On Saturday afternoon last soccer legend Niall Quinn arrived in Kilcornan where he received a massive welcome from the hundreds of people who attended on the day to see him officially open Ger McDonnell Park.
The day started off fine enough and a number of underage blitzes commenced in the all weather facility to get things going. Unfortunately just as proceedings were about to commence the weather turned, and plan B came into action very quickly, within a matter of minutes the fantastic Community Centre in Kilcornan was used for the initial proceedings.
We had a number of speakers on the day from, Shay O’Riordan of West Limerick Resources, John Sheahan (County Council Chairperson or Comharlacht, Martin McNamara of Sportslawn, our own Ger Mann Chairperson of Kilcornan Community Development Committee and ending fittingly with two inspirational speeches from Ger McDonnell’s brother JJ and our special guest on the day Niall Quinn that both resulted in a standing ovation and rapturous applause.
Soon after Niall Quinn and Ger McDonnell’s mother Gertie unveiled a memorial stone in honour of Ger McDonnell, our local hero. For those who come to visit and play at Ger McDonnell Park we hope they too one day will be inspired to follow their dreams.
A fantastic afternoon was had by all in the Community field on a memorable and momentous occasion followed by an evening of local entertainment in the Coach Inn.
Many thanks to Niall Quinn who attended and who was so obliging for everyone’s request for photos and autographs. He was at all times accommodating with no hesitation to young and old, to all those people who attended and supported us on the day, to those involved in getting the day organised and to all the teams who turned out to showcase the newly developed all weather facility Ger McDonnell Park.