Billy Bohane was one of the greatest hurlers ever produced by Laois and was midfield on the Laois Millennium team. He won numerous senior hurling titles with Clonad and also a senior football title with Ballyroan. He won a Leinster medal with Laois hurlers in 1949 and figured in the All-Ireland final of that year at midfield with that other legendary hurler resident in the town, Joe Styles. On marrying Sadie McEvoy (Mountrath Road) they set up home in Portlaoise and he threw in his lot with the Town. He was very much involved with the juveniles throughout the 1970s and was a key figure in the emergence of the Town as a major hurling force in the 1980s. His sons Billy, John, Michael and later Brian all won numerous senior hurling successes while other sons, Dermot, Maurice and Eugene, were also talented performers with club teams. Billy and John were stars on the Laois county teams for many years and were also accomplished footballers, both winning Leinster and All-Ireland club medals.
Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett needs no introduction to Gaels in Portlaoise, Laois and throughout the hurling world. He was a tough, uncompromising player for Portlaoise and Laois in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and won multiple championships.
Tommy Conroy has been a stalwart of Portlaoise GAA throughout his life. He played senior football for the town for 17 years, winning six county championships as well as a Leinster title in 1987. He made his name when he broke onto the great town team of the 80’s with Colm and Gerry Browne, Curly and co still setting the standard. He soldiered through the barren years of the ‘90s and then a golden generation of new stars arrived like Ian Fitzgerald, Martin Delaney, Woolly, Fitzy etc and gave an an ageing sportsman a new lease of life. Here are some of his personal memories of the club.
