Pavee planning for bright future - Ireland

From the Herald.ie

THE Dublin flags were still flying proudly outside Paddy McDonnell's home. The sun is coming in through the front window.

Paddy is the manager of the Pavee, the football team of the Travelling Community. They have had an excellent season in the AFL Division 10 Mid County, finishing third in the 16-team league.

Paddy's thoughts drift back to the great Bill Shelley. "Bill managed Pavee for years. He was such a gentleman. He did so much for the Travellers, both on and off the field. After Bill, the team had no manager. Lads kept approaching me. I decided to give it a go. It's important to promote a healthy lifestyle, and football is central to that."

CORE

Pavee have 25 players in the squad. They range in age from 16 to 36. They play at St Vincent's school. They train at Poppintree. Paddy's co-mentors are Martin Reilly and Patrick McDonagh.

Five families are at the core of the panel – the McDonnells, McDonaghs, Collinses, Cawleys and Joyces. There are many relations.

Paddy's father hailed from Westmeath. His mother came from Offaly. He learned his early football in Castlepollard.

He followed the Dubs everywhere. David Hickey and Tony Hanahoe were his favourites. "Brian Mullins was a great man to come back from the car accident to win the All-Ireland in '83. I'll never forget the semi-final in Cork. It was a great day. Joe McNally and Kieran Duff ... legends.

"But Dublin had so many good footballers over the years, you could name them all," says Paddy, who also had a real fondness for Offaly's Matt Connor.

Paddy has four sons playing for Pavee – Jamesie, Johnny, Paddy and Kieran. His youngest son, Thomas, plays with the U10s at Good Counsel. He's also bright off the field. A Student of the Year certificate hangs in the sitting room.

Paddy's daughter, Kathleen, also played football, and he says that sport means so much in the Travelling Community.

Gaelic football, boxing, soccer and swimming are popular pursuits. He would like to see more sports clubs within the Travelling Community. And looking at his work with Pavee, there would be no better co-ordinator to knit it all together. There is so much sporting talent within the community, just waiting for the chance to dance. It's a role that would sit perfectly with Paddy.

He's happy to see Pavee progress. "Our aim is to establish the team on a sound footing. We want it here in the years to come. We'd love to have our own ground. And we'd like to develop more teams, from the juvenile level up. The people are crying out for football."

He has forever friends at Erin's Isle – the Barrs, Charlie Redmond and so many at the club. He appreciates the wise words of Mick Dowling and Phil Sutcliffe. And he'll always be grateful to the Dublin county board – "John Costello, Jim Roche, John McNicholas, Kevin O'Shaughnessy. They couldn't do enough for us. I met Donal Hickey the other day. He was always so supportive."

MARVELLOUS

Ger Brennan, David Hickey and Conor Hickey will shortly be bringing Sam to the Travelling Community in Finglas. "They did the same in 2011. Marvellous people."

Paddy is thrilled with the Pavee renaissance. "The lads are so committed. You have the family members of players who played on the old team now playing. I'd often pop into them after training for a cup of tea. The encouragement they give me is just unreal."

Paddy keeps referring back to his old friend, Bill Shelley, a hero of the Travelling people. "I remember first going out when Bill was there and I was only 14. We always played in the Offaly jerseys."

Magical days, and Pavee are sure to have many more of them. They'd be delighted if a sponsor could be found. And they'd also welcome new players. Email Paddy at paddymcdonnellwalkinstown@ hotmail.com.