Family, love, loss, rivalry, respect and incredible success - Cork legend Gemma O'Connor on her book 'Why Not A Warrior?'
It takes a bit of time, and some over-and-back, to get hold of the Cork camogie legend, and any wonder? Between her work with the Defence Forces, the release of her book ‘Why Not A Warrior?’ and everything that goes along with such, and the usual hustle and bustle in the run-up to Christmas, it’s completely understandable. She’s unnecessarily apologetic about the chase, but it’s worth it.
“The overall factor in thinking that way was kind of like, ‘Am I exposing too much about my life? Is this really me?’ I’m not the sort of person that talks about my career in that way. Gemma O'Connor. O'Connor with her family - brother, Glenn, late mother, Geraldine, and father, Dónal. Gemma O'Connor.
Family is the common thread which runs through all. Her late mother Geraldine, her father Dónal, and brother Glenn all feature prominently: mundane life, the more serious parts, and sport. It’s family above all else, the central pillars. One person who has been by her side through it all is her brother, Glenn, ironically named after Glen Rovers by Geraldine. They turned out to be a big St Finbarr’s family, both siblings representing them through the years.
To be there that day to see it in the flesh was extra special, their commitments often clashing through the years and not always allowing them to support — and critique — one another on the biggest stage. “We’re all trying to do the right thing, but when you’ve got strong personalities, people are vocal. I think it’s important. Myself and Murr [Aoife], we’d have no bother having it out on the pitch, but not once ever did it ever carry off the pitch. I think that’s really important. That was really important for our friendship. We knew where we stood with each other and what we could do on the pitch, that it didn’t necessarily affect this off the pitch. We still remain very good friends.
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