Former Cork camogie secretary Tracy Sheehan enjoying her new role with Seandún division

It has been a rollercoaster ride for the former Cork Camogie Board secretary Tracy Sheehan as she settles into her new role as assistant treasurer of the Seandún division.

Sheehan began with Mayfield GAA club and was involved as secretary of the camogie underage board from the age of 18.

The camogie venture continued when she joined Mary Watt and Tina Sheehan on the juvenile board which went from strength to strength before it was phased out and came under the wing of the senior board.

“In my last couple of years with the juvenile board, Cork had won the intermediate and senior All-Ireland titles and we were invited to Áras an Uachtarain to meet President Michael Higgins,” Sheehan said.

That memorable occasion was in February 2019, and returning from the capital, Sheehan was approached by Sheila Golden to get involved with the senior board.

“I was asked by Sheila to get involved as secretary, but I wasn’t really interested as I felt I had enough of camogie at that stage.

“Sheila didn’t take my refusal to come on board and called a few days later informing me without having a secretary, no Cork team can take to the field.”

After a few days of contemplation, Sheehan decided to help the Cork camogie board.

“My mother had health issues at that time, and I was helping to nurse her at home, so I informed the board that I would take up the role but would be unable to attend meetings on a consistent basis.

“That was agreed by all concerned and during my tenure Cork won All-Irelands.”

Sadly in 2022 Sheehan’s mother passed away and a year later Cork were triumphant in the All-Ireland Senior Championship.”

In 2023 Sheehan received news that slightly surprised her.

“I got a call informing me that another lady was running against me for secretary. To be honest, I gave it some thought and with my mother’s anniversary coming up I decided not to run. I contacted Marian McCarthy, the camogie chairperson at the time to tell her of my decision.”

In February 2024, Sheehan received an unexpected call from a Seandún officer.

“I got a call from Tomás Martin the treasurer of Seandún asking me to come on board as I was no longer involved in camogie, and after some thought I decided to take on my new role as assistant treasurer.”

In the past couple of years, Sheehan has worked diligently with the Seandún board and she couldn’t praise the officers and clubs enough.

“To be honest, they are a great bunch of people who I really enjoy working with; there is great camaraderie, and everybody is pulling in the same direction.

“Like any other board, you have some disagreements, but we sit down and thrash it out and a solution is always found.”

REVAMP

When Sheehan joined Seandún, there was a total revamp, with Eddie Murphy from Douglas coming in as secretary and Martin returning as treasurer.

Derek Connolly joined ranks with Bernard Corcoran doing a great job of appointing referees, everything has gone to plan for the new officers.

This year Seandún celebrated their 100th anniversary and Sheehan was involved with the recent successful dinner at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

“We had a wonderful year that started with a lovely outdoor mass in July and to have 300 people attending our dinner, with Sean Kelly as guest speaker, was a major achievement.”

Mayfield stalwart Sean McCarthy received the Hall of Fame award, so richly deserved for his outstanding contribution to club and division over many years.

Dinny Allen, Wayne Sherlock, Rob Downey, and Sean Powter took part in a question and answers session and it certainly captured the imagination of the huge attendance with RTÉ’s Ger Canning acting as compere.

For Sheehan, life is good and Seandún are lucky to have secured a lady whose commitment over many years has been true to the cause.