It's about time we did a piece on important people within our association, and who better to start with...........our chairman....... Mr Pat O Mahony. This been his 4th year acting as chairman, we all know he does a lot of work, but few of us understand what this entails. No matter which club is hosting the weekly drag, Pat has to ensure the oil is mixed for all drags, and sponsorship is sought. At the recent International, Pat spent the previous 3 weeks organising that course from start to finish. As well as getting together various pullers, guides, men for watching the numerous roads, he also had to get permission from farmers to allow drags through their land, and plan the course according to the farmers requests with cattle and the turning on and off of electric wire. All his efforts are then placed in the hands of the pullers and guides to give us a decent run. So yes, fair to say, a lot of respect is needed to become chairman. Not only do you have to be social to the members of each club, you also need the ability to manage these members without reasoning, of which there's a very fine line between both. I reckon, and those of whom I have spoken to, that our Cork City Chairman Pat Mahony has these qualities and maybe this is why he's highly regarded and not taken lightly by his commrades.I've contacted a few people for their opinion on Pat Mahony, and here's their own words below...........
Marie Keating - Secretary
'I can't say enough of good about this man. He's a brilliant worker, I think sometimes this is over the top as he is really hands on with everything. And it's very hard on him as there really isn't a lot of young members on the executive commitee, so he really takes on everything himself from picking drags to pulling drags, marking roads and organising sponsorship. When there's nobody there, he leaves it down to himself to get it done. The list is endless. But I must say he's very easy to work alongside because he's very approachable, everyone on the executive will agree with me there. Chairman is a very hard job to do, bcause it's a thankless job. An awful lot of people may be quick to criticise but they shouldn't. Not everything can be perfect all the time, even when there's mountains of effort from Pat going into it. He's trying to keep this sport going. There's a lot of credit due to him, not everyone could be chairman, not because of votes, but because of dedication and love for the sport, it's an extremely time consuming and pressureised job. Great work Pat.....'
Tristan O Herlihy - Vice Chairman
'He's alright but a bit of a spoof......... Thinks he's a ladys man, but He's a terrible dancer........ And everyones a 'shagger'........ Regarding his chairman title, I reckon no-one could do a better job. He puts in an awful lot of time and effort and does this in his stride. I'll never forget picking the Blackpool drag with him 2 years ago, he fell akwardly and broke 2 ribs, most importantly I'll never forget his whinging............. He cried like a shiela all the way back !!!!!!!!!!!! '
David Lynch - Clogheen (line watch manager !)
'I think he does a lot of hard work and he's a great bit of stuff for all his efforts, fair play to him and long may he last as I don't know anyone to do his job as good as he does it. I'm watching the line now and warning them not to break it, and my blood pressure is bursting veins, imagine if I had his job, I'd be walking around with a cardiac machine tied on to me....!!!! Great work Pat. '
Bernie Rall - Treasurer
Tim Herlihy - Griffin United
'Eh............. Eh ................. Eh................. (come on Tim wasting my credit...) Eh ................. Eh, heck you've caught me off guard, what do you want me to say..................... Eh................Eh (take your time) Eh............ Eh, J*sus I dunno, Wait a while now Eh (I'll phone you back Tim......)
20 minutes later
Sure I know that man years, I was thinking there about long go. I know him since the early eighties where himself and his Father and his Grandfather would meet the rest of us every Sunday morning to discuss that days drag down in Connie O Donovans Bar, Castlemarket Street. We'd discuss the drag and then each of us would pool in a few pound and throw it on a good thing that day. We won a few times. I've known Pat this long and can honestly say he's the nicest fella you could meet, very obliging. He actually had a very good pup back then named 'Paddy', I'm sure he won the All-Ireland with him. He was a very good dog. I think he's the best chairman we've had in years........... '
John O Callaghan - Douglas
'I haven't a bad word to say about Pat because you couldn't. He's a very fair man and does tremndous work all round. Tough decisions have to be made and he makes them, they're never going to suit everyone, but all of his decisions have been fair ones. I think he's doing a great job and cannot fault him with anything, you couldn't, it's a very tough thankless job and he's doing a great job at it since he started. Keep it up Pat....'
Looks like all your hardwork is paying off as you are obviously noticed to be an honest hard working chairman, whilst few of us know/understand the full extent of what you do, we do understand it to be a very time consuming & commited role. Here's hoping you'll stay over us for another 4 years. Well done Pat !
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