Mickey Whelan: Love of the Game

MICKEY WHELAN IS ONE OF IRELAND’S GREATEST coaching masters. He is a father figure for all of those who sought sporting excellence in this country over the last 50 years. He was the inspirational mind behind the creation of Kevin Heffernan’s amazing Dublin team of the 70s, which won three All-Ireland titles and changed the face of Gaelic football forever. A former All-Ireland winner with Dublin in 1963, Whelan also managed Dublin himself in the 90s. He also coached Dundalk FC to a League of Ireland title. The Clanna Gael and St Vincent’s man interrupted his own career and emigrated to the United States with his family in 1969. He returned home with a Masters in Sports Science. At 37 years of age, he won Dublin, Leinster and All-Ireland titles with St Vincent’s, and over 30 years later also managed the famous Marino club to the same hat-trick of championship titles in 2007/08. Whelan was at Pat Gilroy’s side as Dublin reclaimed the All-Ireland title in 2011 – thereby spring-boarding the creation of the greatest football team in GAA history.