Profile: Jimmy Bergin
Jimmy Bergin was a star of the 1970s and ‘80s and won numerous senior football titles with the “Town”.
Paddy Campion became the club’s first Honorary President in 1943, the year Portlaoise won its second senior hurling title. He scored a vital goal when Laois won its only All-Ireland senior hurling final in 1915. A Rathdowney man, Paddy came to the Town in 1933 and immediately threw in his lot with the local club. He soon became chairman and directed the club through many of the lean years of the 1930s and ‘40s. He was one of those great supporters who reformed Portlaoise GAA in 1949 and from thence it prospered. Paddy was also closely associated with the local CYMS and Boxing Club and was vice-chairman of Laois GAA for a number of years, a position he held at the time of his death in 1957. Two of his sons, Ned and Hugh, played with Portlaoise. Ned was a mentor and delegate for many years and Hugh went on to become chairman of Kildare GAA.
Jimmy Bergin was a star of the 1970s and ‘80s and won numerous senior football titles with the “Town”.
Alfie Lewis was a larger than life figure within Portlaoise GAA. He came to prominence as a minor of exceptional talent and strength and was early promoted to senior hurling and football teams in the 1950s.
Brian Stack was an active member and great supporter of Portlaoise GAA club all his life. He played football and hurling up to and including senior level and was a well-known inter-county referee.