14 December 2005 GAA President launches Cormac McAnallen programme Share this Article 0 0 0 Shares! 0 Shares! PRESS RELEASE Wednesday 14 December 2005 GAA President launches Cormac McAnallen programme and latest legends series GAA President mingled with football and hurling stars past and present as he launched a new television programme on the late Cormac McAnallen, Tyrone footballer and the new season of the popular Laochra Gael series at the GAA Museum in Croke Park, Dublin. The new series, the fifth to date, celebrates some of the greatest names in Gaelic games of the past fifty years. Each of the 10 programmes blends archive footage, personal reminiscence and an assessment from team-mates, rivals, media commentators and family members. The other Gaelic footballers profiled in the new series are Mattie McDonagh (Galway), Joe Kernan (Armagh), Dinny Allen (Cork dual player) and Willie Joe Padden (Mayo). Five star hurlers are also honoured in programmes – Donie NealonH (Tipperary), Joe Hennessy (Kilkenny) Tomás Mulcahy (Cork), Liam Dunne (Wexford) and Davy Fitzgerald (Clare). (A full list of programme titles, profiles and transmission dates is enclosed). Speaking at the launching of Cormac programme and the new Laochra Gael series, the GAA President paid tribute to the McAnallen family and to their great dignity in the face of a devastating bereavement. He also was fulsome in his praise of TG4’s commitment to and ongoing coverage of all aspects of Gaelic games. “The channel has proven itself a true supporter of our national games,” he said, “and has brought a new dimension by offering round national television coverage and by the inclusion of competitions that would not otherwise be covered.” TG4 Ceannasaí, Pól Ó Gallchóir said the channel took great pride in its match coverage but that series like Laochra Gael also played an important part in TG4 Gaelic games coverage in refreshing the memory of those who had seen these great stars in action and in introducing a new generation to the hurling and football masters of a bygone age. “We are delighted with the new series and are giving the Cormac McAnallen programme pride of place in our Christmas Day 2005 schedule – the most prestigious day of the entire television calendar”. The new Laochra Gael season will begin its regular run on TG4 Wednesdays from January 11th (first showing on Wednesday nights with a repeat showing after the movie on Fridays). The series is produced by Nemeton, the independent production company from Ring in the Waterford Gaeltacht which has produced much of TG4’s acclaimed sports coverage. Media Contact: Rónán Ó Coisdealbha, Spórt TG4 087-2472841 Pictures available from Sportsfile Photography Tel: 01-4547400 Laochra Gael – 2006 (Full list of programmes) 25/12/2005 Cormac McAnallen – Tyrone Footballer On the 2nd of March 2005 the news of Cormac McAnallen’s death spread throughout the country and brought the GAA community to a standstill. It was hard to believe the news considering the Eglish man had reached the pinnacle of his chosen sport, winning a Senior All Ireland Football title with Tyrone only six months earlier and had taken over the captaincy of the team. Very rarely has the death of a young person touched a nation so much. The underage success of the Eglish man is phenomenal having captained the minor Tyrone side to the All Ireland in 1998 and following that up with back to back U21 titles again as captain in 2000 and 2001. With Queens he won a Sigerson in 2000 and in 2002 he won the Dublin Football Championship with UCD. He played for Ireland against the Australians and National League medals came in 2002 and ’03 before he landed the ultimate prize of Sam Maguire. Cormac filled a much troubled position for Tyrone in that team as the full back position had been exposed earlier that year, but Cormac wore the number three jersey in the latter stages of the championship and was awarded an Allstar in that position later that year. His versatility, ability, leadership qualities and total dedication was what set him apart from other players. Contributors to the programme include: Bridget and Brendán Mc Anallen, Dónal Mc Anallen, Mickey Harte, Mark Harte, Peter Canavan, Fr. Gerard Mc Aleer, Seán Ó Ceallaigh, Kieran Mc Geeney, Enda Mc Nulty, Conal Ó Máirtín, Maighréad Uí Mháirtín and Dr. Gareth Loughrey. (This programme will be repeated on TG4 on 28th December and again on 15 February 2006) 11/1/2006 Joe Hennessey – Kilkenny Hurler Joe Hennessey will always be remembered as one of Kilkenny hurling’s greatest servants. Even though he wasn’t ever the biggest man on the team his skill and versatility allowed him to fill many roles and positions for both club and county on the field of play and also explains why he couldperform at the highest level for so long. Winning All Ireland medals came to him immediately in the Cats jersey with a minor title in 1973, two U21 titles in 1975 and 1977. In the senior jersey he won three All Irelands, 1979, ’82 and ’83, four National League medals in 1976, ’82, ’83 and ’86. With his club James Stephens he won two All Ireland Club medals in 1976 and 1982. Joe was awarded 5 Allstars in three different positions, right half back in 1978, midfield in 1979, right half back in 1983 and 1984 and as right full back in 1987. People interviewed in the programme include: Joe Hennessey, Tommy O’Brien, Brian Waldron, Brian Cody, Matt Ruth, Joe Connolly, Pat Fleury. 18/1/2006 Dinny Allen – Cork Footballer and Hurler Dinny Allen of Cork has a great CV which proves his natural skill and versatility as a genuine sportsman. An All Ireland senior football medal from 1989 when he was captain of the team, a Munster senior hurling medal from 1975 and an FAI Cup medal with Cork Hibernians in 1973. In fact Cork are quite lucky in that he remained in Ireland to play in the GAA as Brian Clough wanted him to join Nottingham Forest. However it was his involvement in soccer that was frowned upon by the GAA officialdom that cost him an All Ireland football medal in 1973. It was unfortunate for Dinny that his best playing days coincided with the era of the great Kerry team, but he did not go unnoticed winning an Allstar award in 1980 as centre forward. But for all that Dinny Allen won with Cork his achievements with Nemo Rangers, one of the most successful clubs ever, will go down in history having won three All Ireland football medals. He now spends a huge amount of time in the club as a volunteer, selector and trainer of teams. Contributors to this programme include: Dinny Allen, Billy Morgan, Páidí Ó Sé, John Allen, Michéal Ó Sé, John Creedon, Jimmy Barry Murphy. 25/1/2006 Donie Nealon – Tipperary Hurler Donie Nealon of Burgess/Youghalarra played on the great Tipperary side of the 1960’s and won every major honour in the game. He played in eight All Ireland finals winning five of them in 1958, ’61, ’62, ’64 and ’65. He was chosen as Hurler of the Year in the 1962 and was an ever present figure on the Munster Railway Cup side during those years. His medal haul also includes a Fitzgibbon and a Dublin Senior Hurling Championship with UCD, six National League medals and four Railway Cup medals. Since his retirement from play Donie contribution to the GAA has been huge as an accomplished referee, selector to the Tipperary All Ireland winning teams of 1971, ’89 and ’91 and Secretary of the Munster Council from 1977 until 2004. People interviewed in the programme include: Donie Nealon, Mackey McKenna, Babs Keating, Bobby Ryan, Fr. Séamus Gardiner. 1/2/2006 Mattie McDonagh – Galway Footballer The late Mattie Mc Donagh is the only Connacht man to of won 4 All Ireland football medals. When he was only 19 years of age in 1956 the young Ballygar man played in midfield against Cork with the great ‘Terrible Twins’ (Purcell and Stockwell) to win his first All Ireland. His next role was that of centre forward after the retirement of Seán Purcell, a position he held during the famous ‘Three in a Row’ of All Ireland titles that Galway won from 1964 to 1966. He had progressed from being the baby on the team of ’59 to being the father of the ‘Three in a row’ team. in 1966 he was honoured as Footballer of the Year, he won a Railway Cup medal in 1958 and was renowned for his strength and tireless work rate, not so much the scorer but a great provider who made scoring opportunities for those around him. When Galway football was in a bit of a crisis at the beginning of the eighties he was appointed manager and led the team to an important National League title in 1981and later to an All Ireland final in 1983 against Dublin. Another unique fact about Mattie is that he played minor football for Galway but also played minor hurling for Roscommon in the same year. Sadly Mattie passed away in April 2005. Contributors to this programme include Joe Young, Johnny Hughes, Pateen Donnellan, Bosco McDermott, Tom Long, Martin Newell, Cóilín McDonagh, Séamus McHugh 8/2/2006 Tomás Mulcahy – Cork Hurler The sons of the famous Glen Rovers Club include Jack Lynch, Christy Ring and Jim Young, but the star of the 1980’s and early 90’s was Tomás Mulcahy. He made his début for the Cork senior hurling team in 1983 and had a distinguished career for both club and county up until he retired from the Rebels in 1995. He won all major honours in the game from captaining his club to a County title in 1989 (their first in thirteen years), three All Ireland victories with Cork in 1984, ’86 and when he captained the side during the year of the infamous Rebels double in 1990. Allstar awards were collected in 1984 and 1986, a National League medal in 1993 and two Railway Cup medals in l984 and l985. What a lot of people do not know about Tomás is that he was a very good footballer and appeared in the Munster Football final of 1985 only to be marked by Páidí Ó Sé. He is well known today for his analysis on ‘The Su nday Game’ where his love for the game is quite evident but he is also still heavily involved with his club and the underage structure in the county as a selector of the U21 hurling team of 2005. Contributors to this programme include Tomás Mulcahy, Dónal O’Grady, Seánie O’Gorman, Canon Michael O’Brien, Liam Ó Tuama, Páidí Ó Sé, Pat Fleury, Cyril Farrell. 22/2/2006 Davy Fitzgerald – Clare Hurling Goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald of County Clare maybe one of the smallest men on the field of play but few players can match his size when it comes to filling a jersey. He was and still is an inspirational force on the Clare team which came to prominence in the mid 1990s. When standing between the posts very few can match his natural ability to stop point blank and long range shots, his infectious enthusiasm, his marshalling of defenders or his skill at scoring vital penalties and points from placed balls. His medals display include two All Irelands with Clare in 1995 and 1997, an All Ireland Club medal with his club, Sixmilebridge, two Railway Cup medals with Munster from 1996 and 1997 and three Allstar Awards from 1995, 2002 and 2005. And he’s not finished yet! Participants include Ger Loughnane, Bishop Willie Walsh, Seán McMahon and Anthony Daly. 1/3/2006 Joe Kernan – Armagh Footballer Joe Kernan comes from Crossmaglen in Co. Armagh and has been involved in the football of his native club and county for four decades. Today he is more widely known as a great manager but let us not forget the player that Kernan once was. A big, strong, powerful leader, who played in many positions but who excelled as a midfielder. He played in the Armagh team of the late 70’s that lost to the great Dublin side in the All Ireland final of 1977. He won two further Ulster championships in 1980 and ’82 but didn’t manage to reach the pinnacle as he would do as a manager. In 1977 and 1982 he won Allstar awards. As a manager his achievements include three All Ireland club titles with Crossmaglen in 1997, ’99 and 2000, an All Ireland with Armagh which was their first ever in 2002 and their only National League title in 2005. An impressive CV to say the least. Contributors to this programme include Joe and Patricia Kernan and family, Kieran McGeeney, Seán McCague, Finín Mac a’Bháird, Frank Short, Éamonn Mackle, John McEntee, Francie Bellew, Brian Mullins, Dermot McGovern, John Rath, Jimmy Smyth, Enda McNulty, Tomás Ó Sé. 8/3/2006 Liam Dunne – Wexford Hurler When it comes to controversy very few hurlers could compete with Liam Dunne of Oulart-The Ballagh, but the same could also be said about his determination, his influence on games, his leadership qualities and awards that he has won. Having played in the purple and gold for 16 years the highlight of his career is the All Ireland won in 1996, their first and only title since 1968 and the three Allstar Awards that he picked up along the way. Unfortunately these highs were also matched by extreme lows which could of ended his hurling career. He became the first inter-county player to be sent off in the Championship three years in a row in 2002 and due to the bad press and reputation that followed he turned to alcohol. His troubled journey back to where he wanted to be is a story of personal struggle not only for himself but also for his immediate family and friends and his hugely successful book ‘I Crossed the Line’ is an example of the mans straight talking about the same problems and the GAA world as he sees it. Now we can hear and see him talk about it. Participants include Liam Dunne and family, Tony Dempsey TD, Liam Griffin, Martin Storey, Ger Loughnane and Mick Jacob. 15/3/2006 Willie Joe Padden – Mayo Footballer Willie Joe Padden played in the Mayo football senior jersey from 1977 until 1992 and even though he never won the priceless All Ireland medal his legendary status as one of Gaelic football’s greatest fielders lives on. He won numerous Connaught medals which include 5 senior, one U21 and one as captain of the minor team in 1977. Mayo were still waiting for a great day in Croke Park since the fifties and in 1989 when they played Cork in the final Willie Joe played exceptionally well, however it was not to be theirday and Mayo would have to wait even further. Willie Joe’s fielding ability in the middle of the field was spectacular. He seemed to rise majestically above all of those gathered around him and hang in the air as the football came to him. The sight of this athleticism and skill could raise a team and a roar from the sideline and stands. Those performances and Willie Joe’s contribution to the game was acknowledged when he received two Allstar Awards in 1985 and 1989. Being a native of Belmullet in the Mayo Gaeltacht Willie Joe has appeared at many of the Inter Gaeltacht football competitions (Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta) and was chosen on the Millennium Gaeltacht Team. He won an Intermediate Mayo championship with his club as well. Contributors to this programme include Willie Joe Padden, Billy Joe and David Padden, Seán Ó Gallchóir, Ian Mac Aindriú, T J Kilgallon, Martin Carney, John O’ Mahony, Fr Seán Killeen. Share this Article 0 0