Historic picture of Offaly GAA fathers and sons who won All-Ireland medals

This photo, taken in the Faithful Fields recently, features three fathers and sons with Inter-County All-Ireland medals – a proud achievement for any family in the GAA.

In the front are (left to right), Christy Hand, Kieran Egan and Damien Martin, and behind them, their sons Niall Hand, Cormac Egan and Eunan Martin.

Christy Hand, Kilcormac-Killoughey, was a member of the Offaly Minor football panel that won the All-Ireland final in 1964. His son Niall (also Kilcormac-Killoughey) actually played in both All-Ireland Minor finals in 1989, winning a hurling title.

Kieran Egan (St Rynagh’s) played on the victorious Offaly Minor hurling team in the All-Ireland final of 1987, having also been a panel member on the groundbreaking Minor hurling side the year before. And a third All-Ireland medal was brought to their home when Cormac Egan (Tullamore) played a leading role in the famous All-Ireland Under 20 football triumph in 2021.  

Another St Rynagh’s duo, Damien and Eunan Martin are the only father-son combination in Offaly with All-Ireland Senior medals. Damien was between the posts when Offaly won the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time ever in 1981, while Eunan was a substitute in 1998 as the Faithful County won the Cup for the fourth time.

There are other families in Offaly where grandfathers and grandsons have claimed All-Ireland honours, but if any fathers and sons have been omitted, please let us know!