Ealma’s dedication shows she’s a real Unsung Hero
UNSUNG HERO Oldcastle official wins award by a mile
When the Meath Chronicle asked readers to send in their nominations for the Unsung Hero sports awards there was a very positive response indeed.
Suggestions were made by a wide range of readers who put forward names of people from their local clubs who they felt truly belonged in the pantheon of unsung heroes. People who, the readers felt, quietly do essential, vital jobs in clubs and communities for little or no recognition except for the quiet satisfaction that they are contributing in some way. The kind of folk who don't look for kudos or reward. The kind who certainly don't do it for the glory.
Various names were put forward but the one that was suggested more than anyone else was Ealma Purcell from Oldcastle GAA club. If it was an election, Ealma would have won by the proverbial landslide.
The married mother of three is both PRO and secretary of the north Meath club and she clearly gives tremendous commitment and dedication to whatever role she takes on. As well as writing reports for the club website she also feeds information to the Oldcastle GAA Facebook, Instagram and X accounts. She also supplies other local media outlets with information on goings on in the north Meath club.
When the busy PRO role is added to her duties as secretary the commitment involved is truly phenomenal. Yet despite the hours required she looks on it all as "great craic", an involvement she clearly enjoys.
Modestly she seeks to deflect attention from herself and points to the many other people in the Oldcastle club who help out in one way or another.
"I was juvenile secretary last year so I'm now PRO and senior secretary and general bossy boots as well," she said with her familiar smile when she spoke to the Meath Chronicle after picking up her award at the Bective Tea Rooms on Friday.
"Yet it's not about me, there are so many people who contribute including a great committee, great players, great parents, coaches, so many. It takes a lot of people to run a club," she says. As well as her GAA duties Ealma runs her own enterprise - the Poppy Garden - which is described on its Facebook page "as a quirky one-acre site nestled in the foothill of the stunning Loughcrew."
Ironically while Ealma contributes greatly to the running of a Meath GAA club her origins are in Cavan. From Castlerahan she trained as a journalist and spent a number of years working in London and Dublin mainly in the trade magazine sector. Such experience undoubtedly has helped her when it comes to scripting her polished match reports which are sent out, chronicling the exploits of various Oldcastle teams.
Although she has lived in the Royal County for some time and is obviously closely involved in Oldcastle, when it comes to showing her allegiance in the never-ending Meath v Cavan rivalry there is only ever going to be one team for her.
"For me it's Cavan all the way. My husband Packy Purcell is a Meath supporter as are our children (JP, Maise and Philip) so I'm on my own in that regard but I'll never change from supporting the Breffni County," she added with another of her characteristic smiles.
Accompanying Ealma at the Bective Tea Rooms on Friday was her father Jim who knows Meath well from his work as a cattle dealer in the region. Also remembered, on what was a memorable, poignant day for the family, was Ealma's mother Bridie Farrelly, who passed away a year-and-a-half ago. Bridie was also big Cavan supporter.
Recently Ealma was involved in a Strictly Come Dancing fund-raiser for Oldcastle in The Kilmore Hotel in Cavan. It proved a huge success with close to €250,000 raised.
"It was just phenomenal for a club like Oldcastle and it will go a huge way to the new clubhouse we are planning to build. Everyone involved was fantastic, it was like something out of Las Vegas," a place where the lights shine brightest, just like Ealma in Oldcastle.
MEATH SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS
Young Sportsperson of the Year