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Irish Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Jack O'Connor on role of players in his decision to continue as Kerry boss
As Jack O'Connor weighs up whether to go out on a high in 2025, he has told of how he very nearly went out on a bum note last year. In the immediate aftermath of guiding Kerry to their 39th All-Ireland title on Sunday, five of which he has been at the helm for, O'Connor threw out terms such as 'last hurrah' in the context of his future as Kingdom boss, which he has done for 11 seasons across three terms, as well a two-year stint with Kildare. All's well that ends well, but O'Connor referenced a 'tough year' in the context of a number of injuries that the team had suffered and sharp criticism locally, particularly in the wake of a heavy defeat to Meath in the group stages. Sitting in the lobby of the Clayton Hotel, the old Burlington, in Dublin yesterday morning, he expanded on that. 'I found the year in general tough because you have to remember, around this time last year, we suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Armagh in a game that we appeared to be in control of,' he said, referencing last year's All-Ireland semi-final. 'Then I had my whole management broke up. So I had to try and put the management together while I was dealing with the personal heartbreak of losing an All-Ireland semi-final. That can be a tough lonely place to be, when you're trying to do that. 'So right from this time last year I found the going tough and there were times when I felt like packing it up, and whatever. I'm glad I stuck with it and saw the year out because, sure, we got the reward yesterday. But it was a tough year.' In the end, support from the players persuaded him to stay on and he rebuilt his management team. 'Well, I would be conversing with some of the players and stuff and they would have said to hang in there. It's tough going when you lose your management team, lads that you soldier with and that you trust and confide in. Then you have to try and gel with a new management team. That can be tough at times. 'As it turned out, the lads have been brilliant. Cian O'Neill, James Costello, Aodán MacGearailt and Pa McCarthy were absolutely brilliant. They brought real freshness and real new ideas to the set up. I think the players relished that.' Kerry recovered from that Meath reverse to see off Cavan in Killarney before their season turned on a sensational second half display to see off reigning champions Armagh, after which O'Connor had a cut back at his side's critics. 'It was just that we were putting in an incredible effort, everybody but on the back of one bad day out we were being written off and disrespected. Sometimes you just get p****d off with that because the people who are doing the criticising are, most of the time, hurlers in the ditch who don't put in the same effort themselves with teams. 'I'm normally not like that. You've listened to me a long time, I normally give stock answers at these press briefings but I had reached a point where I was just up to my tonsils with it, you know. I had a bit of a rant, sure there is no harm at times to leave off a bit of steam.' Kerry manager Jack O'Connor celebrates with supporters As impressive as the display against Armagh was and long spells of the semi-final win over Tyrone too, Sunday's final represented something much closer to the complete 70-minute effort. 'What pleased me was that on the biggest day of the year, we had probably our best performance. That's what pleased me. And what pleased me was the way that the lads took the game to Donegal from the off. I think Gavin [White] winning the breaking ball from the throw-in, driving on, slipping it to Dylan Geaney, a young forward in his first All-Ireland, kicking a great score off his left foot, that's the start you want. You set the tone, the captain leads by example. 'A young lad in a final kicks a point with his first touch, a lot of good things happening there. Our midfielder gets a tap down, playing in his first final, a lot of good stuff happening in that move.' After delivering maybe the best of his All-Irelands, there will be no shortage of people telling O'Connor to stay on as Sam Maguire tours the county, but he insisted: 'It isn't like I'm playing hard to get at all. 'I'm a long old time at this thing now, lads. I found last year particularly tough, I have to say, and I'm not sure I can put myself through that stuff again because when you reach a certain age, your priorities change a bit. 'There's a lot of other things I like doing. I like playing a bit of golf. I like spending time with my grandson, Jack, who's mad for golf as well. He'd be around the lawn below with a golf club, learning to swing it. I live in a nice part of the country and I enjoy being out in nature and going out at my old homestead in Dromid, stuff like that. We'll see. 'I'll leave it settle for a couple of weeks. I won't hang people out to dry or keep people hanging on. I'll have a think about it. I had only one or two hours' sleep last night, so now isn't a great time to be making a decision.'
Irish Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Irish Times
Water supply in Leinster counties to be hit as major pipeline undergoes ‘critical' repairs
More than 900 people in Kildare will have their water supply disrupted over the August bank holiday weekend as Uisce Éireann carries out 'critical' repairs to a pipeline that supplies a third of the greater Dublin area's drinking water. Households in Kill, Arthurstown, Rathmore, Athgoe and Tipperkevin will see an interruption to water supply from 10pm on Friday to 3am on Sunday as the 'major' pipeline is drained to facilitate the works. An Uisce Éireann spokesman said additional water supplies will be provided at Rathmore National School and Kill Equestrian Centre in Newtown. Customers in Dublin and parts of Wicklow could also experience disturbances to their water supply during the repair period. READ MORE Interruptions may include low water pressure, discoloured water or water outages. A map of areas that may experience disruption to water supplies this weekend. Photograph: Uisce Éireann Customers are advised to ensure they have enough drinking water, to turn off all pre-programmed appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines, and to ensure all taps are turned off before and during the planned supply disruption. Uisce Éireann said it is carrying out 'critical and complex' repairs to the pipeline that connects Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant and the Saggart Reservoir. It has identified several sections that are at risk of failing and several leaks. The national water utility said it has ensured all treated water reservoirs in the greater Dublin are are 'as full as possible'. It said most homes and businesses have on-site water storage as a back-up water source for sanitation purposes. Uisce Éireann has called on members of the public to reduce their water use over the weekend to 'help maintain or extend water supply during the repairs, for yourself, and, importantly, for vulnerable and high-risk users including hospitals and care homes'. [ How to save water: The average Irish person uses 133 litres a day Opens in new window ] People are asked to refrain from 'filling baths, car washing, power hosing, window washing, filling paddling pools and anything that is not vital'. Declan Healy, programme manager at Uisce Éireann, said specialist teams will repair five leaks and replace a damaged section of pipeline. To do this, the water flowing through the pipe will be turned off temporarily and the pipeline will be drained. 'Draining the pipe will allow specialist crews to go inside the pipeline to repair five active leaks using bespoke methods. Another specialist team will remove 35 metres of degraded pipeline and install a new section of pipeline,' he added. Uisce Éireann's head of water operations, Margaret Attridge, said the specialist repair crews have a 'very tight deadline to finish the repairs and refill the pipeline with water'. This is because the pipeline can only be shut down for up to 28 hours before water storage levels become too low, which could lead to widespread disruption, she said.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
How it feels to prepare for, play in, and win an All-Ireland final
The 'Overview Effect' is a cognitive shift experienced by astronauts when viewing Earth from space, leading to a sense of awe and interconnectedness with all life on the planet. As the lads walk in the All-Ireland Final parade tomorrow, there's a chance for those of us from Donegal to look around and experience their own North West of Ireland overview effect. Savor this moment. This is us travelling to the capital to take on a juggernaut of the GAA world. Despite all of our differences, we are all connected here. There's something bigger here than just one person in their Donegal colors cheering for their team to win. There's a green and gold energy in the air. It's nearly tangible. Like you can reach out and touch it. Whether you believe in the afterlife or not, one thing you have the power to make immortal is this experience - that you were able to say I was there. I was there the day Kevin Cassidy scored that point against Kildare. I was there when Murphy rattled the net in an All-Ireland Final. I was there the day we beat the Dubs. You pass them experiences on and then the next generation passes it on. It never truly dies then. Ask how many of the 2012 groups' fires were lit by 1992. Ask how many of these young bucks were inspired by the 2012 group. My own young fella wants to play in Croke Park and pretends he is Shane O'Donnell. How many young people will be inspired by 2025 and their journey. Those experiences live on throughout the generations. Immortal. There's power there. Real power of a group with one vision in mind. That's real power. All united in that one goal of seeing Paddy McBrearty walk up the steps to lift Sam Maguire for the third time in our history. If we could jump the fence we could, but we just have to trust Jim and the lads. It's hard to know what to talk about this weekend. I'm hoping we win so maybe it might be good to talk about what the day of an All-Ireland looks like. I'm not going back to 2014, still too sore so I'll go through the famous day of 2012. Sunday September 23, 2012, 5am I've roomed with Michael Boyle for years now. He's used to me and my odd ways of going on. I struggle to sleep in hotel rooms so he doesn't bat an eyelid when I tell him I went for a walk in the middle of the night, or if he wakes up at 2am and the hotel bed is empty. The morning before the All-Ireland is different though. We are in two separate rooms because we are in the apartments of Johnstown House. Donegal have done their best to give every man his own separate room. So initially Boyler is delighted - peace and quiet. He thinks wrong and I land into him at 5am. 'I can't sleep Boyler. Wild nerves.' He doesn't take me on, 'Jesus Christ. Take that ipad and get out to fuck.' I mess about on his pad and within 20 minutes I'm out cold. Sunday September 23, 2012, 8am I can never quite place my finger on it. Exactly why I woke up like this, after my midnight nerves, but I just genuinely knew I was having a good game. It's an incredible place to be, just knowing in your heart that you are going to perform. Maybe some sport psychologist can explain it but I had that feeling and it was hard to tap into that feeling again. It didn't happen enough for liking afterwards. Sunday September 23, 2012 10am-12.30pm These times are guesses by the way because I actually don't remember much about the build up. I often wonder, should I have taken more in and made a conscious effort to remember the whole day. But maybe from a sports performance perspective that's the point. It's just another day, the same as every other game day. Analysis. Boring pasta and chicken with that tomato sauce. No nerves at all, just that confidence, I'm having a good game today. Sunday September 23, 2012, 1:30pm For the bus in, I grab a Sunday paper from the hotel to read and sure enough I'm doing an interview in it. I don't have it open a minute and Jim spots me, takes it off me and says, 'Read it Monday morning Eamon.' I remember muttering a reply, 'Monday morning is no good to me to pass this journey.' Jim McGuinness (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) I do definitely remember a tense atmosphere on the bus. My usual crew of big Neil and Christy Toye always had plenty to say but it takes a while for them to get going today. The Garda cavalcade takes us in. Go through the crowds. See the different signs and then have the usual maneuvering to get the bus under the stand in Croke Park. I've seen some drivers flounder here. You've progressed to Pro level bus driver when you get in there with little fuss. Sunday September 23, 2012, 1:30-3:10pm Again, much of a blur. Lads had settled a bit so me and Toye went out to the warm up area to burn a bit of energy playing the primary school game where you hit the ball against the wall and it can't hit the opposite wall. Throw water on the face. Go round each lad in the team, look at him and tell him he's going to do well today. You get the jersey on and then you wait. I hate the waiting. I'd rather just get into it before anything jeopardizes this perfect mindset that I'm in. Sunday September 23, 2012, 3:10-3:30pm Finally get out to the field. Warm up in the noise. For some reason - and many people don't understand this - once you get out the 80,000 people don't really bother you. Meet the President. Parade. I remember during the parade there was a brief attempt by the doubts to swallow me whole. The noise and occasion started to get to me and you know what I told myself there and then, that I was the best defender on the field. I have proved it time and time on the training field. Maybe the majority of people would have disagreed with me but what was important was that I believed it. It worked too. I was back in the frame of mind then. Sunday September 23, 2012, 3:30-5pm The ball is thrown in and I remember the first thing happens is big Neil giving a kick in straight away. For fuck sakes, I thought. I know we talked about it during the week but be smart about it. Alan Dillon gets the ball and I see the move before it happens. He kicks it in and I'm way out in front to win it, and as I've been told numerous times, lay it off afterwards. I pat Cillian O'Connor on the arse and say, 'Keep the head up, you'll get the next ball lad.' Murphy scores a goal straight off the training ground. Not long after we score another and Neil turns to Michael Conroy and says, 'Does your sport performance coach have this covered?' I go on to have a great game and probably should be man of the match but losing out to Murphy makes it easier. I sent one of the lads into a bookie earlier in the week to back me for man of the match at 33/1. Tenner on. It would have been handy over the next few days. Donegal's Neil Gallagher and Eamonn McGee celebrate after the game (Image: ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan) Sunday September 23, 2012, 5pm Final whistle goes. What's it like to win an All-Ireland? There's actually a picture of me, Big Neil, Murphy and big Papa Durkan. I recently got it framed for Michael when he moved into the new house. That joy we all feel is summed up in that picture. Thankfully, real joy like that doesn't come too often because if it did then it just wouldn't taste as sweet. That feeling will last forever. I'll tell my kids about that feeling. They'll tell theirs. ALL IRELAND FINAL 2056, Jones Road, 3pm My son Luca is holding his son's hand as they make their way to another Donegal appearance in an All-Ireland final. Luca looks down at him and his son asks 'Tell me about 2025 again, that was supposed to be a magical feeling………'
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Inside Kerry manager Jack O'Connor's life - from wife and children to retirement
Jack O'Connor has overseen countless Kerry sides across various levels with extraordinary triumph throughout the years. During his initial tenure as manager in the Kingdom, the GAA icon steered his native county to a pair of All-Ireland Senior Football Championships, claiming the Sam Maguire in 2004 and 2006, defeating Mayo in both Croke Park showpieces. He also orchestrated the side to Munster Senior Football Championship and National Football League victories. After leaving the role of Kerry manager back in 2006, Jack returned to the fold once again in 2009, leading the county to more All-Ireland success as they won for the third time under his management. Jack departed again 2012 and he moved to the minor side in 2013 and the U/21's three years later where he had provincial and national wins. Kerry GAA manager Jack O'Connor (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) In a surprise move, he was announced as the Kildare manager in 2019. The 64-year-old took on the Kerry job for a third stint in 2021 and just 12 months later they won the All-Ireland final for the first time since 2014. Opening up about his return to Kerry, he said: "Personally, all I can talk about is myself. I personally feel that I'm in a better position to manage an inter-county team now than I was when I started off because... I'm retired, I have the time. "I keep myself in good shape, I keep myself fit and I've the energy and most importantly the time to give it. The time to go and meet players, the time to think things through clearly without being in a rush. You can't put a price on that." He told the Irish Independent: "Age doesn't come into it. I don't feel like an old man yet anyway. Like Ronald Reagan said long ago, experience is more important than age. Some fella was questioning the fact that he was an old man. Look, all I'll say is that it depends on your lifestyle and whatever, regardless of age." Family life Away from the world of GAA, Jack is married to wife Bridie and they have two sons together, sons Cian and Éanna. Thirty- three-year-old Éanna played minor football for Kerry. Both lads transferred to Kildare club Moorefield in 2014 and Éanna joined the Kildare senior panel in 2018. Jack joked that remaining as Kildare manager any longe Jack O'Connor with his wife Bridie and sons Eanna and Cian of Moorefield after the Kildare Senior Club Football Championship Final (Image: ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan) r would have meant divorce for him and Bridie due to the big commute between there and Kerry for training during the week. "I gave it absolutely everything when I was up here in Kildare for two years. I enjoyed it, no regrets, but it wasn't sustainable to keep it going, I'd have had to get divorced," he told the Irish Examiner. Swipe across below to see the full gallery of images for yourself He used to a work as a school teacher before his retirement from work.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Sallins train robbery: Man (75) seeks to have wrongful conviction declared miscarriage of justice
A judge has said 'every effort should be made' to progress matters in an application by a man who is attempting to have his wrongful conviction more than 45 years ago for the Sallins train robbery declared a miscarriage of justice. The mail train robbery took place on March 31st, 1976 when the Cork-to-Dublin train was robbed near Sallins in Co Kildare and an estimated £200,000 stolen. Osgur Breatnach (75) was one of five members of the Irish Republican Socialist Party who were subsequently arrested. Mr Breatnach was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years by the Special Criminal Court but his conviction was quashed in May 1980 after the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that his confession had been obtained under 'oppression'. READ MORE He is now seeking to have his wrongful conviction declared a miscarriage of justice. Mr Breatnach's case was raised briefly on Friday during a case management list at the Court of Appeal where barrister Miceál O'Connor told the court he appears for Mr Breatnach instructed by KRW law. Mr Justice Edwards, presiding, said he had read the paperwork, which clearly raised 'serious issues'. He said it was a matter for the State to reply to Mr Breatnach's affidavit and noted that as 'very significant issues are raised' a considerable amount of time would be required to allow the DPP time to respond. The judge said he would put the matter back for three months and adjourned the case to October 24th. A State solicitor asked for 'a little longer' given the court's upcoming long vacation. Mr O'Connor said he believed three months was sufficient. 'We can see where we are at that stage,' he added. Mr Justice Edwards refused the request, saying: 'I'm not closing the door to more time, but I think every effort should be made to try and progress the matter in the next three months.' Following today's hearing, Mr Breatnach's solicitor Kevin Winters of KRW Law confirmed the company has filed an application to the Court of Appeal under section 9 of The Criminal Procedure Act 1993 certifying that a newly discovered fact or facts point to a miscarriage of justice which led to Mr Breathnach's wrongful robbery conviction on December 13th, 1978. 'We're delighted the court has requested immediate expedition of this application,' Mr Winters said.
