Offaly’s Pat Fleury. Photo: Sportsfile
It ran from 1963 to 1967, but since it didn t have official GAA backing and was largely ignored by the wider media world, it ran aground.
Mick Dunne (initially Irish Press and later RTÉ) led the campaign to launch a new and official scheme, complete with sponsors and a glitzy presentation ceremony, the first of which was held on December 15, 1971.
Carrolls did an excellent job marketing the new arrival, including the production of large colourful posters, which carried pictures and citations for all 30 players. They became essential decorations on pub and club walls and, in many cases, a whole range of them are still to be seen around the country.
This time last year, Kathryn Thomas was just back from her honeymoon in the Caribbean with her husband Padraig McLoughlin. Actually, "we did the Celtic Tiger two honeymoons," she laughs. "We went away without Ellie [the couple s two-year-old daughter] for a few days immediately after the wedding, and then later we took her with us to the Caribbean."
Kathryn Thomas in India for No Frontiers
So assuming the vaccine is rolled out, and travel is green-lighted, what are her expectations around travel this year? By August/ September, I would love to envisage myself and Padraig and Ellie getting on a flight. It will depend on where we are with numbers, of course. We re going to get this virus under control, that s for sure, and then it s about everybody acting responsibly.
Travel will be interesting this year, she continues. Everyone will need recuperation, restoration, recovery, after the year we ve had. But the way people travel - often going back to the old reliable hotels and resorts - will change. Maybe people will think about something different, somewhere new, and a little less busy. Ask yourself, where am I going to feel safe? And the answer to that will mean different types of holiday, and less-travelled places, emerging. This won t be a year for group travel or bus tours. We re going to see more home-stays, more priv
Kids love him, and the adults love him, because he can tog out and he’ll embarrass our adult footballers with the way he can kick a ball.
“He would kick a 45/50-yard pass with his famous one, outside of the left (foot), and he would put it on a five pence. And he would always carry a bit of style, says Michael Hegarty of Crossmolina GAA who grew up and played with McDonald. Even at this stage, and he’s retired, kids want to be like him. He stands out in a crowd and the kids are like, ‘Who’s that guy? Who’s that kicking the ball like that?’