Joe Miskella lauded for magnificent Munster final speech as Gaeilge

The acceptance speech delivered entirely as Gaeilge by the winning Cork minor football captain Joe Miskella in Páirc Uí Rinn recently has been recognised by his primary and secondary schools.

Ballincollig’s Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin and Gaelcholáiste Choilm jointly presented their past pupil with a commemorative piece of glass in the presence of staff and pupils from both schools, in recognition of the delivery of his captain’s speech in his native language, after Cork’s victory over Kerry in the Munster final.

It was a throwback to Seán Óg Ó hAilpín's iconic delivery from the steps of the Hogan Cup when lifting Liam MacCarthy in 2005.

The 17-year-old was lauded by principals Mícheál Ó Draighneáin and Michelle Sliney for his unprompted speech in Irish, which has been viewed over 32,000 times on the school's Instagram account.

“Táimid uilig thar a bheith bródúil as Joe agus as an cur chun cinn atá déanta aige dá theanga dhúchais/We are extremely proud of Joe and of his promotion of his native language among his own generation”, said Mícheál Ó Draighneáin.

Gaelcholáiste Choilm Priomhoide Michelle Sliney remarked that the future of the language was in good hands, with the likes of Joe and his contemporaries showing such willingness to speak and to use the language. 

"Is cúis dóchais dúinn uilig go bhfuil ár ndaltaí sásta ardán a thabhairt dár dteanga féin agus í a labhairt ag a leithéid d'ócáid."

In accepting the award, Joe Miskella urged all in attendance to continue to use and to be proud of their own language and remarked that he hoped to be in a position to deliver another winning 'óráid' in the future.

The all-action wing-forward was certainly in top form for the Cork minors in the All-Ireland quarter-final at Semple Stadium last weekend, grabbing 1-3 as Keith Ricken's side powered into the last four and a meeting with Derry. Tyrone face Kildare in the other semi-final.

Joe's father, John, is a former All-Star and All-Ireland winner with Cork, while his mother, Claire, nee McCarthy, also has a strong sporting background. His older brother Danny was one of the key attackers in the Cork U20 side that ran Kerry close in this season's Munster final.

Former Gaelscoil Uí Ríordáin and current Gaelcholáiste Choilm pupil Éanna Lynch is also in the Cork minor line-up.