A Chairde,
It’s great news that David ‘Harry’ Byrne arrived home on Friday to be with his wife Ciara and children, Daithí and Sibéal, after almost 3 months, spent in Beaumont Hospital. He has made a miraculous recovery and continues to go from strength to strength. It has been a challenging time for David and a worrying and stressful time for Ciara, their children, extended family and friends. He now needs time, space, plenty of TLC, and with our continued support and encouragement, as he continues his journey to full health.
Tickets for the skills session day HURL FOR HARRY ON SAT Aug 29th are still available here https://naomhbarroggaa.clubforce.com/products/shop/event_ticket/hurl-for-harry
I know David’s Mam and Dad very well for nearly 40 years and had the privilege to teach David and his older sister Emma, in 6th Class in Scoil Eoin NS in Kilbarrack-Foxfield where Naomh Barróg was founded in 1974. Emma and David were both honoured to play for their school, representing it in Cumann na mBunscoil and the Fingal League. David was on the winning team that won Corn Chumann na nGael in the final in Croke Park in 1990. For the boys and girls attending Scoil Lorcáin/Eoin it was part of their DNA to play for their Club, Naomh Barróg. Emma and David were delighted and enjoyed playing, encouraged and supported by their parents.
I would like to acknowledge with gratitude the commitment, loyalty and love that David ‘Harry’ Byrne has shown for his Club, Naomh Barróg, as a young boy, teenager, into manhood as a committed hurler, footballer and now as a manager of his son Daithí’s team. Even his loving wife Ciara has been influenced and delighted to be involved with Sibéal’s team. It is an honour for me, as Uachtarán Naomh Barróg, to pay this tribute to David and to thank him sincerely for his great generosity to the Club he is devoted to for nearly the past 40 years.
For the next few months David, will need our support, as he undergoes a rehabilitation programme, supervised by his medical team in Beaumont Hospital to assist him in his recovery to full health. Since he got ill, he has been shown extraordinary kindness, understanding and support from his fellow Mentors from his u13 team and from other Mentors in the Club, who have organised a wonderful Fundraiser- ‘HURL for HARRY-GAA LEGENDS NIGHT’, in Áras Barróg, on Saturday Evening the $29^{\text{th}}$ of August. It is going to be a spectacular occasion and one of the best nights in our Club’s history. I would like to convey our sincere thanks to the organisers of this event, and for their great loyalty, vision and friendship to David, Ciara, and their children. Míle buíochas also, to those who donated wonderful spot prizes etc, to make the night even more special.
Finally, as we pay this tribute to David and his family, I attach an article I came across in the Club’s Archives from a cutting written in the Evening Herald in June 2011, that shows you the person he was and still is. Also from the Archives, an article about his Primary School, winning the final in Croke Park in 1990. These little memories illustrate who David Harry Byrne was and is today. Wishing him, his wife Ciara and children every grace, blessing and good health for the future. Le gach dea-ghuí.
Dick Fields
