Aisake Ó hAilpín
Encyclopedia
Aisake Faga Ó hAilpín is an Irish Australian
sportsperson. He grew up in Cork and played hurling
and Gaelic football
with Na Piarsaigh
. Ó hAilpín played Australian rules football
with the Carlton Football Club
between 2005 and 2008. Following this, he spent two seasons playing hurling at inter-county level with the Cork senior panel before signing an contract with Australian rules club, Maribyrnong Park Football Club
.
to Seán Ó hAilpín, an oil-rig worker and a native of Fermanagh in Northern Ireland
, and his wife Emilie, a hotel worker and a Rotuman
. The fifth in a family of six, the Ó hAilpín's would later enjoy great sporting success in Australia and Ireland. His eldest brother, Seán Óg
, would captain the Cork senior hurling team to the All-Ireland
title in 2005. His other brothers, Setanta
and Teu
, would later enjoy some success as Australian rules football players.
The Ó hAilpín family moved from Australia to Ireland in 1988 and settled in Cork
. They rented a house in the city before moving permanently to Blarney
, just a short few miles outside the city. Ó hAilpín was educated locally in the Gaelcholáiste
section of the famous North Monastery secondary school
. It was in the 'North Mon' that he was also first introduced to Gaelic games
.
with the Na Piarsaigh
club on the north side of Cork city. He enjoyed little success in the minor or under-21 grades.
By 2004 Ó hAilpín had joined the Na Piarsaigh senior hurling team. That year the club qualified for the final of the county senior championship
for the first time in almost a decade. East Cork stalwarts Cloyne
provided the opposition on that occasion. The first-half was a close affair which saw Cloyne take a one point lead at the interval. Na Piarsaigh, however, produced an exceptional second-half display and secured a 0–17 to 0–10 victory, with Ó hAilpín finishing as the game's top scorer with five points. It was his first, and to date his only, county championship winners' medal.
In 2004 Ó hAilpín joined the Cork under-21 hurling team, however, provincial and All-Ireland successes eluded him on this occasion also.
. He joined the Carlton Football Club
in Melbourne
where he played alongside his brother Setanta.
Ó hAilpín was placed on the Carlton Football Club's rookie list
for the 2005 AFL
season, however, his development was slow. He spent 2005 in the reserves at Carlton's , the Northern Bullants
, and was in and out of the Bullants' senior team in 2006.
Ó hAilpín began his third year again on the rookie list in 2007, which had to be his final rookie-listed season by AFL rules, playing exclusively in the Bullants' seniors and predominately in the ruck. He was believed to be close to elevation and selection, with Carlton coach Denis Pagan
confirming this in a post-match press conference in June, but shortly afterwards Ó hAilpín sustained a season-ending groin injury. Carlton announced during the 2007 season that they would elevate Ó hAilpín to the senior list for 2008 and later made it official during the post season. After promising so much potential, Ó hAilpín failed to register a senior game and was delisted at the end of the 2008 season and left Australia.
in the Essendon District Football League
, alongside former Carlton team-mate Luke Livingston
.
Irish Australian
Irish Australians have played a long and enduring part in Australia's history. Many came to Australia in the eighteenth century as settlers or as convicts, and contributed to Australia's development in many different areas....
sportsperson. He grew up in Cork and played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with Na Piarsaigh
Na Piarsaigh GAA
Na Piarsaigh are a Hurling and Gaelic football club based in the north side of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1943.-Birth of the club:...
. Ó hAilpín played Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
with the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
between 2005 and 2008. Following this, he spent two seasons playing hurling at inter-county level with the Cork senior panel before signing an contract with Australian rules club, Maribyrnong Park Football Club
Maribyrnong Park Football Club
Maribyrnong Park Football Club is an Australian rules football club located 7 km north of Melbourne in the suburb of Moonee Ponds .The club was formed in 1980 from an amalgamation of Riverside Stars and Moonee Imperials football clubs who shared the same clubroom and played on adjacent ovals...
.
Biography
Ó hAilpín was born in Bankstown, SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to Seán Ó hAilpín, an oil-rig worker and a native of Fermanagh in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and his wife Emilie, a hotel worker and a Rotuman
Rotuman people
The Rotuman people are the indigenous inhabitants of Rotuma, a small island group forming part of the Republic of Fiji. The island itself is a cultural melting pot at the crossroads of the Micronesian, Melanesian and Polynesian divisions of the Pacific Ocean, and due to the seafaring nature of...
. The fifth in a family of six, the Ó hAilpín's would later enjoy great sporting success in Australia and Ireland. His eldest brother, Seán Óg
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín is an iconic Irish-Fijian sportsperson. A former dual player, he currently plays hurling with his local club Na Piarsaigh and is a member of the Cork senior inter-county team. Ó hAilpín captained Cork to the All-Ireland title in 2005...
, would captain the Cork senior hurling team to the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
title in 2005. His other brothers, Setanta
Setanta Ó hAilpín
Setanta "Carlos" Ó hAilpín is an Australian-Irish sportsman. He was a hurler with the Cork senior team before becoming a professional Australian Rules footballer. He is of mixed Irish and Rotuman background...
and Teu
Teu Ó hAilpín
Teu Ó hAilpín is an Irish sportsperson playing for Na Piarsaigh GAA. Born in Cork, he was a Gaelic Athletic Association player who played for the Éire Óg club in Ennis and Na Piarsaigh in Cork. He is the brother of Cork senior hurling players Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Aisake and older brother of...
, would later enjoy some success as Australian rules football players.
The Ó hAilpín family moved from Australia to Ireland in 1988 and settled in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. They rented a house in the city before moving permanently to Blarney
Blarney
Blarney is a town and townland in County Cork, Ireland. It lies north-west of Cork and is famed as the site of Blarney Castle, home of the legendary Blarney Stone.-Tourism:Blarney town is a major tourist attraction in County Cork...
, just a short few miles outside the city. Ó hAilpín was educated locally in the Gaelcholáiste
Gaelcholáiste
A gaelcholáiste is a particular type of Irish medium school in Ireland and Northern Ireland at secondary level. They are characterised by being secondary Irish-medium schools outside the Gaeltacht. Of the approximately 10,000 secondary students who do all their school subjects through Irish,...
section of the famous North Monastery secondary school
The North Monastery
The North Monastery is a collection of primary, secondary and a Gaelcholáiste schools located at Our Lady's Mount, Cork City, Republic of Ireland.-History:...
. It was in the 'North Mon' that he was also first introduced to Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
.
Na Piarsaigh
Ó hAilpín played club hurling and Gaelic footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with the Na Piarsaigh
Na Piarsaigh GAA
Na Piarsaigh are a Hurling and Gaelic football club based in the north side of Cork City, Ireland. The club was founded in 1943.-Birth of the club:...
club on the north side of Cork city. He enjoyed little success in the minor or under-21 grades.
By 2004 Ó hAilpín had joined the Na Piarsaigh senior hurling team. That year the club qualified for the final of the county senior championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
for the first time in almost a decade. East Cork stalwarts Cloyne
Cloyne GAA
Cloyne GAA club is located in the small town of Cloyne in east County Cork, Ireland. Founded in 1887 they have yet to win a Cork Senior Hurling Championship title and have the dubious distinction of losing in the last 3 finals...
provided the opposition on that occasion. The first-half was a close affair which saw Cloyne take a one point lead at the interval. Na Piarsaigh, however, produced an exceptional second-half display and secured a 0–17 to 0–10 victory, with Ó hAilpín finishing as the game's top scorer with five points. It was his first, and to date his only, county championship winners' medal.
Cork minor & under-21
Ó hAilpín's form as a club player quickly brought him to the attention of the Cork minor selectors. He was included on both the minor hurling and football teams that year, however, Cork failed to land a Munster title in either code. In spite of these defeats Ó hAilpín's side still subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland semi-finals, however, both the hurlers and footballers of Cork were defeated.In 2004 Ó hAilpín joined the Cork under-21 hurling team, however, provincial and All-Ireland successes eluded him on this occasion also.
Carlton
Following Na Piarsaigh's county championship triumph in late 2004, Ó hAilpín decided to travel to Australia where he took up Australian rules footballAustralian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
. He joined the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
where he played alongside his brother Setanta.
Ó hAilpín was placed on the Carlton Football Club's rookie list
Rookie list
The Rookie List is a means for Australian Football League clubs to maintain additional players outside of the 38-man primary or senior list. Rookie listed players are not eligibile to play in AFL home and away or finals matches unless they are elevated to the senior list, either to replace a...
for the 2005 AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
season, however, his development was slow. He spent 2005 in the reserves at Carlton's , the Northern Bullants
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
, and was in and out of the Bullants' senior team in 2006.
Ó hAilpín began his third year again on the rookie list in 2007, which had to be his final rookie-listed season by AFL rules, playing exclusively in the Bullants' seniors and predominately in the ruck. He was believed to be close to elevation and selection, with Carlton coach Denis Pagan
Denis Pagan
Denis Pagan is a former Australian rules football coach and player in the VFL/AFL. He is current coach of Northern Knights in TAC Cup.-Playing career:...
confirming this in a post-match press conference in June, but shortly afterwards Ó hAilpín sustained a season-ending groin injury. Carlton announced during the 2007 season that they would elevate Ó hAilpín to the senior list for 2008 and later made it official during the post season. After promising so much potential, Ó hAilpín failed to register a senior game and was delisted at the end of the 2008 season and left Australia.
Cork senior
In February 2009, having returned to Ireland, Ó hAilpín played in several challenge matches for the Cork football and hurling teams. He eventually spent the year with the hurling panel. Ó hAilpín started and was selected as man of the match in Cork's surprise first-round championship win over Tipperary. However, he failed to impress in the remainder of the season and announced a return to Australian rules at the end of 2010.Maribyrnong Park
Ó hAilpín returned to Melbourne in 2011, and signed to play for Maribyrnong ParkMaribyrnong Park Football Club
Maribyrnong Park Football Club is an Australian rules football club located 7 km north of Melbourne in the suburb of Moonee Ponds .The club was formed in 1980 from an amalgamation of Riverside Stars and Moonee Imperials football clubs who shared the same clubroom and played on adjacent ovals...
in the Essendon District Football League
Essendon District Football League
The Essendon District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, which was established in 1930.The EDFL consists of 24 senior clubs, 10 clubs in A Grade and 14 clubs in B Grade...
, alongside former Carlton team-mate Luke Livingston
Luke Livingston
Luke Livingston is an Australian rules footballer who played top-level football for the AFL's Carlton Football Club.Livingston played his junior football for Kerang in the Central Murray Football League, and for the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup. He was drafted by Carlton with the #4 draft pick...
.