Grieving father Andrew sponsors GAA Club’s first camogie team
By Hayden Moore
THE father of three young children who died under tragic circumstances has sponsored Wanderers GAA Club’s first ever Camogie team.
Siblings Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla McGinley (3) were tragically killed in Newcastle in January, 2020.
Wanderers U8 players Kate Heavey, Ellen Mangan and Ciara Desmond with Andrew McGinley in their new kits
Their grieving father Andrew McGinley has established a not-for-profit organisation in the name of his youngest son called ‘As Darragh Did’ as a way to support community groups in an inclusive manner.
Last week, in a momentous occasion for Wanderers GAA Club, they fielded a Camogie team for the first time in their 111 year history and their jerseys donned the As Darragh Did logo on it.
“The non-profit is working with sporting groups and community organisations, supporting particularly small groups to help increase participation and promote inclusivity,” Cllr Emma Murphy, who is also Wanderers’ Public Relations Officer, tells The Echo.
“Darragh would have been Mr Inclusivity, he was involved in the chess club, played his hurling up in Commercials, football in St Finian’s in Newcastle and he always wanted people to feel involved.
“So what Andrew wants to do is leave a legacy for Darragh by supporting community organisations as Darragh would have wanted to.
“As a club we are very privileged that Andrew has supported us because it is exactly what Darragh would have done.”
The Firhouse-Bohernabreena councillor is involved with As Darragh Did (ADD) in a trustee capacity and this is the first community contribution that Andrew has made through ADD ahead of it’s full launch in September.
A presentation was made at Frank Kelly Park, the home of Wanderers, last Saturday with the 24 players who are competing at Under 8 level in Go Games overjoyed with their new kits.
Green shoots are strong within the club, with their Under 13s carding a first ever juvenile competitive win for the club last weekend.
