MARCUS CAVAROLI
POPULAR Oliver Plunkett’s chairman Tomàs O hEochaidh got an unusual Christmas present a few weeks ago - an email confirmation that he was to be this year’s Hall of Fame recipient at the Sport Star Awards.
By the time the annual bash came around last Saturday night Tomàs had an army of family and friends around him to help celebrate the honour and his sense of pride was palpable as he stepped up to collect the award and have a chat with Michael Lyster.
The MC hadn’t sufficient time to read out the long-serving administrator’s impressive list of achievements, but to summarise he has given decades of service to the Louth GAA County Board in various positions - including Minor Board Chairperson and Development Officer - assisted with the establishment of the development squads, forged the initial relationship between DkIT and the County Board and was instrumental in founding Cuchulainn Gaels to provide football in the Omeath area.
He has had a long and fruitful association with Oliver Plunkett’s dating back to the 1980s, helping to strengthen the club’s involvement in the community, restarting ladies football and producing a five-year development plan. One of his proudest moments came last November when GAA President John Horan flew in specially for the opening of the club’s new clubhouse facilities, after which Louth and Meath faced each other in a friendly match.
Like many administrators, Tomàs has rolled up his sleeves to get things done over the years and isn’t inclined to leave pressing matters unattended for too long.
‘If something has to be done, then somebody has to do it,’ he put it succinctly, talking to Michael Lyster on the stage.
‘So rather than waiting on someone else to do it, isn’t it much better to give the leadership and take it on board?
‘Obviously you’re depending on other people to come in and help you and support you, but if spearheading is needed and something has to be done, wouldn’t it be best to do it yourself?
‘It’s not just in sport alone, but so many other social aspects as well - things that need attention - so rather than waiting for other people or complaining about the fact that it needs to be done, I would much prefer to do it.’
Not many people know this, but Tomàs is actually a native of County Meath, just across the border, and it was there that his lifelong association with the GAA began.
Taking up the story, he said: ‘I didn’t play that much football, except underage, and I was requested to become secretary of the Shallon club many years ago, and as a result of that I became very much involved in Gaelic football.
‘Eventually Shallon and Star of the Sea amalgamated to form St Colmcille’s and that was the beginning of my career in administration as well as everything else.
‘In the early 80s I became involved with Oliver Plunkett’s and also got elected onto the County Board and served as Development Officer on three different occasions.
‘It was my privilege to serve the County Board and the county in general, and also the Oliver Plunkett’s, and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank my wife and family as they’ve been a great support to me all these years.’