Christy Cooney 36th Uchtaran Don Cumann Luthcleas Gael, Comes Home To Celebrate

Posted on April 15, 2008

By Christy Parker Photo: Michael Hussey (www.YoughalOnline.com)

President-Elect of the GAA Mr. Christy Cooney and his wife Ann arrive home to a heroes welcome

GAA President-in-waiting Christy Cooney returned to his Youghal base in a fanfare of deep pride and emotion last Sunday night. At first, a few friends and supporters welcomed the Association’s elected leader as he stepped from his car in the Club Aras headquarters. Dressed in a navy suit, white shirt and sky blue tie, the man who had 60 votes to spare at Congress a day before, now had time to spare for local associates as he smilingly accepted the heartfelt handshakes and hugs from people visibly moved with pride in his achievement.

As he moved, almost innocuously, across the car park, the great organiser could not have anticipated the welcoming wave that lay ready to wash over him. A delegation of underage players formed a guard of honour, the Cork Hill Pipe Band struck up ‘The Rising of the Moon’, the door to the club bar was pushed open and a cheer as loud and retained as any to greet a late winner in sport -or life- erupted. Grown men, it was observed, do cry.

This was Christy Cooney’s hour but, inextricably, it was also his club’s and nothing moved him like sharing it. Surrounded by venerable names from the Youghal GAA’s club’s past, present and -probably- future, he resembled not so much a man that has won the lottery but a boy who had delivered it to those he loved. A spontaneous queue formed as individuals extended their congratulations. Arms locked around shoulders as the glory of it all laid siege to the soul.

Club vice-chairman Ken Bulman commenced formalities. Chairman Seanie Ring welcomed the hero before inciting a rousing rendition of the club anthem, ‘Up the Youghal Boys.’ A wagon already laden with emotion now began to roll forward on Magnier’s Hill.

Mr Ring congratulated Christy, his wife Anne, their children and his siblings on a night that would lean heavily on home, roots and tradition. Neither least nor for the last time on the celebratory occasion, Mr. Ring invoked the names of Christy’s late parents Paddy and Agnes. He acknowledged the inestimable role they had played in the formation of their son’s character and in the long, wondrous journey that had brought him to this point. Their pride in his successful arrival was assumed and celebrated.

Mayor Dave Savage recognised the wider family aspect, reflecting that the president-elect’s fame honour would reflect positively on his native town. Fr. Bernard Cotter focused too on origins. He recalled sharing the powerful, pioneering influence that a stretch of waste ground called Murphy’s Row had on a young Christy and his free-spirited peers, as they honed their early hurling skills in happy childhoods of unsupervised abandon. “There are three major presidencies in Ireland,” he observed, “that of the country, of the ruling political party and of the GAA’. (He didn’t specify the order!). Acknowledging a previous Cork incumbent of the Presidential post and a close friend of Christy’s, “the late great, Con Murphy”, he was certain that Christy would live up to his mantle as he saluted him as a man “who embodies great principles and ideals.”

In an observance that would have done justice to Barack Obama, club officer John Parker acclaimed this presidency as “the most tremendous honour for our club, our parish, our town, or county and, it can be said, our province.” He revisited the Cooney’s family home in the Mall, where the GAA ethos was practically tangible and sliothars were as common as eggs. Of his many visits, “everything seemed to centre on the GAA, beyond the five seconds of discussing anything else,” he remembered. Influence is everything and Mr. Parker also testified to the relevance of another regular house visitor, the late Johnny Coyne, to Christy’s ascendancy and he fondly echoed the sway of Paddy and Agnes on Christy and, now, on the GAA itself.

Legendary club member Liam Moynihan took tea in Cooney’s too and vouched for the potency of the house politics when he remarked how he once “called in for a chat and came out as the club’s PRO!” His heart too beat with the pride that only intimate knowledge of a hero can provide.

Then Christy Cooney took the stand. Surveying the gathering, he declared, “I was emotional yesterday, but this beats all!” In the lengthy address that followed, the 36th President of the GAA lost his composure on occasions, as tears escaped and his voice wavered and declined.

Spoke of the election, he admitted feeling “reasonably confident” going into it and “absolutely elated” coming out.” Club colleagues had rallied and personal and telephone approaches had reaped voting dividends as little was left to chance. It was, he said, a victory that was “exceptionally sweet” for the “devastating” defeat that preceded it in 2005.

It is not yet time to air policies or politics and he would not impose such “inappropriate” action on present incumbent and his “very good friend” Nicky Brennan. Then, briefly, he averred to Rule 42 and his opposition to rendering Croke Park available to other sporting organisations. It is a stance widely considered to have cost him the Presidency last time round. He hasn’t deviated from it but he strongly supported “democracy within the Association and whatever decision the Association makes I will always support it fully,” he said.

That awkward obstacle cleared, it was time for further reflection. It was a wide-ranging exercise and one pursued in a spirit of pride and sentiment. Murphy’s Row was again venerated and in the presence of the town mayor, it was heartening to hear him say that while official sporting fields are fine, “small green areas” of wasteland cannot be matched for inspiring a love of sport and play in children. It brought a deserved round of applause from people who place value ahead of profit.

Proudly declaring that his standards “come from my upbringing,” the president-elect’s voice then faltered as he recalled being told that his late father, when once asked who might continue his legacy had pointed to Christy. He thanked his wife, “without whose support none of this would have been possible,” his children, brothers and sister. He thanked this hometown club- his second family- his love for which he had endeavoured to impress on Congress “in a reasonably emotional state” a day previous. Within that club, many names were recalled, some present some passed on, all part of the wider aspiration that becomes the head of Ireland’s largest sporting body.

Interestingly, Mr. Cooney went to some pains to stress his support for and from controversial Cork County Board secretary Frank Murphy. “He has been absolutely fabulous to me in recent months,” he said. “Never underestimate his standing within the Association, no matter what people say. He invoked Willie Ring, Jim Forbes…and others of elevated stature who helped him meet the presidential challenge. Then, in a gesture that perhaps best illustrates the next President’s broad embrace, he departed high rank to seek recognition for Aaron Kenny. The 17 year-old inter-county footballer had spoken to Congress, impressing on his listeners the essential grass roots dedication that drove candidate Cooney.

As darkness gripped the night outside Christy Cooney anticipated his new dawn. He felt “humbled, but also extremely proud.” He hoped to meet the high standards expected of him “by others, but especially by myself” before and after taking office next year. He would wish to have the support, as always, of those present and if there was anything he could do for them, “in any small way”, he’d be happy to do it. The consensus is that he has already done plenty.