Well matched on and off the field: Limerick hurler and his Galway girl
David Reidy and Aoife Ni Cheallaigh have the same GAA club chairman and principal
STAR hurler David Reidy could be putting out the bins and washing the dishes for the foreseeable future if he helps Limerick defeat the Tribesmen in the All-Ireland final as his fiancée is a proud Galway girl.
The Dromin-Athlacca man and Aoife Ni Cheallaigh, from Caltra, got engaged two years ago. The couple are well met as they are both teachers and Aoife is an accomplished inter-county player in her own right with the Galway Ladies Gaelic footballers.
The Leader contacted Anthony Liddane, chairman of Dromin Athlacca GAA Club, not knowing that he is in a unique position to comment on David but also Aoife as he is the principal of the school where she teaches. He’s also completely neutral as he’s a Clare man from Sixmilebridge.
The principal of St Patrick’s Boys National School on the Dublin Road in Limerick city said they pinch themselves that they have somebody like David in the club. David also teaches in a school called St Patrick’s but it is in Bruree.
“To have somebody with five All-Irelands, maybe turning six, sure it’s beyond people’s wildest dreams. There’s immense pride in having David and not alone just having the player that he is but having somebody of the calibre of person of David is just fantastic. He’s a great ambassador for the club, for the parish and for Limerick,” said Anthony.
The chairman said the Reidy family are heavily involved in the club.
“David has hurled with Dromin-Athlacca since he was very young. He would have represented the senior team at maybe a younger age than he possibly should have been,” smiled Anthony.
The chairman said David runs a strength and conditioning programme over the winter every year for the juvenile boys and girls and is always available to come down to the field or sign autographs.
Anthony says David turns up for his club year in, year out. He recalls a match against Knockainey a couple of years ago when David came on with 10 minutes to go despite being injured to help see them over the line.
The school principal said Aoife, who he works alongside in St Patrick’s Boys NS, also goes the extra mile in and out of the classroom.
“She’s a fantastic athlete and a serious competitor in her own right. They’re well met. She’s a wonderful asset to the school and to St Patrick’s GAA Club so she’s contributing to Limerick too by coaching and from being involved in teams here,” said Anthony, who describes Aoife as “Galway to the core”.
Lastly, he says his home county threw everything at Limerick in the semi-final but came up short.
“They gave it everything and the county is proud of them,” said Anthony.
Limerick and Galway fans will feel the same whatever happens on Sunday.