ANDY STANDS ASIDE
Popular O’Brien has given 30 years to Wicklow GAA
AFTER 30 years of unbroken service, Dunlavin’s Andy O’Brien will play no part in the county management committee in 2018 following his decision to stand aside from any official capacity ahead of Monday night’s County Convention.
The popular O’Brien has played a key role in some of the biggest events to occur within Wicklow over those three decades including the creation of the Centre of Excellence in Ballinakill and the dramatic improvements in the county grounds in Aughrim.
After a spell on the committee of his club Dunlavin, Andy O’Brien was elected as development officer in the mid 1980s on Wicklow County Board, following on from the late Paddy Murphy from Tinahely.
Andy says that his success and achievements over the years are as a result of the great team of people who have worked with him on the county management committee and the club people from all over Wicklow who have supported the various projects and the county teams over the years.
O’Brien was elected Chairman of Wicklow GAA in 2007 after running against Mick Hagan. His sporting memories from that period include the opening up of Croke Park (a move which began as a motion from Wicklow GAA), the passing of Wicklow GAA’s development plan by Croke Park, the appointment of Mick O’Dwyer (which he claims no credit for) and the magical journey the county footballers undertook under the reign of the Waterville maestro.
“I would see that I have been blessed with the team I have had around me,” said Andy O’Brien. “I know how lucky I was and I take great pride in honour in the great people I had around me and in the background.
“One thing we did around that time was that we built up a great relationship with Leinster Council and Croke Park and now we can knock on the door in Croke Park and people know who we are.
“It is time for change now. We need to build on the review (Wicklow GAA Review 2017) and that people sue the review to put a plan in place. It needs the good will of all the clubs. I think the review will be a great help to us,” he added.
One of Andy O’Brien’s fondest memories is of the day both he and the late Peter Keogh set off on a mission to visit every GAA club in Wic klow, and succeeded.
Andy said that there was no logic nor reason to the plan but that anytime you got a chance to spend in the company of Peter Keogh was time very well spent and for that reason alone it is one of the happiest memories of his life.
Andy also wishes to express his thanks to his family at home who have always supported him down through the years.
Andy O’Brien released this letter to the clubs of Wicklow to inform them of his decision. A Chara,
I thank you and your club for your support over the years I also wish your club continued good luck, on and off the field for the coming years.
As most of you club people know at this stage I Indicated earlier this year that I do not intend to seek re- election to the position of Central Council Delegate or indeed for any position on county management committee for the coming year.
I have been directly involved with county management for a period of 30 years within several different roles. As I finish my county management involvement days I wish to thank every club in the county for their support over the years particularly during my term as County Chairman.
Over that period in particular I made some very genuine friends, friends for life, a time when I received the goodwill of all clubs and their members and the offer of support and encouragement was always forthcoming.
I see myself as having been extremely lucky and honoured in some of the duties that fell to me, I think that all who have served on management will concur with this view, whether supporting clubs and their members or that of representing our county.
As with all things in life there comes a time, for me I believe it is now. 2018 will see a newly elected chairperson who will put a newly structured team in place who generally speaking will serve our county for the next five years, a good time for new ideas, new approach while also mindful that as a county we have a lot of positives in place.
To the incoming management committee for 2018 I wish them the best of luck in their endeavours in leading our county, it appears they will be operating within the scope of a report of the recently held review within our county, following agreed proposals from such a document it should be helpful towards achieving our goals.
In concluding my thanks and appreciation to each club and its members I can assure them of any help I am able to give them; any such request will be very welcome.
To all the many people I worked with on numerous committees over the years I extend my sincere thanks.
When we set out to thank people it is important to remember those that have passed from us, those that helped us on our trip, for me it was no different, I saw many very supportive GAA friends pass to their eternal reward, may they rest in peace.
Andy O’Brien