Latest news with #PatO'Connor
Irish Independent
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Photos of all the fun at the Killegney Early Years graduation
There was plenty of fun at the Killegney Early Years Graduation as families gathered to celebrate this milestone in their children's lives. Photographer Pat O'Connor was on hand to capture all of the action.
Irish Independent
11-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Pictures of all the fun at the Carraig Briste Graduation
Enniscorthy Guardian Today at 01:00 There was plenty of smiles for the Carraig Briste Graduation, as the children celebrated their special day with their families. Photographer Pat O'Connor was on hand to capture all of the joy of the occasion.
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
See all the photos from the Enniscorthy Street Rhythms Festival
The Enniscorthy Street Rhythms Festival was a hive of activity, both with performers and spectators alike. Photographer Pat O'Connor was there to capture all of the action over the weekend.
Irish Examiner
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Pat O'Connor believes that use of video technology could help identify instigators of flashpoints
Three-time All-Ireland senior hurling final referee Pat O'Connor has called for the use of video technology to help identify instigators of flashpoints. Limerick native O'Connor, who took charge of the 1999, 2001 and '03 finals, also wants to see managers repositioned in the stand with the maor foirne role being returned to provide a link between the management and players. After a spate of incidents in recent games, the Ahane man is adamant a TV match official is required in hurling. 'I think in order to give hurling referees a bit more help, there needs to be something like VAR brought into the game,' said O'Connor. 'To help referees because the game has gone so fast now. 'The incidents at the start of the Cork-Tipp game were pretty unsavoury, alright. How do you deal with it? The umpires, linesmen and that, we'd have to be more alert to what's happening and (establishing) who the instigators were. It's not always the guy who gets sent off that is the instigator. 'There's nobody saying that the game should not be tough and hard. But a lot of the stuff that's happening, like, there's diving going on, which can certainly get guys sent off and is completely alien to the game that we all love. 'Certainly, players will have to take responsibility for their actions. There's so much action happening on and off the ball that there needs to be accountability, especially from the players, for instigating particular situations and trying to get players red-carded. 'There was another incident in that game last Sunday where there was a headbutt thrown in front of the linesman and he wasn't that far away from it. The officials need to man up and deal with those situations.' O'Connor also supports the use of replays assisting officials in verifying scores like Dublin's 'ghost goal" against Wexford in Parnell Park last Saturday. 'It wasn't a goal, in fairness. It could be brought in to help the referee in that situation. I know there are seven officials on the pitch, but it's not always easy at times. It's a split-second decision from the referee.' As the GAA has written to counties to desist from breaching match regulations and adhere to the number of officials allowed on the sidelines, O'Connor endorses managers watching games from the stands. To compensate, he proposes the return of the running selector, a role which was disbanded in 2021. 'In my view, and I'll go back to my own time as a referee, I wouldn't have any officials on the sideline. I would have them all up on the stand. Like in rugby, you'll see all the top officials are in the stand. They do communicate with the guy on the sideline, alright. 'I know there's a fourth official on the sideline and he has his hands full at times trying to deal with all these managers and that. I suppose the subs are in the stand now, which is a help. I think there is a responsibility on the managers to control their actions. And if I had the power to do it, on my side of things, I would have them all seated in the stand. 'If there was moves to be made, I would implement the runner again, but there should be really only one person from each side on the sideline except for the hurley carriers at each corner of the pitch. There's nothing you can do about that. Hurleys do get broken.'
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Lions re-sign 'critical' depth piece DT Pat O'Connor
Brad Holmes mentioned Pat O'Connor as the type of "critical" player depth the Detroit Lions were looking to sign in free agency, and on Tuesday the team re-inked the defensive tackle to a one-year deal. O'Connor had 18 tackles and one sack in 12 games last season after signing with the team during training camp. He opened the season on practice squad, but played vital snaps on the interior defensive line after Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Marcus Davenport, Kyle Peko and Mekhi Wingo were lost to season-ending injuries. Holmes said at the NFL combine in February that he was focused on adding depth in free agency after last year's injury-riddled season. "It made it more evident that depth is a huge critical piece and that's throughout the entire year, so it might not be first wave of free agency, it might not be the draft, it might be a Pat O'Connor during the summer that you add and you just never know that that's going to be that critical piece that you need from a depth standpoint," he said. LIONS MAILBAG: Detroit Lions mailbag: Assessing pass rush options in the draft; who starts at OG in 2025? O'Connor, a 2017 draft pick by the Lions who spent most of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the 13th free agent the Lions have re-signed this offseason. The team also re-signed tight end Shane Zylstra on Tuesday, and finalized its previously reported deal with running back Craig Reynolds. McNeill and Wingo are coming off late-season knee injuries and McNeill could miss the start of the 2025 season. The Lions return starting nose tackle, re-signed Levi Onwuzurike and added defensive tackle Roy Lopez in free agency. Dave Birkett will sign copies of his book, "Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline," at 7 p.m., March 24, at the Birmingham Public Library. Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@ Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions re-sign 'critical' depth piece DT Pat O'Connor
