Encountering a Déise diplomat

THE GAA’s influence spreads far and wide. When the Irish party arrived in Melbourne, we were invited to a reception hosted by the Irish Ambassador in the Celtic Club.

On meeting the ambassador we first noted his name — Máirtin Ó Fainnin. Translated to English that is — Martin Fanning. And as we Irish always ask on meeting a fellow countryman. “What part of the country do you come from?”

When he replied that he was from Waterford, we wondered did he know or was he related to our former GAA president, the eloquent Padraig Ó Fainnin. Yes, indeed, he was related. In fact he was his son.