Tomorrow (Sunday) the people of Glenarm and Carnlough will say goodbye to Connor McNeill, who tragically lost his life earlier this week in a road accident in which his two children were also injured. Clubmate and lifielong friend Terence Mulvenna pays tribute to Connor.
Excluding family events, Connor had just spent what may have been the trip of a lifetime, having travelled on Thursday 2nd May to New York with thirty six of his lifetime friends and Shanè Ui Nèill teammates to play two games, one against Rocklands GAA, the other against a New York select at the iconic Gaelic Park in the Bronx.
Connor was a sub in Gaelic Park on Friday night, but as was the case with Connor, he played an active role from the line, giving encouragement, stick carrier, first aid, and not being afraid to make his feelings known, and he, like all of us, was overjoyed by the manner of the victory his colleagues had achieved.
Prior to this game, Connor had spent the morning/afternoon sightseeing around NYC, ground zero,statue of Liberty, and a much talked about scooter tour of Central Park.
Saturday was a day off for the team, more tourist activities, and a wee bit of shopping for Emma, Lucy, and Ollie.
On Sunday the boys travelled north to Orangeburg to play our hosts, Rocklands GAA. Connor played in this game occupying a position on the edge of the square, from where he scored one point and provided a sublime assist for a Declan McDermott goal.
Following lunch on Monday we made our way home, arriving back in our Parishes lunchtime Tuesday. Our euphoria was shattered, as was that of Connor’s family and the general community shortly afterwards when the news broke of the awful untimely events of the day.
Connor had been a juvenile hurler and played right through senior level winning JHC Ulster medal 2004, playing All-Ireland JHC semi final the same year, Ulster league winner 2007, ACHL Div 2 winner 2008, he later took up coaching roles within the club, and recently became part of the coaching staff at St. John’s Camogie club, where his 5 year old daughter had begun playing, he also represented both clubs as a referee. During his managerial tenure with Shanè Uì Nèill he won the 2020 Mccaughan cup.
To Emma, Lucy, & Ollie, Connor’s father Hugh, siblings Mark, Séamus, Daniel, Annette and Hugh Pat , and the greater McNeill and Boyd families we offer our deepest condolences.
Mary Queen of the Gael pray for him.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.