This promises to bring a tear to your eye…
One of the greatest days in the GAA calendar took place over the weekend, and while folk prepared for the Donegal and Kerry All-Ireland Semi Final, many communities came together for their club championship finals.
Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship took place and thanks to Laura Keane we have a special story from the event.
Keane contacted our brothers over a JOE.ie with one truly touching story that is guaranteed to pull at the heartstrings.
Feakle beat Parteen by 4-10 to 2-12 to win the Intermediate Championship and the trophy presentation encapsulated everything that the GAA stands for.
Keane wrote: ”The man in the wheelchair [main image] is my Grandfather, Jimmy Lynch, and he has a love for his home place and home club like no other person I know.
“Last Saturday he was finally able to see his club win the Clare intermediate hurling final, which has eluded the club for years. He was thrilled just to see that!
“When the cup was due to be presented, people started calling for him to present it to the club captain, Killian Bane. As you can see from the picture, there’s a barrier which I knew I could not get him over as he has Parkinson’s Disease and his legs had gone numb.
“After explaining this to the club manager Tommy Guilfoyle (well, roaring at him as he was in the presentation area already!) he and another man came down and carried my grandfather over the barrier and up the steps to the presentation area.
“I won’t lie, I was bawling crying! I haven’t seen the man as happy in so long. This gesture made me extremely proud of Feakle GAA club and how they treat all members,” she added.
It turns out that Jimmy “The Taoiseach” Lynch is the President of Feakle GAA and has been for the past 25 years. Ronagh Keane added that has “never missed a training session or match (when not in hospital) and at every one of these he is always looked after by the members of the Feakle Club”.
Yes, out hearts have just melted.
*Wipes away patriotic tear*
