Half a century of dedication
PAT ENGLISH HONOURED
Anglesborough man Pat English has had his many years of dedication and enthusiasm for the GAA honoured and recognised with a prestigious GAA President’s Award.
The Galtee Gaels clubman, who has been a player, officer and supporter with his club over many years, was credited with the Munster award for his half-century of hard work.
Pat started playing 59 years ago with the U12s and hasn’t stopped his involvement since. Growing up with the shop at Annaslinga Cross, Pat remembers the work that went into getting the news, in an era before mobile phones.
“I was very young, and at the crossroads lads would be waiting for lifts. You’d be getting the news of the match before it was played, and then waiting for it afterwards.”
The tyres of Pat’s bike were well worn down as a youth, as he cycled to Ballylanders to play when there was no hurling team at home to play for, and relied on a telephone through a switchboard to get news of fixtures - and even that came to a halt for three months in 1979.
“We had a telephone strike and a postal strike in 1979, so we’d have to cycle to Matt O’Callaghan’s place - he was secretary of the board - to get the fixtures. Later, when I was secretary, I’d be writing postcards to everyone to keep them updated!”
Pat joined the club before it was Galtee Gaels. He joined Galtee Rovers, later to become Galtee United, then Gaels. Throughout the years, he has been not just a player, but heavily involved too in the administration side of things, and recently attended his 43rd consecutive Limerick GAA and South Limerick GAA Conventions.
He’s been Galtee Gaels’ South GAA delegate for 43 years, club secretary for 12 years, vice-chairman for three and chairman for 20 years, as well as the club’s county board delegate, and Irish Officer! Pat’s been in various committees, including the Hearings Committee - one he particularly enjoyed: “I had a good knowledge of the rulebook!” His latest role is to represent the Limerick clubs at the Annual GAA Congress to be held later this month.
Pat thanked his friends, family, and the wider community for helping him through the years, and particularly his late mother, for manning the phone and taking messages when he was younger.
“I’d like to thank all the people in the club, who’ve helped me all over the years. My wife Marian and my family, my sister Theresa and her family, my late mother, and the whole community.”
Galtee Gaels held a presentation in honour of the Anglesboro man following prior notice of the award and the presentation was marked with a call from Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy.
Galtee Gaels chairman, Thomas O’Dwyer congratulated Pat on behalf of the club.
“Everyone in the club was delighted to learn the news that Patrick English was going to be honoured with an Gradaim an Uachtaráin 2022, the GAA President’s Award. Like all clubs in the GAA our club is made up of many dedicated volunteers, and it is a hugely proud moment for the club, county and moreover, Patsy and the English family to get this national recognition.”
“Due to the restrictions the usual banquet could not be held, but we felt as a club we could not let this moment pass, so a presentation was organised which gave an opportunity to everyone in the club to mark the occasion and congratulate Patsy.”
“Patsy, on behalf of everyone at Galtee Gaels GAA Club, I want extend my congratulations.”
The plaudits didn’t end there, as former Tipperary football manager, Seamus McCarthy from Kinsale, recognised Pat’s “wonderful achievement.”
“The total commitment to club and county for well over a half a century makes Patsy a worthy recipient of the prestigious President’s Award. Congratulations, and I wish you continued success!”
GAA DIE-HARD
One-time Army colleague Michael Fenton joined in with congratulations for Mr English, remarking on the awards’ airing on TG4 last Friday night.
“Saw you on TG4 last night Pat - well done! And I bet your family and neighbours and friends far and wide are really proud of you. Did you ever think back in 1966, when we both joined the Army Apprentice School as young lads serving our apprenticeships, that awards were to come?”
Lifelong friend, Mitchelstown’s Conor O’Brien congratulated Pat not only for his commitment to the GAA, but for his construction skills too, and former chairman of Tipperary GAA Hearings Committee and former Army apprentice colleague, Dick Egan, said the award was “certainly deserved after a lifetime of service to the GAA.”
Michael Horgan of Horgan’s Delicatessen Supplies joined in the acknowledgement of Pat and his tremendous work through the years, both in the GAA and further afield.
“I am delighted that Pat has received the GAA President’s Award, as this has been a fitting award for the many years he has spent supporting and promoting GAA throughout the communities of Kilbehenny, Anglesborough, and throughout the county of Limerick. He is a GAA die-hard and an inspirational person, who has made an outstanding contribution towards GAA.
“By association I have known Pat for many years, he has completed a lot of work for us throughout this time, I have found him to be a remarkable, honest and honourable character whose dedication to GAA and the community is undoubted.”
The announcement of the President’s Awards was made last Thursday. The awards recognises the “cross-section of people who have shared the common theme of making an inspirational impact on their code and also their club and community.”