Seán Óg De Paor
Encyclopedia
Seán Óg de Paor is a former inter-county footballer for Galway
.
De Paor comes from An Cheathrú Rua in the Connemara Gaeltacht, where he attended the local national school, Scoil Mhic Dara. It was there he started playing Gaelic football
, and he captained the team that won Corn Uí Chonaire - a competition between Gaeltacht national schools in Galway - two years running, in 1982 and 1983.
From there he went on to secondary school in St. Jarlath's College
Tuam, where he further developed his Gaelic-footballing skills. He then went on to attend University College Galway, captaining its 1992 Sigerson Cup-winning side. Throughout this period, he was also regularly playing football for his club, An Cheathrú Rua, and he was on the team that was promoted to senior status in 1987, and he played a vital role when the club won the Senior County Championship in 1996 and Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta in 1997.
But it was as an intercounty player that Seán Óg is best known; he played minor, under 21 and senior-level football for Galway, under a variety of different managers, without great success, it must be admitted, until the arrival of John O'Mahony
as manager in 1997. Seán Óg played a key role in Galway’s winning the All-Ireland
in 1998
and 2001
, and he appeared in another All-Ireland final against Kerry
in 2000, although they were beaten that time around. Seán Óg also played for his country against Australia in the International Rules series in four successive years, between 1998 and 2001.
In 2004, De Paor suffered a cruciate ligament
injury and missed all of the 2004 Championship
as a result. He struggled to shake off the unjury the following, restricting his involvement in the 2005 Championship
. In December of that year, he decided to retire from inter-county football
In January, 2008, De Paor released his autobiography, Lá An Phaoraigh, written entirely in Irish with the assistance of his sister Aoife de Paor, and published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta. Throughout this book we see just how committed Seán Óg de Paor is to Gaelic football and the immense demands intercounty football in particular placed on him. The ups and downs, highs and lows, heartbreak and exhilaration of Gaelic football at every level are all captured in this book by one of Ireland’s most accomplished athletes.
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
.
De Paor comes from An Cheathrú Rua in the Connemara Gaeltacht, where he attended the local national school, Scoil Mhic Dara. It was there he started playing Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
, and he captained the team that won Corn Uí Chonaire - a competition between Gaeltacht national schools in Galway - two years running, in 1982 and 1983.
From there he went on to secondary school in St. Jarlath's College
St. Jarlath's College
St. Jarlath's College is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. It is an amalgamation of the former St. Jarlath's College and St...
Tuam, where he further developed his Gaelic-footballing skills. He then went on to attend University College Galway, captaining its 1992 Sigerson Cup-winning side. Throughout this period, he was also regularly playing football for his club, An Cheathrú Rua, and he was on the team that was promoted to senior status in 1987, and he played a vital role when the club won the Senior County Championship in 1996 and Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta in 1997.
But it was as an intercounty player that Seán Óg is best known; he played minor, under 21 and senior-level football for Galway, under a variety of different managers, without great success, it must be admitted, until the arrival of John O'Mahony
John O'Mahony (Mayo politician)
John O'Mahony is an Irish Fine Gael politician and former football manager. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Mayo constituency. He was elected at the 2007 general election...
as manager in 1997. Seán Óg played a key role in Galway’s winning the All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
in 1998
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1998
The 1998 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship was the 112th edition of the GAA's premier gaelic football competition. It was played from May to September, 1998. Galway's victory marked the first time in 32 years the Sam Maguire Cup returned to the county and the province of Connacht...
and 2001
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2001
-Munster Senior Football Championship:---------------------Ulster Senior Football Championship:-------------------------------------Leinster Senior Football Championship:----------------------------------------...
, and he appeared in another All-Ireland final against Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
in 2000, although they were beaten that time around. Seán Óg also played for his country against Australia in the International Rules series in four successive years, between 1998 and 2001.
In 2004, De Paor suffered a cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligaments are pairs of ligaments arranged like a letter X. They occur in several joints of the body, such as the knee...
injury and missed all of the 2004 Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
as a result. He struggled to shake off the unjury the following, restricting his involvement in the 2005 Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
. In December of that year, he decided to retire from inter-county football
In January, 2008, De Paor released his autobiography, Lá An Phaoraigh, written entirely in Irish with the assistance of his sister Aoife de Paor, and published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta. Throughout this book we see just how committed Seán Óg de Paor is to Gaelic football and the immense demands intercounty football in particular placed on him. The ups and downs, highs and lows, heartbreak and exhilaration of Gaelic football at every level are all captured in this book by one of Ireland’s most accomplished athletes.