Dennis Tynan
The Early Days
I was born in Portlaoise and grew up just outside the town in Clonkeen. I went to school in Portlaoise, firstly in St. Paul's CBS and then on to secondary school in St. Mary's CBS on Towerhill.
Sport was always a focal point in my house growing up, especially in relation to the GAA.
My mother Margo is a very proud Kilkenny woman, while my father Noel grew up in Dr Murphy's Place and would "ate ya for the town", as he'd say himself.
Sport played a huge part in my life growing up. Football, hurling, soccer and basketball all featured at one stage or another.
Most of my friends were sports-mad too, so there was always a match to be played somewhere, whether official or unofficial.
Influences
My interest in the club definitely came from my Dad, Noel. He bleeds green and white for the Town and some of my earliest childhood memories are of standing beside him on the Town End terrace in O'Moore Park roaring on Portlaoise.
His passion for the club is unrivalled and he is a walking encyclopaedia when it comes to the history of the club and those who have represented Portlaoise.
My love for the club was nurtured from a very early age through Dad and that eventually led to me getting involved myself, playing football on Sunday mornings up on Father Browne Avenue from about the age of eight onwards.
Playing
I played football for Portlaoise from Under 12 right up to Under 21 level. I hurled Under 16 for a year but hung up the hurley after that due to the fact that I was more adept at hitting fresh air than the sliotar.
We won an Under 16 A League final that year, which was great to be involved in.
Football was always my first love. I was average at best, but I always took great pride in wearing the Portlaoise jersey.
I was part of two Minor A championship-winning panels in 2002 and 2003. I also captained the Minor B team to the county final in 2003, which we unfortunately lost to St Paul's.
Once I started college in Waterford, that was effectively the beginning of the end of my playing career. I wasn't a great man to train at the best of times and the social life of college got the better of me.
I always regretted not going back to play in some capacity, but that's life.
Memories
Too many to mention. I could write a book on some of the one-liners that were produced on the Town End terrace over the years.
Being involved with two Minor Championship-winning teams would have to be a personal favourite. Those teams were packed with some outrageously talented players.
Seeing Portlaoise win Leinster titles in 2004 and 2009 was very special, as was seeing the club play in the All-Ireland Club Final in 2005, even if the result didn't go our way on the day.
My Dad was involved as a selector with many teams over the years, with great success from Under 14 right up to Intermediate level. Supporting those teams brought about some very proud moments.
Leinster championship campaigns always generated great memories, especially when Portlaoise were drawn away from home. The craic before and after those matches was always electric, win, lose or draw.
In more recent times, seeing my nephew Ryan become involved with the Portlaoise All Stars has been a great source of pride and joy. Seeing him represent the club in Croke Park is something myself and my family will never forget.
One of the best comments I ever heard at a game came from Kieran Dunphy, who soldiered on the sideline with my Dad for many years.
It was during the Leinster Club Final against Ballymun Kickhams in Mullingar. The game was in the melting pot when one of the Portlaoise players took a bad blow. Blood was spilled and, as he lay on the ground, Kieran roared from the terrace: "Get up outta that, ya can bleed tomorrow!" Priceless.
Best Games
I think the best game I attended was when Portlaoise beat Crossmaglen Rangers in the All-Ireland semi-final in 2005 in Parnell Park.
Beating a team like that, who were still in their prime, was an amazing achievement and the atmosphere that day was something else.
The Minor A Final of 2002 against Stradbally also stands out. As a spectacle it was a great game of football. There was no quarter given and Portlaoise played out of their skins.
Seeing the senior hurlers win the county final in 2004 was another great game to attend and hopefully it won't be too long until the hurlers are back competing at the top table again.
Best Players
In terms of players, it's hard to know where to start.
From the lads my own age, I'd have to say that Peter "The Chief" McNulty, God rest him, was the best I played with. He had it all: skill, desire, a great footballing brain and the ability to mix it physically with the very best.
Cahir Healy has always been the embodiment of what the club is all about. The commitment and passion he showed every time he played for the Town was incredible. A brilliant hurler and footballer, he'll rightly go down as one of the all-time greats within the club.
Bruno McCormack was a genius to behold and made the game look easy. More than once he came up with the goods when Portlaoise needed him most.
Tommy Fitzgerald was the best hurler I've seen in my time following Portlaoise, another great servant to the club.
GAA – What Does It Mean?
GAA clubs are the heart and soul of communities nationwide and Portlaoise is no different.
Some of my fondest memories growing up involved the club, and seeing the passion and love my Dad has for Portlaoise has always inspired me.
Club and family are intrinsically linked, so to see my nephew Ryan involved now is just brilliant. Hopefully his two younger brothers will follow his lead.
The Boss Man – Noel
My Dad, as I've alluded to already, has been the biggest influence on me in terms of my love for the Town and the club.
He could talk all day about the club and some of the stories and memories he has from years gone by are worth their weight in gold.
He has been involved with the club his entire life, from playing for the hurlers and footballers to patrolling the sidelines as a selector with many teams from Under 14 all the way up to Intermediate level.
He even lost a thumb in the heat of battle while hurling for the Town.
He has had a tough time over the past year dealing with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. As a result he hasn't been able to attend as many games as he would have liked, but I've no doubt he'll be back roaring on the Town sooner rather than later.
He's a true Townie and a great ambassador for the club. Being able to attend the recent celebrations in the Midlands Park Hotel gave him a great boost and it was wonderful to see him enjoy the night as much as he did.
The Tattler – Getting Involved
I was recently approached by club chairperson Teddy Fennelly about getting involved with the Tattler.
I was over the moon and jumped at the opportunity.
I've always had a love for the written word and enjoy writing the odd poem. To be asked to become involved with the Tattler is a great honour.
I have a few small ideas of how I might be able to contribute and hopefully they'll be given the green light.
The work that has gone into the publication so far by everyone involved has been amazing. I think it's a fantastic resource for the club and has huge potential going forward.
Hopes for Portlaoise GAA
Portlaoise has been a dual club from the very beginning and I think this is an amazing achievement and one that isn't appreciated as much as it should be.
Going forward, I would love to see the club consistently competing for top honours again in both football and hurling.
The time and investment that has gone into developing Rathleague has been great to see and long may it continue.
Club25 is a tremendous initiative and I hope all the targets set out are achieved.
The underage structures in the club have always been the bedrock of future success and I hope that continues.
The more time and investment that is put into underage teams, the better.
Ladies football and camogie have come on leaps and bounds over the last number of years and I hope that remains the case.
Overall, my greatest hope for the club is that it continues to grow as a focal point for the local community, a place where friendships and memories are made and dreams are realised.
From the Town Tattler, Volume 3 Issue 4.