Bursary in memory of passionate young Wexford man continues to help local GAA community
As his first love was the GAA, and known for wearing his club and county colours more than his beaming smile, Half Way House Bunclody launched the Colin Byrne Bursary in conjunction with his family to support the development of players and coaches within the club.
The programmes have a focus on youth development and Gaelic games to ensure Colin's legacy will live on in assisting young people to maximise their potential.
Thanks to great community support at a number of fundraising events, most notably the large barbecue held last year, the committee have announced the allocation of this year's funds, reaching over €6,000.
The Wexford branch of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Ireland will receive €1,500, as the cause is very close to the family's hearts. Spina Bifida is when a baby's spine and spinal cord do not develop properly, causing a gap.
"Colin had many great days with the crew, going on tours and to matches. This was a cause very close to the heart of Colin and continues to be for the Byrne family,' they said.
The Games Promotion Officer Programme is set to receive €1,500. This programme provides qualified coaches to primary schools and undergraduate teams, which allows the club to run weekly sessions.
"We are lucky in Bunclody to have Wexford camogie star Anais Cullen as out Games Promotion Officer. This initiative aims to foster a love for our games among the students of Bunclody and Kilmyshall National School, promoting teamwork, leadership, and a healthy lifestyle,' they explained.
A sum of €1,000 will go to Coiste Strength and Conditioning Programme which will empower individuals with the knowledge to make healthy choices.
€500 will be allocated to Bunclody Tidy Towns, who said they were honoured to receive the funding.
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"Colin was a unique individual who was a great fan of the GAA and a great advocate throughout his life for people with disabilities. He was a great character, with a lovely sense of humour and lived life to the full. It is a wonderful legacy in memory of Colin and Bunclody Tidy Towns is honoured to receive such support,' they said.
Kildavin National School's sensory room will receive €300, while another €300 will be given to Pieta House and Gavin Glynn organisations. A further €300 will go towards Bunclody's Christmas lights.
The bursary also sponsored a set of jerseys for the club's Heroes Nursey, which were presented last November. Sliotars and helmets were also sponsored for the national schools in the parish.
Following great success, the committee is determined to continue their work while keeping Colin's memory alive.
"We as a committee were blown away by the support for the Colin Byrne Bursary Fund in 2024. The funding allocations exemplify the funds founding principal to enable young people to maximise their potential. The bursary will continue its fundraising efforts into 2025 and beyond, and we hope you will join us in carrying on Colin's legacy.
The 2025 Coin Byrne Bursary barbecue will take place on Sunday, May 4 in Murphy's Tig Leath Slí.
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RTÉ News
14 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
David Clifford the Player of the Year as Kerry dominate Team of the Year selection
And, after so much change to the game of Gaelic football, Kerry are the champions for the second time in four seasons, and a record extending 39th time overall. Since the end of the dominant Dublin period, the men from the Kingdom have won two All-Irelands - that's one more than anybody else. You could tell something was brewing when they ripped last year's All-Ireland champions Armagh to shreds in a dominant 15 minute period at the quarter-final stage, after emerging from the long grass of another Munster title and a surprise defeat to Meath in the All-Ireland group stages. Then, in the semis, they upped the ante after the break to make a break for the decider, but it was their performance today which was arguably the most impressive of the lot. Jack O'Connor had spoken of his desire for, "a good, steady, even performance" but this was so much more than that. They were well on top from the first minute, with Dylan Geaney opening the scoring inside 15 seconds. David Clifford contributed seven points in the first half, including three two-pointers. Donegal threatened to put up a comeback when they cut the gap to four but the Munster men had the answers with the late goal from Joe O'Connor meaning they ended up winning both halves - worthy winners. Kerry top the list with eight players, with beaten finallists Donegal managing four - Meath, Tyrone and Armagh complete the 15, with no player from Connacht making the cut in a year when the province failed to provide an All-Ireland semi-finalist. Shane Ryan (Kerry) An excellent distributor of the ball who has an ability to get the ball away with some haste, which helped Kerry with some big scores over the summer. A superb shot stopper as well, he never conceded a goal across the entire run to the Sam Maguire. Managed 0-04 points during the summer although ended the All-Ireland final with a score, missing a few frees. 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A standout player in a line that launches so much of Kerry's most important moves. Gavin White (Kerry) His tenth season with the Kingdom, and his third as captain, but this one surely tops the lot as he got to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand on All-Ireland final day after disappointment in 2019 and last year. An inspirational All-Ireland final performance as he scored 0-03 and set up other scores throughout the game as an attacking wing-back. Kieran McGeary (Tyrone) Tyrone's sole representative in the selection, Kieran McGeary showed his ability with an early two-pointer as Tyrone saw off Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Joe O'Connor (Kerry) Not long after Kerry's last All-Ireland in 2022, O'Connor did his ACL playing a club game for Austin Stacks and he was off the field for 15 months. Since his return at the start of 2024, he's started all 15 of Kerry's Championship games and all but two of their league games in that period. 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The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
'I was inside here a month ago and there steam coming out of my ears' - Jack O'Connor
IN THE END, he shared a little anecdote of home life, painting a picture of a man heading out to take training, his bag over his shoulder, heading off to train the Kerry footballers on a summer's evening. 'And my missus took a picture of me going out the gate,' said Jack O'Connor. 'And I already know that'll be up on the wall, that was my last, so I'd say no, she'll be framing that one.' You can imagine it. Sepia-toned perhaps for added poignance. It's been the job that has defined his life and made him one of the most decorated managers Gaelic football. And still, Jack O'Connor's gifts are downplayed. It's why, after the win over Armagh, he had a go at those inside his own county that he felt was doing him down. 'I'd ask people who are knocking the group, 'What have you contributed to Kerry football off the field?' he said back then. Revisiting that, he said here, 'Obviously, delighted for myself because it was a tough old year. I found this a tough year. 'I was inside here a month ago and there was a lot of steam coming out of my ears. It wasn't faked or it wasn't put on. It was authentic because I felt that we were getting a lot of unfair stick and we were trying our butts off and have been from the start of the year. 'So, for us to finally get the reward is great.' He's been appreciated by the right people though. Asked about the departed Mick O'Dwyer and how much he was in O'Connor's thoughts this season, he relayed another yarn. 'Micko, you know, he's created a great history and tradition in Kerry and the rest of us are only trotting after him now. (It's) A bit sentimental for me because I brought the cup to him to his house in '22 and we had a nice half an hour of a chat there,' he said. 'And there was a nice photograph taken, so I treasure that always because you know he was an idol of mine as I say. 'He's created the history and the rest of us really try.' From the third minute, they started compiling a lead that Donegal could never wipe out. They decimated the Ulster champions. Advertisement 'Yeah, we were very determined leaving the hotel this morning,' he revealed. Shaking hands with Donegal manager Jim McGuinness afterwards. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO 'I had a few words with them just before we got on the bus that we were going to take the game to Donegal. We weren't going to sit back and just see what they had to offer. We were really going after them. 'We were going after (Shaun) Patton's kickouts. We were going to drive on. I thought Gavin White was sensational in the first quarter. A real captain's example. 'There were a few pivotal moments. I thought David's two pointer on the stroke of halftime was a big, big score. Just gave us a cushion going in at halftime and just gave the lads a lot of belief.' Complacency for them at the break was their enemy after going in 0-17 to 0-10 up. Fortunately for them and unfortunately for Cork, they had the perfect example last weekend. 'Our mantra at halftime was we weren't going to collapse like you saw probably with the Cork hurlers maybe last week. We were going to go out and try and win the second half. There were times, I mean, Donegal didn't wave any white flag out there. They brought that back from, I'd say, nine points back to four points and they were still highly dangerous. 'Massive effort. Massive effort. Big contribution from an awful lot of players. 'Just thrilled for them because, as I said, we had a rough all year and it's nice to see it coming together in the end.' Perhaps their energy caught Donegal. They flew into that early lead Donegal seemed shell-shocked at their ferocity. When Shaun Patton looked for their kickouts, he aimed across his body and more often than not, Michael Murphy was the intended target. Kerry had Jason Foley nearby to do a bit of shunting and bumping. 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It's his unique temperament.' Related Reads How Joe O'Connor put injury hell behind him and played his way into Footballer of the Year contention An isolated, distinct land that carries the football tight to its heart: Failte go Tír Chonaill Kerry name unchanged side for All-Ireland final as Diarmuid O'Connor makes squad And then there's his brother Paudie, who controlled the game from start to finish, albeit Donegal allowed that to happen. 'Paudie's just coming back to himself after a long injury and we felt that he was coming good,' he explained. 'He handled some amount of ball out there and he just calmed things down and a big part of playing Donegal is getting value out of your attacks and don't turn it over. 'I think Meath found that out when they didn't work the Donegal defence. They just took potshots from outside the arc looking for two pointers. 'Now you take the two pointers when they're on, but you don't force them and you work their defenders.' The next thing will grab the attention though. 'I thought we worked the Donegal defenders and that in turn takes away a bit of their legs for going the other way,' he says. 'I thought that was a big factor. I didn't think that the likes of Roarty and Morgan and McHugh had a big influence in that game. 'Attacking wise, I think a lot of that has to do with the patience we showed in the attack, and keeping them out of it.' A masterclass. Kerry will soon miss him. * Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Jack O'Connor roars back from Meath meltdown to guide Kerry to Sam as doubters eat their words
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