices within the NAC
Vice Chairman 1982 – 1987
Brother Gerry was deeply involved in the purchase of the O’Neill Centre in the 1980’s
Brother Gerry was a member of the Board of Governors of St. Coleman’s Primary School, Lambeg, Co. Antrim from 1986 to 2014 and served as Chairman from 1994 to 2014
For 38 years Brother Gerry organised two golf outings per year for Area 2 Brothers to Rosapenna in Co. Donegal and claims to have attended 76 successive outings without a break. Very important Order business
that of their wedding
Brothers Seamus Monaghan, DPGK Area 2, Gerry, Eamon Duffin, PGK Area2, and Charlie Clarke, LPPGK Area 2 making the presentation to mark the achievement of 60 years in the Order.
