College honours GAA leader

A FORMER GAA president who spoke at the British houses of parliament at the height of the Troubles has become just the eighth person to be conferred with an honorary fellowship by Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).

Pádraig Ó Fainín, 89, was president of the GAA for three years from 1970 and is Life President of the Waterford County Board and Mount Sion GAA Club.

His presidency coincided with one of the most violent periods of the Northern Troubles, when many GAA members were interned and the British military established bases at places like the Crossmaglen club.