Sir, – Over 70 minutes after his team had defeated Galway last Saturday in Pearse Stadium, Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton was still signing autographs, shaking hands with supporters from both teams, giving his time to young children and smiling warmly for a never-ending queue of people looking for pictures with him.
That a man with nine senior All-Ireland medals – most collected as team captain – and who has played with his county for over two decades was content to stand in the searing sun on a hard pitch after playing a championship game to facilitate GAA supporters is a credit to Stephen and also to the culture of generosity and selflessness in the Dublin football squad.
Eventually a member of the Dublin back room team had to come over to the goals and give him the eye – which said, “come on Stephen, we need to get going”.
As the most decorated goalkeeper in history and the GOAT in most people’s view walked away to the sanctuary of the dressingrooms, I recalled my national schoolteacher (Mrs Quinn) from 45 years ago telling her third class a really central rule for life: “While it is nice to be important, it is more important to be nice”.
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It is clear Mr Cluxton lives by the same truism. – Yours, etc,
RAY SILKE,
Moycullen,
Co Galway.
