Like so many other clubs & community groups around the county, Colemanstown United would quite simply be lost without the dedication & commitment of our GRD employees. One such person is PJ Connell, who officially retired from our club at the end of September 2025, bringing to a close an approximate 15 years of service with Colemanstown United.
PJ’s association with the club goes back to the late 1990s & early 2000s, when he was involved as a FÁS employee in the major development of our facilities. During that period, PJ played a key role in the construction of our clubhouse, spectator stand & stone boundary walls, all carried out under the supervision of Michaél Barrett. When that project finished, PJ took a brief sojourn from us, but thankfully found his way back to us again.
For the past 6-7 years, PJ returned to Colemanstown United as a GRD employee, where his contribution was invaluable. His role covered everything from general grounds maintenance & pitch marking to replacing divots; all those jobs that everyone else hates to do. Our toilets were always spotless, with the disinfectant well & truly lashed on & the entire place was maintained to a standard that suggested PJ treated it like his own front garden.
Just how much PJ did for the club became especially evident during the Covid era, when volunteers had to step in & take on all his usual tasks. It was then that everyone truly realised the scale of his workload and the quiet efficiency with which PJ kept everything running smoothly week after week. PJ was always on top of things, ready with a smile & a greeting for everyone & never once made a job feel like a burden.
Today, on the eve of Christmas Eve, we were delighted to present PJ with an engraved token to mark his retirement & to show our sincere appreciation for all his hard work & dedication down through the years.
PJ, thank you for everything you have done for Colemanstown United. We wish you the very best of health & happiness in your well earned retirement.
Pictured with PJ is committee member Martina Donnellan, making the presentation to PJ.
