A man for all seasons - and positions!

JACKIE NAPIER’S career in administration would be hard matched to be fair.

At the young age of 13, in 1955, the Bray Emmets man was the club’s juvenile secretary and he came in for praise in a Wicklow People report on a juvenile semi-final of that year.

From that early start, Jackie moved on to various roles in Bray Emmets, the North County Board, the Wicklow County Board and onwards to Leinster Council and Central Council.

In the Garden County, Jackie has served as PRO, chairperson and vice chairperson of the hurling board, secretary and committee member.

He has enjoyed roles on a vast array of committees including: Management, discipline, historical, millenium, transfers and regrading, development, county coaching and games, referees, administration, Scór, finance, county team selection, the Hurling Board, all grades of underage.

He has also achieved foundation and level one coaching qualifications.

Jackie has been elected many times to represent his county at the annual GAA Congress and is held in very high esteem right across the country.

The Bray native also holds the distinction of being the Wicklow GAA delegate to congress on the occasion of the elections of GAA President Hugh Byrne and GAA President Jack Boothman, both from Wicklow, and was Wicklow’s delegate on the day that Jimmy Dunne was elcted as a trustee of the GAA.

Jackie also played a huge role in the putting together of the Leather’s Echo - a publication that remains unmatched in this county in terms of historical importance and accuracy.