Tánaiste Micheál Martin meets with Cork sports legends on African trip

During his official visit to Kenya, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has met with two Cork people he described as being “sporting legends”.

The Tánaiste said: “A real honour to meet two great Corkonians in Nairobi today. Fr Sean Barry, an outstanding hurler, member of the 1966 All Ireland winning team and prolific scorer. Br Colm O’Connell, [who] coached many Kenyan athletes to World Championship and Olympic glory — sporting legends.”

Fr Barry was born in Rathcormac and made his senior championship debut for Cork in 1966. The subsequent All-Ireland final on September 4, 1966 pitted Kilkenny against Cork for the first time in 19 years. Not only was it a first championship for Cork in 12 years, but the victory also gave Fr Barry a coveted All-Ireland medal.

Missionary

He would go on to make his career as a missionary in Africa but despite the distance, Fr Barry never forgot the game.

“There was a TV channel in South Africa that was very good on sports, and the odd time they’d have the All-Ireland hurling final on, which was great, though it doesn’t run anymore,” he said speaking to the Irish Examiner while visiting Cork for the 1966 team reunion in 2016.

Originally from Mallow, Br O’Connell officially joined the Brotherhood in 1971, and after teaching for a short time in Ireland, he was eager to experience a different lifestyle and culture in Kenya.

Coaching

Although Br O’Connell was always interested in sports, it was in Kenya that he discovered his passion for coaching.

“Gradually some of the young talents in my care began to improve and blossom, eventually graduating to the highest level of the sport, Olympics and World Championships as well as setting World Records,” he explained.

Br O’Connell is still proud of his “Irish-ness” and says he has “always endeavoured to retain my Irish heritage and my interest in Ireland. I am a close follower of political and sporting affairs in Ireland, especially the fortunes of my beloved Cork.”

Mr Martin is currently on a four-day trip visiting Kenya and Ethiopia to strengthen links with Africa. During his visit he addressed a group of Kenyan scientists and asked them to get behind Cork in the All-Ireland.

He said: “My county are playing in the national final this Sunday. We will need a lot of cheering for the entire game.”