Peter O’Neill

Originally published: Town Tattler Vol 1 Issue 4

Portlaoise clubman Peter O’Neill is in his final year as Chairperson of Laois GAA. We caught up with him to see how things were going.

Peter how busy is life for you these days?

Life is very busy now, while we are not active on the G.A.A. fields there is plenty of admin and organising to be done. Work wise Crown Paints is flat out just having secured the paint supply contract for The National Children’s Hospital and opening 3 new shops. Laois Partnership Company has just ended a 5-year programme distributing almost €7million and we are currently putting together a plan for a 2023 new start up.

How hard is it to juggle running your own business and being chairperson of Laois G.A.A.

I am thankful to say that Crown Paints are very supportive of my role in the G.A.A and Community work and have made it possible to combine both. My youngest son Gary manages the paint shop in Portlaoise and covers me well. Without their support it would not be possible.

What motivates you to take on all the extra work that comes with such a role?

For me it is a sense of personal achievement to see the G.A.A in Laois grow and to see our facilities up there with the best in the Country. Most importantly it is to recognise the effort and enjoyment our players put in win or lose, but of course winning is all the sweeter.

How has lockdown been for you personally, from business point of view, and in relation to GAA?

Business wise Crown has been very busy as we supply the health, education and social sectors. We have also been very well supported by the Sporting community. In relation to the G.A.A we have been as busy as ever with all our club registration, administration and coaching matters being dealt with online. Our Health and Wellbeing, Coaching and Development teams have put on some fantastic online seminars.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel do you feel?

100 per cent there’s light at the end of the tunnel. The G.A.A have played a major role in assisting our communities during this pandemic and I look forward to seeing our players young and old back out on pitches across the County. In the meantime, if a limited number of supporters are allowed, we will be televising all our games on Laois T.V.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your role?

Having the opportunity to meet Gaels from all over the Country and to see the work that all our committees and players do on a voluntary basis. Attending as many games as possible and of course presenting cups to Portlaoise winning captains must be high up there.

What is the most challenging part of the job?

Everyone has an opinion in the G.A.A and they all think they are right even more so when they are wrong. It is lovely to present the winning cups, but you also must be the one to enforce the rules in relation to discipline and transfers and some decisions don’t always go down well.

Whats next for you when your term expires?

I am planning on continuing to travel to all the County games. J.P Cahillane and Seamie Fitzgerald have been great travelling companions with me to all Laois games either hurling or football over the years and I hope we continue that journey. I will also get a chance to see more Portlaoise G.A.A, Ladies and Camogie games.

Tell us about your childhood and how sport became a big thing for you

I am very lucky to come from a very sporting family with two brothers and a sister, all younger. My father was a very accomplished rugby player and lined out with Midlands and Irish Wolf hound selections. He was asked to go to Dublin and play with Senior clubs but was a home bird.

My mother’s family were staunch Gaels with 5 of my uncles wearing the County Colours in either Football or Hurling which caused some problems during The Ban period. My family were always encouraged to play sport and we all played Gaelic Hurling and Football during the Summer and rugby during the Winter.

Who were your early influences or heroes?

My mother and her family were my biggest influence in G.A.A. My father unfortunately passed away very young. My Grandfather Leesha Mc Glynn was the first Offaly player to wear the County jersey in all grades and both codes. He lined out at midfield for Offaly V Laois in a Leinster semi-final and his opposite number was the Boy Wonder Tommy Murphy. The match went to a replay which Laois won. A great footballer and hurler friend Sean Hooper Farrell who sadly passed away during Covid was always there for advice.

When did you first get involved in Portlaoise and how did that happen?

I got involved when I brought my son Daniel up to Fr Browne Avenue at 6 years of age and I was warmly welcomed and asked to help. I continued with that team which was very successful for a further 14 years. The team contained current senior players Paul Cahillane, Conor Boyle, Colin Finn, Brian Smith, Brian Glynn, Zach Touhy and of course current Laois captain Kieran Lillis. I worked with fantastic people such as Paul Campion, JP Cahillane, Mick Lillis, Mick Mulhall, Colm Browne and Seamie Lawlor.

You served many roles with club, which gave you most satisfaction?

I served as Secretary for over 8 years alongside Jaz, John Hanniffy and Vinny Dowling. This was throughout a very difficult club period off the field. The officers were excellent and couldn’t have done more but the players contribution on the field kept us all going. My time as Juvenile secretary was very rewarding. The most enjoyable was managing our Junior C Footballers to 3 County finals and winning 2. The craic was mighty with some brilliant lads. We even had Brochan, Tom Conroy, Peter O Sullivan, David Graham, Shane O Neill and super-sub big Chris Ward.

Is there a balance to be a Portlaoise club member and chairperson of county board, are there times when conflict arises?

There must be a balance and you must consider what is always best for the County. I am a passionate Portlaoise Club man and I have never let that interfere with any decisions. In fairness the club never once put me in any difficulty. We have a policy at County level that any decision involving your own club, you excuse yourself from the meeting.

What was your primary aim when assuming chairperson of Laois GAA?

I had been County Juvenile Chairperson, had had done a reasonable job. Some clubs asked me to put my name forward. I was still Secretary of Portlaoise but felt I could offer something to the County. I spoke to Club Chairman Vinny Dowling and Treasurer John Hanniffy as well as Clubman Jaz Reilly and all three encouraged me to stand as it could bring a bit of the way we did things to a County set up. Also, the fact that there had been no Portlaoise involvement on the County board since Bill Phelan.

What work are you proudest of or most satisfied with?

Over the past three years we have had some great success both on and off the pitch. Our Seniors have gone from Div 4 to Div 2. Our Sen Hurlers have retained Div. 1 status and have given good performances and with Cheddar there now I have no doubt will take another step. Our U20 footballers have contested two finals against strong Dublin teams. Our U20 Hurlers under Enda Lyons are on the right journey. Our minor footballers and hurlers have a clear pathway with good coaches.

Off the field I am proud that we have completed the Centre of Excellence while maintaining a very high standard. Only recently we completed the LED flood lighting of MW O Moore Park and initiated a Green Stadium policy. Our coaching structures and standards are among the highest in the country so one must be proud of great teamwork.

Any regrets as you enter the final year of your tenure?

The only regret I have is that we haven’t been able to do more for supporters with disabilities in MW Hire O Moore Park. We have created comfortable parking bays, but I would have liked to have put in a covered area for wheelchair user. On the positive side I am not finished yet so maybe.

How important is it for Laois that Portlaoise is thriving as a club?

It is vital that Portlaoise is thriving and contest Championships both in the county and Leinster at all grades. It was most heartening for me to see the amount of club players that committed to the county cause in both Hurling and Football. I would also thank all the people who put themselves forward to act as selectors, Managers or Sub-committee members. A club of Portlaoise’s stature has to help drive on together with the County.

As an Edenderry man most people would assume football was your first love, but that’s not necessarily true?

My two brothers won Senior Club Championships and lined out for the County. My youngest Brother Donal played minor, U21 and Senior for club and county in the one year. He played a minor club final, won the game and stayed on the pitch to line out and win a Senior title. My other brother Eddie was a traditional full-back/centre-back that even I wouldn’t play on.

I wasn’t blessed with the skills of the big ball, I was more committed to Hurling. I played and managed our adult Hurlers all my playing days. Edenderry was founded as a Hurling club and were Senior Hurlers before Senior Football.

I can claim that my first and last games started and finished in Laois playing U12 hurling with De La Salle College in Castletown and finishing lining out in Fr Browne Ave as one of two speedy corner forwards, the other being Hanno 40 years later. I still have the pain in my elbow where former Graigue Chairman Mayor Mick Lawlor laced me. I am still puzzled as to how Damian Lynch dropped both corner forwards for the next round.

Who are the best players you have seen in your lifetime in both codes?

You could pick two Portlaoise teams over the years that would grace any All-Star team so I am going outside the club. The best County footballer I have seen is Matt Connor. The best County Hurler D.J. Carey. Mick Mulhall is a living legend having played in 7 Leinster finals if I am not mistaken. He still holds the record for most appearances and is up there with the best.

Can smaller counties like Laois aspire to dine at the top table?

We can only try to be as good as we can be and hope that will be enough. There is a vast gap between the top 4 and the rest in both codes. We have put the structures in place, players give tremendous commitment, but whether this can all remain financially viable is hard to see.

Will the GPO initiative make a difference do you feel?

This is the way forward for clubs. There is a financial commitment which must be found but in my opinion worth every penny. Having seen dramatic increases in numbers and standards of coaching in clubs where this is currently working, it should be tried by clubs who need that bit extra.

What do you do to stay positive and healthy?

I have two sons qualified in Psychology and their college fees were worth every penny when it comes to dealing with the G.A.A, only joking of course.

Stay busy, treat everyone the same and fairly, remember we are only here for a short time and a morning walk in Forrest doesn’t do any harm.