Gavin Duffy, highly successful business man and well known ‘Dragons Den’ TV celebrity rolled into Páirc de Róiste to be revealed as the Roche Emmets Celebrity Bainisteoir to the delight of the huge gallery of support that had amassed over the day. All week the guessing games and speculation were building anticipation to boiling point. There was any amount of names being suggested from all quarters with water tight guarantees that the news was right on their named person.
The TV cameras had been in the area from early morning doing interviews away from the football club. Eventually when the first camera crew did reach the club grounds the large crowd was eager for any confirmation of the identity of the Bainisteoir. As the film crew went about interviews with the players, officials and others around the club the crowd grew and grew to a massive size, the biggest in Roche most likely since the official opening of the club grounds in 1997. With the fine weather on Saturday and the place in fine shape decked in a sea of blue and white covering every corner of the grounds and every individual alive about the place the hummer and banter was very enjoyable. The football field was full of the Intermediate panel performing for the cameras and children from tots to teenagers kicking ball in every available green space, it would do your hearth good to see it. The club gear stalls, Sean Lennon’s new home made ‘Huckelberry’ ice cream counter and the hatch for the free tea, sandwiches and pastries were thronged. With the arrival of the second film crew anticipation was ratcheted up to fervour pitch.
At 3:45pm, with Ken Finnegan and Aurther Kinnahan leading the local paparazzi Mr. Duffy drove in to receive a fantastic reception and after introductions to the club officials lead by An Cairlaoirleach Séan Murphy and An Rúnaí Lisa McCoy he briefly addressed the crowd saying “It was great to be here, today was to be fun and enjoyment before the important matter of the Sheelan Cup semi-final tomorrow” before he headed to the dressing room where the players and management awaited him for his revealing on camera to the players and the ceremonial handover of the whistle from our Intermediate team management of Damien Sheills and Pearse Craven to Gavin as ‘our’ Celebrity Bainisteoir.
After a training session with the players he joined the crowds for light refreshments and was an instant hit as he posed for photographs and engaged with the supporters and club members. Sean Murphy presented him with a copy of the club’s history book and before heading home he went for a sight seeing trip of Roche Castle and the surrounding area.
