Last Sunday in the Hyde , as pre-match entertainment we had former Ros County player, Ronan Brady going through an acrobatic routine with a large steel hoop known as a Cyr wheel. Ronan after starting off in the more conventional GAA route of teaching ran off to the circus, in this case the Cirque de Soleil and this is now how he makes his living. Our full back from last year, Neil Collins has headed off to New York try his luck as a fashion guru. Our most famous former footballing son, Chris O'Dowd is currently earning a crust as a Hollywood A lister.

The conventional perception for a GAA inter county player is a teacher or a guard , good to see a bit of diversity coming in.

facethepuckout (Roscommon) - Posts: 214 - 22/06/2017 22:28:52    2003784

in the past there have been clergymen who played inter county
http://kerrygaa.proboards.com/thread/3612?page=1

limerick had brothers paudie and willie fitzmaurice who were both priests

dave clarke 1994 all star wing back ran a fruit and veg stall

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 23/06/2017 11:40:03    2003930

Pat Comer, sub 'keeper on our 1998 All-Ireland winning team, was a cameraman/film-maker. Not a particularly unusual occupation, but it brought about the behind-the-scenes documentary "A Year Til Sunday".

You won't see many cameras in dressing rooms nowadays....

streaker (Galway) - Posts: 497 - 23/06/2017 12:22:00    2003951

For the match program in our last championship final a few years ago, our captain put down 'Astronaut' as his occupation! Needless to say he's never been in outer space.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9132 - 23/06/2017 12:58:18    2003966

Are there any intercounty doctors right now? I woud be surprised if there was given the demands of both jobs.

Dr Pádraig Carney (aka The Flying Doctor) was a 2 time All Ireland winner with Mayo and one of a great GAA players. His move to America was a great loss for Mayo but he was flown back by the Mayo CB for the1954 league semi v Dublin.

He had to leave Idlewild Airport in New York (now JFK) on the Friday evening, with a stop in Gander, Newfoundland, for refuelling on the then almost twelve hour flight to Shannon, before going on to Dublin. After the game, he had to fly back to New York for work on Tuesday morning.

He was the first footballer to be flown from the USA for a game and became known as "the flying doctor". Carney captained Mayo to a magnificent 0-11 to 0-7 victory over Dublin.

He was again flown home for the 1954 league final in which he captained Mayo to defeat Carlow by 2-10 to 0-3. It was his last competitive game for Mayo on Irish soil. One can really reflect on his amazing achievements when it is appreciated that he played his last game for Mayo in the Polo Grounds, New York, in October 1954 at the age of twenty-six!

Mayo officials believed that they could win the 1954 Connacht championship without Pádraig Carney and had arranged to bring him home for the All-Ireland semi-final and final (such faith!). However, Galway and a brilliant Seán Purcell had other ideas and exploded the Mayo dream by defeating them in the Connacht championship.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 23/06/2017 12:58:33    2003967

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 23/06/2017 13:18:47    2003984

witnof (Dublin) - Posts: 1604 - 23/06/2017 13:42:58    2003998

Few car salesmen, sales reps, etc on the Wexford team. Plenty of students, a few lads who don't work very hard too.
Ger Cushe used to be a milkman I am fairly sure. Martin Storey used to be a psychiatric nurse.
I wonder who the last priest was? Fr. Iggy Clarke, or Fr. Martin Casey? I know one thing, you wouldn't know Fr. Martin Casey was a priest once he togged out, he never spared timber on anybody on a hurling pitch!

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 23/06/2017 14:43:23    2004039

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 23/06/2017 15:03:07    2004048

Wasn't Noel O Leary a tree surgeon?

doratheexplorer (Cavan) - Posts: 1467 - 23/06/2017 15:10:16    2004051

Barry Foley of Limerick used to be listed as a chicken farmer in the 1996 programs.

I was working in Clare at the time & at our table was a mighty michelin man who was mocking that occupation. I said to him if he cut back on the steak & chips breakfasts and tried some chicken maybe he'd fit into his seat...... He wasn't impressed.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 23/06/2017 15:33:43    2004059

anthony maher - scientist
sean boylan -herbalist
dave breen - physio to leinster rugby

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 23/06/2017 15:40:29    2004065

football first (None) - Posts: 1259 - 23/06/2017 15:44:36    2004068

Sure is it any wonder some teams had priests on them, don't today's elite footballers and hurlers lead a very monastic lifestyle.

Mickmick (Dublin) - Posts: 104 - 23/06/2017 15:57:16    2004074

Willie McCreery - horse trainer

beir_bua (Kildare) - Posts: 746 - 23/06/2017 15:57:55    2004075

Gerry McEntee is a surgeon. Some of his opponents probably needed a bit of surgery after they tangled with Gerry!

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7343 - 23/06/2017 19:49:45    2004149

Dr. David Hickey, Dr. Pat O'Neill and Dr. Noel Mc Caffrey(Jack's father) Dublin men one and all.

daddyo (Dublin) - Posts: 9 - 23/06/2017 21:13:23    2004165

Kerry captain Johnny Buckley is a bus driver, think he drives for Kerry coaches.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 23/06/2017 21:20:24    2004166

John Browne of Cork is a dentist. His brother Richard also played in mid 80s. He is also a dentist. Mark Foley who played from late 80s to early 90s is also a dentist.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 23/06/2017 21:49:46    2004177

Ciaran Mc Donald Tipperary footballer, and medical doctor. Brendan Murphy medical officer, Tipp hurlers, played for Offaly.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1741 - 23/06/2017 21:49:58    2004179