Every team has them but they can slip under the radar. They are the people that make everything tick. Without them jerseys wouldn’t be washed. There would be no nets. There would be no cones for training. Simply put – many of these people make the GAA tick and they operate as unsung heroes behind the scenes for little or no acclaim.
Paul Beggan at 53 years of age has been the Fermanagh GAA kitman for the last 4 seasons all under the watchful eye of Pete McGrath.
The Quinn cement lorry driver admits that he loves helping out with Fermanagh and has no plans to stop either, “I really do enjoy helping out, from taking bibs, cones, footballs and water bottles to training and matches to having the changing room set up for the lads, I like to get there 45 minutes before them and have everything perfect for the players.”
He continued, “Football has changed in so many ways, years ago players would get a few oranges and a banana but now with so many different people involved in so many ways it really has grown. I just like to get on with my job and making sure all the players are looked after properly and that they have everything they need for training and on matchdays.”
The lifelong Fermanagh supporter is married to Kathleen and they have two children, Shauneen and Cliona. “Cliona actually helps out alot aswell and she would probably be better known than me,” he joked.
Fermanagh recently went to Sligo for a training session but Beggan was unable to go due to his daughter playing in an Ulster Final for Tyrone, “My daughter Cliona plays for Drumragh Sarsfields and is also part of the Tyrone Under-16 panel. They had an Ulster Final recently but lost to Monaghan, we are a real GAA family and we would go to as many games as we possibly can.”
People like Paul Beggan makes the GAA and his love for Fermanagh is evident with the spark in his eyes that drives him on to do what he does for the team.
“I have a great workforce behind me as well in Quinns, they are GAA mad as well so if it means me having to get out of work that bit earlier due to a game or something then it’s never any bother. They work with me in Quinns and without that I probably wouldn’t be able to do this job.”
Fermanagh kit man Paul Beggan with his daughters Cliona and Shaneen RMGFH52
By Tom Sun 28th May
