Dublin's All-Ireland winners received their Celtic Crosses last night. It is a ceremony that is becoming increasingly routine, but last night the Dubs sprinkled it with a bit of class to make a special occasion.
Along with providing a farewell to the retiring Denis Bastick, the Dubs made a special presentation to special guest, Anto Finnegan.
Finnegan is a former captain of the Antrim football team, and was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2012. MND is a hideous disease, in which the brain is unable to send messages to muscles as a result of failing motor neurons, which leads to the wasting of muscles. There is no cure.
Since his diagnosis, Finnegan and his family have shown remarkable bravery in the face of appalling adversity. He set up a foundation, deterMND, to raise funds and awareness for the fight against the disease. He is now wheelchair-bound, but just last July, he completed the 90-mile Camino to raise awareness for the illness.
Speaking on the most recent episode of The Stand with Eamon Dunphy, Joe Brolly revealed that Jim Gavin has befriended Finnegan, and invited him and his family to the Dubs' medal ceremony.
I know some of the things that Jim Gavin has done behind the scenes. A very good friend of mine, Anto Finnegan, used to mark me all the time with Antrim. He has Motor Neurone Disease and is in a wheelchair now, his arms and legs don't work anymore. He only has a limited amount of time to live.
Jim Gavin befriended him, and I know that Anto is going to the Dublin All-Ireland medal presentation, and his family are coming down courtesy of the Dublin County Board.
Dublin tweeted out a photo of a presentation to Finnegan and his family:
A special presentation to Anthony Finnegan (@AFinn73) of @AontroimGAA and his family who are guests of honour at tonight's medal presentation. Brave & honest people 👏 pic.twitter.com/qAlFjOPuZE
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) December 2, 2017
Elsewhere, Dublin bid farewell to the departing Bastick...
A fine send-off for the great @DenisBastick! ✊ #UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/ziJzO1qCna
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) December 2, 2017
...and Bernard Brogan revealed the weight of the most coveted medal in the sport. Perhaps, however, it is lighter than the weight some counties bear for not winning it.
DeterMND can be found by clicking here.
