At a recent meeting of the Cordal GAA Club it was decided to do a ‘This Is Your Life’ type of tribute to someone Big within the club. It was unanimously agreed that this person would be Dermot Flynn better known as Big D to family, friends and neighbours. It was also decided that the event would be held as a centre-point to the Cordal Jamboree Weekend.
After weeks of planning and concealment, the tribute finally went ahead on Saturday night at Cordal Community Centre. It was obvious from the shock on Big D’s face that it came as a big surprise to him. Over the course of the evening many former team mates and family members went on stage to tell their reminiscences of times spent in his company both on the field of play and off.
Some of the contributors were emotional and others were hilarious. A photographic display was, meanwhile, sliding away on the background screen. Local talent was introduced to perform for the worthy recipient and they ranged from as young’s seven-years-of-age and upwards.
The enthusiastic and large audience joined in and sang their hearts out along with the performers and with their own rendition of a tribute song to the Big man.
After the completion of the tribute Big D was presented with the This Is Your Life red book by his grandchildren: Amy, Jack and Enda.
Family and friends in the audience filed in a procession to the stage to embrace and chat with Dermot. An enjoyable night was had by all with the man himself very prominent in the celebrations afterwards.
