On Tuesday, 11th April, we welcomed a former Russell Rovers player of the 1950’s to the club.
Gerald O’Connell, who has been domiciled in the U.K. for most of his adult life, was originally from Ballycotton. Through his daughter Helen who resides in Dungarvan, he expressed a wish to visit our club and we were delighted to facilitate him.
Gerald was a member of the Rovers minor hurling team (operating as St Pauls) that lost to Midleton in the 1957 East Cork championship. Other surviving members of that team are Richie Fitzgerald, Dick Coffey-Walsh and Barry Flavin.
Gerald went on to play with St Cottins (Ballycotton) for a couple of years when they formed their own club in 1958 (we’ll forgive him for jumping ship!), before emigrating to England in the early 1960’s where he played for a number of years with Thomas McCurtains GAA club in London. He was accompanied on the visit by his daughters Helen (Kiely) and Margaret, along with granddaughter Helena.
On the 8th December 2019 Helen was actually a spectator in Fraher Field, supporting her local club St Marys whom Rovers defeated in the Munster Junior Hurling Final.
Now in his 84th year, Gerald appears to be hale and hearty despite sadly losing his dear wife of 60 years only last October. We wish him and Margaret a safe return to London on Friday and many more years of good health.
Tá súil again tú a fheiceáil ar ais arís go luath le cúnamh Dé.
