When the girls under 13 team won the National Cross Country Championships in Dungarvan before Christmas 2007, it was pointed out that five of the six girls have very close connections with the GAA.

Elizabeth Carr is daughter of former well known Dublin star, Tommy; Beth McGuire is daughter of former Downs and Westmeath goalkeeper, Senan; Linda Conroy is first cousin to current Westmeath footballers, Denis and David Glennon; Lorraine Daly is daughter of Joe, well known Tyrellspass and Westmeath football official; and Ann Marie Kennedy is the daughter of Matt, former Lough Lene Gaels and Westmeath hurler.

Other Club members with strong GAA connections include Arlene Coughlan, daughter of Eamon, of Moate and Westmeath fame and Martin Fagan’s father is the former well known Westmeath footballer and hurler, Mickey. Cliodhna, Eadaoin, Odhran and Iarlaith Daly’s father, Gerry, played hurling for Castletown-Geoghegan and Westmeath for many years, and he is also an uncle of Padraig, Michael and Jack Moran. Patrick and Claire Fagan’s uncle is former Westmeath and International Rules player “Spike” Fagan.

Another athlete with real star qualities is Jake Byrne, nephew of former Mullingar Shamrocks and Westmeath footballer, Paddy Hassett. In fact, over the years, we have had many more athletes whose parents were involved in sport at the highest level. It’s amazing how the sporting genes pass on from one generation to the next and we might revisit this topic again and include other Club members whose sporting prowess can be traced back to previous generations.