Prendergast and Cummins to receive Lifetime Achievement Awards from GPA
Paddy Prendergast, fullback on the last Mayo senior football team to win an All-Ireland in 1951, and Cork dual legend of the 1970s, Ray Cummins, will be honoured by the GPA at the annual Former Players Event in Croke Park next month.
Prendergast and Cummins will be presented with the prestigious GPA Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contribution to football and hurling at a gathering of over 500 former county players.
Considered one of the greatest full-backs of all time, Paddy Prendergast was no. 3 on the 1950 and 1951 All-Ireland winning Mayo teams and was selected on the Connacht team of the Millennium. Prendergast and Padraig Carney are the last surviving members of the 1951 team.
Cummins, holder of four All-Ireland hurling medals and an All-Ireland football medal, is one of a unique group of players who were named as All-Stars in both codes. He was a pivotal member of the Cork three-in-row hurling side of the 1970s, captaining the side to glory in 1976. He was named on the Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000.
Now in its fourth year, the GPA Former Players Event will take place at 2.30pm in Croke Park’s Hogan Suite on the eve of the All-Ireland Football Final on Saturday September 17.
Speaking about the awards, Tony Hanahoe, chairman of the GPA Former Players Group said: “The GPA Lifetime Achievement Award, chosen by former players, recognises the great warriors of the past, footballers and hurlers whose remarkable deeds on the field of play have stood the test of time. We are delighted to honour two legendary figures in Mayo’s Paddy Prendergast and Cork’s Ray Cummins, both of whom remain iconic figures in our games.
“The Former Players Event is open to all former county players and we would urge players who would like to attend to contact the GPA and register their interest.”
Along with the Lifetime Achievement Awards, the GPA Former Players Group will also recognise the All-Ireland winning hurling and football teams from five decades – 1966, 1976, 1986, 1996 and 2006 with players from each squad present on 17th September.
The GPA currently assists former players through its development programme particularly in the areas of career development, return to education bursaries, counselling services, medical assistance and hardship support. Following the recent announcement of a framework agreement with the GAA, funding is now ring-fenced to support surgical interventions for former players.
The GPA Former Players Group includes Tony Hanahoe (chairman), Sean Walsh, Vinnie Glennon, Seamus Darby, Joe Connolly, Donal O’Grady, Pat Mangan and Declan O’Loughlin.
Any former players interested in attending or sponsors who wish to support a table are asked to contact Karen Thorpe in the GPA on 01 6814251 or send email to formerplayers@gaelicplayers.com