Sir, – On shopping in Dublin’s Grafton Street in 1998, I came upon Ronnie Delaney, Olympic gold medallist, and engaged with him, asking him as a national hero for his autograph. He kindly signed for me and pointed to a tall, fit-looking young man window shopping and said to me that if I was looking for a “national hero” that I should ask that gent for his autograph.
That gent was Jim Stynes the great Aussie Rules player who laughed when I related Ronnie Delaney’s comment. He humbly obliged.
Life is short and it is important that we acknowledge all our Irish heroes. One small island has many.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. – Yours, etc,