This article is from page 27 of the 2007-08-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 27 JPG
A KILRUSH man who played for 52 clubs in 11 cities and in four countries was honoured by his native county in Chicago last night (Monday).
Hailed a “true GAA legend” PJ O’Dea who played both football and hurling with Clare, Munster and Lon- don was presented with an engraved plaque by the Clare Tourist Council at Chicago’s historic Gaelic Park.
Known affectionately in Chicago as ‘The Man From Clare’, PJ was born in Kilrush and won his first county medal in 1939.
He represented Clare in minor, junior and senior hurling and also played senior football with Clare and with the Munster teams in 1951 and ays
Before moving to Dublin to play with Sean McDermott’s, PJ lined out in attack with Treaty Sarsfields of Limerick collecting both senior
hurling and football winner’s med- als. He then went to England and played with the Holy Rosary club in Birmingham and won an All-Ireland hurling medal with Warwickshire. From there he immigrated to the US where he played hurling and football in Toronto, Los Angeles, San Fran- cisco and New York City.
He finally settled down in the ‘Windy City’ with his wife Mary.
Despite the many injuries he re- ceived during his 30-year playing career, PJ lined out for the Chicago- based Shannon Rangers Erin’s Own and St Mel’s club.
The Chairman of Clare GAA Michael McDonagh described the Kilrush man as a “stalwart of the GAA in America’.
“PJ O’Dea remains a proud west Clare man to this day and the entire county is delighted to see that he is finally being officially recognised for his invaluable contribution to the
GAA.”
Speaking during the function at Gaelic Park, Mr O’Dea said he was honoured that a delegation from Clare had travelled to meet with members of the Irish community in Chicago.
Mr. O’Dea added that his love for Gaelic Games went with him wher- ever he travelled and that he re- mained passionate about hurling and football.
Commenting on a playing career that spanned three decades, he ex- plained, “Medals were not important to me, I was just happy to have my health and play the games.”
According to Cllr. Flan Garvey, Cathaoirleach of the Clare Tourist Council, “PJ is seen as a father-fig- ure by Chicago’s Irish population, in particular by people from County Clare. He has worked selflessly for decades to assist the many thousands of Irish people who have travelled
to this area in search of new begin- nings. He is also highly regarded by Chicago Mayor Richard M Daley.”
“PJ never misses an All-Ireland at home and travels every year. He 1s considered by many as the sports- man supreme and is one of the great- est living ambassadors for Gaelic Games and the Clare Tourist Coun- cil feel strongly that PJ should be honoured by his native county,’ he said.
PJ was presented with a piece of sculpture that included an inscrip- tion from the poem “The Spirit of the Bannermen”’.
“We have household names who have played our games, from the Burren to Doon Lake, George Com- erford, Considines, Goggles Doyle, Jimmy Smith and Larry Blake. We had Tommy Doyle and PJ O’Dea, Jordan’s dash and dare. With spirit of the Bannermen, in the storied County Clare.”