Cups and their names are a big thing in the GAA and the one we’re playing for on Sunday is no different.
We’ve had a Junior Championship in Tyrone since 1905 and until the Intermediate Grade was introduced in 1962, it was the title sought by all our Clubs not competing at Senior level.
It’s always been a highly-contested crown and since 2017 the Championship Cup has been named in honour of Tattyreagh’s remarkable Pat Darcy. Most GAA Cups carry the names of people from the distant past, from faraway times and faraway places. But not this time, as for most of us it’s been one of our great privileges in life to have known and been GAA colleagues of Pat Darcy.
Pat was a lifelong Tattyreagh stalwart, holding every officer role in the Club as well as managing teams and refereeing to a high level. For Tyrone he fulfilled many roles too before serving as our County Chair from 2004 to 2009 and also Chairing Club Tyrone. Tyrone’s Garvaghey project was scoped and started on Pat’s watch and three All-Irelands came here during his time. After his term as Chair he represented Tyrone at Ulster GAA and then stepped up as Chair for Tyrone Camogie.
As all this was going on, Pat meanwhile rose to the very top of the Nursing profession in these islands, on both the practice and academic sides, as well as being active on the community front. Simply a stellar contributor in so many ways and at so many levels.
Pat Darcy was a man of class, style, manners, belief, kindness and ability, someone who generously delegated to others and never sought the spotlight: on the big days, and at the big games, Pat’s preferred position was always somewhere on the margins, usually noticeable only via his black coat and total lack of bluster. A great listener, guide and mentor, he just quietly got things done. And we all benefited from that.
