Paul O Neill died in mid-Jully 2022. Paul was one of the best known members of our Club for many a year – he was very proud of the fact that he was the reason that the White’s Cross name was listed on an All-Ireland Final programme, when he officiated as linesman.
Once ever in the history of our Club has a President of the GAA visited White’s Cross GAA Grounds, and that was all owing to Paul, and his colourful personality. That was back in July 2009 when the then President Christy Cooney attended a match that was organised to mark Paul’s retirement from work. Paul was an employee of Bus Eireann, and there too he was very well-known to anyone who availed of the bus services out of Parnell Place down through the years. However, for GAA folk outside of White’s Cross, it was for his antics as linesman down the Páirc that Paul was best known! Indeed on the occasion of his visit to White’s Cross GAA President Christy Cooney commented that Paul was quicker running backwards than he was forward, as he patrolled the side-line on match-day!
Paul himself served as a White’s Cross referee for many years to the Seandún Board, what was Bord na n-Óg and also Inter-Firm GAA. Paul also coached various teams, both juvenile and adult, in White’s Cross during the 80s and 90s, and his teams won various silver-ware. He was keen on the importance of physical training, and often showed up young lads half his age, as he took part in the drills himself! His warm personality meant that there was always fun in his sessions too!