Noel O'Callaghan looking forward to taking up county board vice-chairperson role

Noel O’Callaghan will be willing to listen to all views as he prepares to take on the role of Cork County Board chairperson next month.

The Clonakilty man will assume the role at county convention, taking over from Pat Horgan of Midleton, who will step up to become chairperson following the completion of Marc Sheehan’s term in charge.

“I think the most important thing is to be fair to people and to allow everyone to give their views,” he says.

“Every fella is entitled to their opinion – Noel O’Callaghan’s opinion isn’t always right or Pat Horgan’s isn’t, so it’s important that you listen to people.

“They won’t always agree with you but the important thing is that they know you’re doing something for the right reasons.”

O’Callaghan held almost all positions on the Clonakilty committee and was chairperson from 2002-11, a period that encompassed the development of their new facilities at Ahamilla as well as the county SFC win of 2009.

From there, he became the club’s county board delegate in 2012 and soon found himself on the executive.

“I didn’t come on to the county board until 2012, so I was a latecomer that way,” he says

“I won’t say I’m qualified enough as you’re learning every day, but I’m looking forward to it.

“I enjoy what I do – if you didn’t enjoy it, you wouldn’t do it.

“I became a senior football representative in 2013 and I’ve been on the executive since.

“I did three years as the football representative and then three years as children’s officer and another three as development officer and safety & facilities officer.”

O’Callaghan will become just the second person from the Carbery division to hold the role – Kevin O’Donovan was vice-chair in 2018 before being appointed as county secretary/CEO. Having run to succeed O’Donovan – Marc Sheehan was elected – O’Callaghan opted not to run against Horgan in 2020 but always planned to have another crack.

Despite its size, there has been no chair representing a Carbery club – Drimoleague native Jim Forbes did so as a Carrigaline member – and O’Callaghan hopes that that can change in the future.

“I went for vice-chair five years ago and Marc Sheehan beat me,’ he says.

“I didn’t go the last time – Pat went instead and I didn’t want to go against him but it was always my intention to go this time.

“Carbery is the biggest division, with 26 clubs, but it’s amazing that there has never been a chair and that I’m only the second vice-chair.

“Imokilly, for example, has had its fair share of chairpersons – Christy Cooney, Jerry O’Sullivan, Ger Lane, Tracey Kennedy and now Pat – and you’d like to think that the people are there in Carbery too.”