Cloyne's Jerry O'Sullivan has given a lifetime of service to Cork and Munster GAA
Former Munster Council chairman Jerry O'Sullivan. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Over the years the Rebel county has been blessed to have produced many great players and administrators and in Jerry O’Sullivan, you have a man that is served in various roles throughout his career.
“I suppose how it started for me when I was attending Cloyne National School and there was a teacher Michael O’Brien, who encouraged everyone to play hurling and football,” Jerry said.
From a boy to the tender age of 42 Jerry played with Cloyne and his love for the club is very evident.
“I just loved putting on the club jersey and luckily I had five sons who followed in my footsteps and that made me a very proud father,” added O’Sullivan.
Jerry met the love of his life Garoidine and they married in 1973 and were blessed with six children Martina, Diarmuid, Eoin, Colm, Donal and Paudie.
The Cloyne man was chairman from 1976 to 1992 and in all those 16 years he also managed to play with his beloved club. From Cloyne, it was on to the Imokilly division where he served as PRO, vice chairman and chairman from 1992 until 1997.
The ambition of working with the Cork County Board was the next step for Jerry and his first role was in the coaching officer role from 2001 to 2005. It was then on to the position of vice chairman from 2006 to 2008 before taking the big step to the chairman’s position in 2009 where he served until 2011.
So, what gave Jerry the buzz to fill so many positions for club, division, and at county board level?
“You have to enjoy it because I was lucky to have seen both sides of the fence but to me, it was all about doing your best and trying to be fair to all clubs.”
The Cork hurling strike in 2009 had Jerry as chairman with sons Diarmuid and Paudie involved with the Cork team.
“I can genuinely say it never affected our family life as we never had any disagreements, but it was very simple they went the road they thought was right for them.
When O’Sullivan finished with the Cork County Board he began working with the Munster Council where he served as vice-chairman from 2012 to 2015 and as chairman from 2016 to 2018.
Working in the Croke Park management committee was another task for Jerry and he decided to go for President of the GAA in 2020 losing out in the five-man race that was won by Larry McCarthy representing New York.
“I had done everything else and if I hadn’t went for it I might down the line be asking myself why I didn’t try but look it wasn’t to be and at end of the day it wasn’t the end of the world.”
The Cork hurlers are going great guns, fresh from their league win, but Jerry believes winning an All-Ireland is a tough task.
“Munster is a tough ask for all teams and the new format of the round robin is certainly a huge success both for the standard of hurling and financially as all games are sold out.”
The refurbished Páirc Uí Chaoimh came for mention from Jerry who praised all concerned for putting together a state-of-the-art stadium.
“Spectators expect the best and that’s what Páirc Uí Chaoimh gives them and we are proud as we are a leading county in the GAA.
“The people that talk about the debt in the stadium should look at major projects around the country and sadly they all overrun on the original price due to different issues.”
The decline in Cork football is a major talking point in the county but O’Sullivan hopes they can turn things around in the near future.
“You never know with Cork football, but I do know in recent years people found it hard to watch but thankfully the new rules will make it a better spectacle for fans all over the country.”
It's now back to his club working as assistant secretary.
“I just love being involved, as I would go to see a game every day of the week no matter what grade it is as the GAA is simply my life.”
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