A West Limerick grandmother is facing a supporter’s dilemma as to whether to shout for Donegal or Galway when the counties clash in a novel All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday next (4pm). Askeaton’s Sheila McDaid, aged 98, is a proud Donegal (Glenvar) native, but her All-Star grandson Cillian McDaid is a lead performer with Galway.
Commentators are divided as to which of the teams will advance to the final.
Sheila’s daughter Dympna (McDaid) Mangan of Ardagh said: “Mammy has always, always supported Donegal but this is a different situation. We were asking her at the weekend, and I think knowing that one of her grandchildren is lining out with Galway, she will be supporting Cillian and the Galway team. She can’t lose, really, but all of us, of course, are rooting for Cillian and Galway.”
Cillian is one of five children of Garvan and Louise (Cloonfad, Roscommon) McDaid, three boys and two girls. In the semi-final, Cillian, aged 28, was named Man of the Match as Galway dethroned Dublin at headquarters.
For two years up until 2018, he was attached to the professional Australian Rules football club Carlton. Back in 2015, Cillian won an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal with Galway. He is attached to Craughwell (hurling) and Monivea (football). His older sister Órla was the Galway representative at the 2019 International Rose of Tralee Festival. Cillian is a manager with Bank of Ireland in Galway.
Retired National School teacher Sheila settled down with her husband Eamon in Askeaton in the early 1960s and the couple raised a family of 14 children, 11 boys and three girls. Sheila is now a proud grandmother of 41.
The winners of Donegal/Galway will meet either Armagh or Kerry, who clash in the opening semi-final the previous evening. Sunday, July 28th, is the date for the All-Ireland Final.