WATCHING FROM THE STANDS
Despite all of John’s high-level sporting success and considerable experience, in his conversation with The Avondhu he constantly qualifies his success with praise for other people, especially his father and Uncle Georgie. He is getting to experience now what they once felt, as he watches his two sons on the field with Ballygiblin.
“It’s hard watching your own fellas’ playing; you’d be in knots!”
Georgie Donegan, of course, was awarded with a Lifetime Achievement award from Mitchelstown Ballygiblin Juvenile GAA last June for his immense contribution to the game for over 50 years.
John has, for almost the first time in his life, got to see a lot more matches recently than ever before.
“To be fair, I’ve taken a sabbatical and this is the second year of it. Last year was great; I got to see every Ballygiblin match and this year is the same. If you’re coaching a team, every weekend is gone and I’m enjoying having them back now!”
“I would like to thank my mother Josie who was as instrumental in my journey as anyone else. To my brothers Tomás, George, and Padraig who you could always count on to let you know when you could do better. And finally to my wife Lisa who herself deserves her own Lifetime Achievement Award for putting up with me!”
Ballynoe man and GAA fanatic, Denis O’Sullivan, made his way to the hallowed grounds of Croke Park last month to celebrate the launch of ‘Grassroots: The Second Half ’.
Volume 2 of the book follows the best-selling ‘GAA Grassroots’ published earlier in the year. It features a host of stories spanning some 150 years of the GAA. Among the tales and images within the new book are several collected by local man Denis O’Sullivan, who is known across the region for his vast collection of GAA memorabilia.
According to Mr O’Sullivan, he made contact with PJ Cunningham, the author, after he had heard that he was seeking images and tales once again for inclusion.
“He came to my house and went through the stuff that I had and chose two pictures for the book, and then I got an invite to the launch. I have a lot of stuff (GAA memorabilia) and he was very impressed with what I had,” Denis said.
No doubt you’re likely to see Denis in some community hall in the not too distant future, displaying his vast collection of GAA memorabilia.