This article is from page 85 of the 2009-09-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 85 JPG
TUESDAY last was one of the best, if not the best day, of Patrick Dono- van’s life.
The Ennisman shook the hand of Muhammad Ali and presented him with a book.
A huge fan of ‘The Greatest’, Patrick left his home in Clancy Park three hours later on a mission to see and meet him lifetime hero.
He had dreamed of brining his son Thomas to see an Ali fight but it was never to be, but when Ali came to Ennis, Patrick said all his dreams came true.
Dressed in a t-shirt with the man they once called Cassius Clay on the front and armed with a book he had for ten years – “Ali the King”, Patrick waved to Ali as he made his way back from the photographers
towards the monument that had just been unveiled in his honour.
Patrick called to him, like hundreds more that made up the excited crowd. Ali looked up, and dismissing any protest from publicists and security guards made his way over. He spent a few moments with Patrick looking at the book and pictures that captured Ali in his prime. For a few moments a glint of the old Ali returned to his eye and as much of a smile as his ill- ness would allow.
Then he took the book and left, but Patrick didn’t mind.
“Of course it was worth it, why wouldn’t it be worth it, sure there will never be a man here like him again,’ he said.
His dream had just come true.