This is a unique picture of a great Portlaoise supporter, Johnny Lynch, of O’Moore Place, who rode to Mountmellick on a donkey to follow the Portlaoise hurlers in an epic game against great rivals, Clonad, played in Mountmellick. The feat developed fondly into legendary status for many generations in the town.
Bill and I soldiered together through most of our lives. Of the same age we went through the CBS to Leaving Cert in the same classes and had similar interests especially regarding GAA. The games were an important part of school life with Bro. O’Mahoney taking a particularly keen interest in preparing us for competitions.
Portlaoise has been blessed with having some really good administrators over the years.
In the early years there was R.P. Fennell, a man whose family and connections were
deeply rooted in the town and in the nationalist tradition.
I sometimes get asked “when did you first get
involved in the GAA?” and I often respond that
“my grandfather captained Galway to win the
Football All-Ireland in 1938, so I think I got
involved in the GAA about thirty years before I
was born!”
Ⓒ 1887 - 2025 - Portlaoise GAA - C'MON THE TOWN
