Seán Óg Ó hAilpín

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Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (born May 22, 1977 on Rotuma Island , Fiji ), often shortened to Sean Og , is an Irish-Fijian hurling and Gaelic football player. Ó Hailpín is considered one of the best hurling players in the world and was named Ireland's Sportsman of the Year in 2005 .

Career

Ó hAilpín, the son of a Fijian mother and an Irish father, grew up in Cork, Ireland . He quickly learned the two Gaelic national sports, hurling and Gaelic football, and went through all the youth teams of the local club Cork GAA in both sports . After a successful time with the U21 teams, Ó hAilpín made his debut in 1996 in the men's hurling team at Cork GAA. He soon established himself as one of the best "number 7" (left-back) in Ireland. Three years later, Ó hAilpín also made his debut on the Gaelic Football men's team and became a feared left-back there too.

Ó hAilpín won the All-Ireland Hurling Championship in 1999, 2004 and 2005, and reached the All-Ireland Gaelic Football final in 1999. When he won the national title as captain of Cork in 2005, he was named Hurling Player of the Year and Ireland's Sportsman of the Year.

societies

  • Hurling: Cork GAA (since 1996)
  • Gaelic Football: Cork GAA (1999-2001)

Titles and awards

  • Irish Sportsman of the Year (2005)
  • Hurling Player of the Year (2005)
  • Hurling All Ireland Championship (1999, 2004, 2005)

Private life

Ó hAilpín is the son of Emeli, a woman from the small island of Rotoma (Fiji), and the Irishman Seán Ó hAilpín, who emigrated from Fermanagh to Australia at the age of 19. The couple later moved to Ireland and made their home in Cork. In addition to Seán, they have five younger children named Setanta (who is himself a recognized hurling player), Teu, Sarote, Aisake and Etaoin.

Ó Hailpín has graduated from Dublin City University in 1999 with a degree in financial accounting and business management. He is fluent in Irish and has gained a lot of sympathy for speaking in this language on important occasions. He works as a financial advisor for an Irish bank during his hurling free time.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Óg Ó hAilpín, Seán
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Sean Og
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Irish-Fijian hurling and Gaelic football player
DATE OF BIRTH May 22, 1977
PLACE OF BIRTH Rotuma Island , Fiji