Huge honour for Jackie
WICKLOW and Bray Emmets stalwart Jackie Napier was appointed as Vice-President of Wicklow GAA at Monday night’s convention.
Popular Jackie was proposed by County Chairman Martin Fitzgerald and seconded by Bray Emmets.
‘I would like to propose our Vice-President,’ began Wicklow County Chairman Martin Fitzgerald. ‘We haven’t had a Vice-President since Fr Liam (Dunne) vacated to become President. On behalf of management I would like to propose Jackie Napier.
‘Jackie, first of all, is a GAA man through and through. He is a hurling man through and through, and I’d say a Wicklow man through and through. But, most of all, I’d say he’s a Bray man through and through, and we would like to propose Jackie Napier as vice-President to the Wicklow County Committee,’ he added.
The proposal was seconded by Jackie Napier’s club, Bray Emmets, and Liam McGraynor spoke on behalf of the club.
‘Mr Chairman, on behalf of the Bray Emmets club, we are very happy to second that proposal. We’d also like to thank the management committee and yourself for nominating Jackie for this position. We think it’s relevant this year where in February he was honoured at national level by the President’s Prize, that Wicklow recognise him this year by nominating him as Vice-President.
‘I think anybody who knows Jackie Napier knows the GAA person that he is. He is first and foremost a Wicklow GAA man and he will defend Wicklow wherever he goes.
‘He has also kept GAA going in Bray when it wasn’t fashionable to be going. So, look it, he’s been involved over 60 years. I look forward to many more years of Jackie being involved with Wicklow and with Bray Emmets, and I congratulate him, It’s richly deserved and I thank you again for nominating him.
The man of the moment then took the microphone and ad- dressed the crowd at county buildings.
‘I don’t know what to say, just that I’m deeply honoured with the position, and Fr Liam is my great friend and he’s the Uachtaran and I’ll try to assist him in any way I can with his duties. Thank you very much for the honour.
‘There are other people I’ve known down the years who probably deserve this honour more than I do, but I’m very grateful for the management committee nominating me.
‘It’s an honour to my club, my family and myself and thank you very much indeed,’ he added.