Hero’s Welcome As Youghal Puts Eddie O’Sullivan In The Picture

Posted on May 20, 2008

By Christy Parker | Photo Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

$Eddie O\'Sullivan Photographic Exhibition Youghal$
Eddie with his cousin Oona Colin at the exhibition

Former Ireland rugby coach Eddie O’Sullivan was left in no doubt that his status as local hero is perpetual when he attended the opening of a photograph exhibition in his honour last week. The boy from Dominic Collins Place who, to borrow (for a change) a phrase from Charlie Haughey, did his country some service, received a warm and sincere welcome home from family, friends, supporters and local dignitaries at the Mall Arts Centre.

Sponsored by Youghal News, ‘Eddie O’Sullivan -Honoured Through the Lens’ traces the origins, highs and lows of the twice Triple Crown winning coach. Dozens of photos, ranging from simple reminders of his formative years with Youghal rugby club, to contemporary professional images taken amongst the stars and stadia of modern rugby chronicle his rise and fall. The showcase originally formed part of the recent European Destination of Excellence presentation in which Youghal narrowly just fell short.

While the glory-filled days of Triple Crown triumphs and the dejection of World Cup implosion are laid bare, it is the older, lesser-seen images that invoke the true wonder. These amateur photographs, many on loan from Youghal rugby stalwart Peter Hamill, feature an Eddie O’Sullivan from 10 years of age onwards, through later days on the wing with Youghal and Munster. The graph rises inexorably to his first training session with the Irish squad in Limerick in 2002 and there is prayer on the wing too, when the national coach meets the late Pope John Paul II.

Between times, sport becomes sociable with unfamiliar footage of Eddie in the glamorous company of Youghal ladies rugby team, not to mention award-winning camogie players at a National Sports Awards ceremony in recent years!

In a local brogue unaffected by years of residence in Galway, the dark-suited guest accepted the accolade with exemplary grace and gratitude. He expressed his surprise that an exhibition based on his career would even have arisen and, having perused it, drop-kicked his verdict in humorous tone: “I think I started at the wrong end,” he observed, “and as I walked round the room I got younger and younger!”

In that context, for once Eddie found that last was best. “There are people in those photos that I can and never will forget. Some of them are friends I lost touch with over the years. Others, sadly, are no longer with us. It is very moving to be reminded of them all in this way.”

$Eddie O\'Sullivan Photographic Exhibition Youghal$
Eddie O’Sullivan being interviewed by Shane Supple with cameraman Kieran McCarthy for YoughalOnline.com

Articulate, friendly and appreciative, Eddie O’Sullivan relaxes a room and there was a strong sense of mutual appreciation long before he gave interviews and posed with children, families and adults who unashamedly showed kids how to idolise! Earlier, the former coach had been keen to stress his affection for his home town, saying he is “constantly reminding people that this is where I come from, not Cork.”

Recently, he said, he had felt compelled to put Eamon Dunphy to rights on the matter. “Youghal has always been very good to me and always will be home.” He proceeded, “It is assumed that to get to a high level in Irish rugby, one must have come from one of the major rugby playing colleges, but I always refer to my origins at under-10 level in Youghal.”

That he was one of the very last to leave the scene, aptly reflected the man’s interest and consideration. He left bearing a bottle of Jameson 12 year-old vintage, presented by Mayor Dave Savage. It was a most appropriate gift given that Youghal Heritage committee spokeswoman Catherine Desmond had introduced Eddie as “now part of Youghal’s heritage.” For the many who will drink to that, there are photos to prove it too.