Citation on Mick read on the night of his presentation

It is with pleasure that Buffers Alley nominate Michael Farrell for Club Person of the Year.  Mick, as he is affectionately known, has given long, distinguished and dedicated services to the club both as a player and mentor.

Mick’s involvement stretches back to the 1970’s when he first developed a love of GAA while attending St. Joseph’s primary school Kilmuckridge and later St. Peter’s College, Wexford.  It was while in the College in Wexford that he got very interested in Gaelic games under the tutelage of the late Ned Power. In 1978 Mick won a Leister Senior Colleges medal when they overcame St. Kieran’s of Kilkenny and was a member of the Senior Hurling team that reached the All-Ireland Senior Colleges Final only to be beaten by Templemore.  The following year he excelled on the Buffers Alley Premier under 21 team that lost to the Duffry Rovers/Marshalstown in the Co. Final. Mick was a member of the junior teams of 1982 and 1992 that contested Co. Finals and continued playing for a number of years as a Junior B player and was later involved as a selector with the junior teams.

It is with Coiste na nÓg that Mick’s real talents and leadership qualities come to light.

Mick has been involved with underage teams in Buffers Alley for the past 12 years and can be seen training boys from under 8 upwards on Saturday mornings and a number of evenings throughout the week.  The hurling wall is a great favourite of his when the pitches are otherwise engaged.  This year one of the teams (Under 14 Hurling) won the Co. Final and Mick has been with these particular bunch of lads since their under 8 days and has managed to keep the same panel intact for all those years.  He has the boys eating from his palm – he respects each individual, encourages good team spirit, and approaches the game in a positive light.  The boys likewise respect him for what he is doing and see him as someone special that has a lot to offer to the club. There are many boys playing at the moment that might have dropped out of GAA only for the encouragement he continues to give them as he succeeds in getting the best out of every individual from teaching them the skills to collecting them from their homes.  He has a good rapport with parents and fellow mentors in his quiet, unassuming way.

On the official side of business, Mick has been involved on the management committee of both the adult and Coiste na nÓg clubs and is actively engaged in all decisions and in fundraising issues relating to the club.  Mick has undertaken both the Foundation and Level 1 Coaching Courses which are great benefits to the club. For the past two years Mick has been visiting the two schools in the parish on a weekly basis coaching the boys and girls in the skills of our national game and has performed his duties in an exemplary fashion.

Off the field we see Mick as a sociable member with a great sense of humour and a sharp wit.  There is no better man to tell a yarn.  Truly, a great mentor and a character in Buffers Alley who comes highly recommended.

 Mol an Óige agus Tiocfaidh sí.