On 27th July over 100 friends and relatives gathered at Howth Yacht Club to pay tribute to Neville Maguire on reaching his 80th Birthday and for his contribution to sailing in Howth for a large part of these 8 decades.
Vice-Commodore Gerry O'Neill, who organised this celebration, kept it a secret from Neville until he entered the room to the applause of the gathering.
Gerry, on behalf of HYC, commissioned Derry Dillon, Cartoonist, to create a caricature of Neville to mark the occasion. This is now added to the collection of pictures and artworks displayed in the bar & restaurant.
Commodore Frank Hughes, recalled the main milestones of Neville's activities in HYC and his sailing achievements over the years, from when he joined Howth Sailing Club in 1943 at the age of 17 with his sister Sheila, followed later by his brother David and his late sister Romain.
The graphic in the background will be on display in the club and Neville has a B&W replica copy to take home.
Commodore Frank Hughes and Neville Maguire
after the unveiling of Neville's Caricature (in background)
Over the 63 years since then Neville has sailed, cruised and raced just about anything he could get his hands on and he has been very successful as a racing helmsman. He was one of a group of dinghy sailors such as Richard Burrows, Sean Flood and Eddie Kay who in the early days changed boats and classes with bewildering rapidity, hopping between Mermaids, Snipes, Enterprises and Finns.
In the 1950s he competed in Mermaids with his brother David in Clontarf and crewed on Ian Morrison's Vanja at Howth. He won the Helmsman's Championship of Ireland twice, in 1952 and '54.
By the mid - 60s he was racing in the Finn class against the likes of Sean Flood and Richard Burrows.
By the early 70s, he and Ossie Johnson were regularly showing the transom of 'Scampi' to others in the Dragon fleet.
( L->R ) Gerry Owens, Sean Flood, Neville Maguire, Rose Michael, Eddie Kay and Johonny Hooper
( L->R ) (At Back) Joe & Cillian McSweeney
(Front) Susan McSweeney, Jean & Neville Maguire and Sheila Morrison
He then moved on to the Ruffians, with 'Scamp' and later with a rather modified Ruffian by the name of 'Spalpeen' which again was raced with verve and success.
At 50 years of age he competed in the Laser Frostbites where again he was usually around the front end of the fleet!
Neville and the celebration organiser, Vice-Commodore Gerry O'Neill
Harry Byrne and Neville
In the 1980s he bought the Club Shamrock 'Demelza' and so began another chapter in his racing success story featuring wins in the Lambay Races, Club Championships, ISORA Championships, Dun Laoghaire Regattas and Autumn League etc.
The dynasty has continued, with his son Gordon one of the top professional sailors on the international circuit and Neville's grandchildren have now commandeered Demelza to good effect.
Neville on Demelza recently 'showing the ropes' to the younger ones
Sharing in his success and providing such vital support over many years has been his wife Jean and together they instilled their love of sailing on to Gordon, Susan and Lesley and through them to their grandchildren.
Its not often that the clans gather for a look back at yesteryear and a variety of incidents and adventures centred around Neville were recalled - far too many to post here.
It was indeed a most enjoyable occasion and Vice-Commodore Gerry O'Neill was thanked by all for his effort over many months in bringing this about.
