This article is from page 57 of the 2011-07-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 57 JPG
THERE was a queue of councillors and officials waiting to greet Giovanni Trappattoni in Ennis on Thursday but the Ireland manager reserved a particularly warm welcome for one of Clare’s best-known Italian businessmen.
As he entered the headquarters of Clare County Council to attend a civic reception in honor of the Football Association of Ireland’s (FAI) visit to Clare, Trappattoni stopped to talk and pose for photographs with Enzo D’Auria and his family.
Enzo, who opened the popular branch of fast food restaurants in Ennis in 1981, his son Alfonso and 10year-old grandson Gavin had their photograph taken with the football legend. It was a memorable moment for the football mad family who have strong connections with local club Avenue United.
“I introduced myself and he asked me where I come from. I told him a place called Ravello. He knows it, a beautiful spot. It’s a very tourist spot on the Amalfi coast. He’s a nice man. He never refuses to take photographs. A very down to earth man”, recalled Enzo.
Trappattoni was accompanied to Clare by Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli, whom Enzo had met during the heady days of Ireland’s Itlalia 90 world cup campaign
He explained, “I met Tardelli in Italia 90 in Palermo. We went to the Ireland and Holland game. Me and my young fella went there, Alfonso.
Enzo moved to Ireland 43 years ago after previously working in England. He said, “I’d done a film in Ireland with Walt Disney in 1968. That’s how I met my wife. She’s from Clare, Ennis, Tuohy. I meet my wife and we got married a year after”.