Not such a bad guy after all. Joe Brolly donates kidney to clubmate
He’s not the most popular member of the GAA fraternity in Ireland, but Joe Brolly showed that he’s not such a bad guy after all with a wonderful gesture to a club mate in Belfast.
Every summer without fail, Brolly manages to raise the ire of GAA folk with his no-holds barred and ever controversial views on Gaelic Football.
Indeed, there are people in Mayo still simmering over a Mail On Sunday column he penned last weekend where he suggested that Mayo should be given a holiday the next time they reach an All-Ireland Final and allow their vanquished semi-final opponents to compete in their stead.
Maddening and all as he can be, however, he showed that he does have a softer side to his character after donating one of his kidneys to a club colleague of his from St. Brigid’s GAC in Belfast, Shane Finnegan, with whom he manages the club’s under-10 team, for whom both Brolly and Finnegan’s sons play.
In a statement on the club’s website, Brolly said that he felt “honoured to have been in the position to help Shane”.
“He’s been waiting for a transplant for over six years and when I heard that the only possibility of one was through a live donor I contacted his medical team,” Brolly said.
“And of course in my considered opinion it’s all going according to plan – and thankfully the doctors concur.”
Finnegan was overcome with Brolly’s generosity, saying it was “overwhelming”.
“There are no words to thank him or his family for his wonderful gift,” he said.
“I know its early days but I’m so relieved that it’s all going well for both of us so far.”
Ulster GAA official and friend of Brolly’s Ryan Feeney said he was “very, very proud” of Brolly and that both men were on the “road to recovery”.
“I’m very, very proud of Joe,” Feeney said.
“He is truly a great man – this is one of the most selfless and compassionate acts of friendship ever undertaken.”
The operation took place on Wednesday in London and both men are still recovering in hospital but judging by the picture below they seem to be doing OK.
So the next time you prepare to spit fury at your television screen at the former kiss-blowing Derry native after his latest opinion-splitting rant, just remember that he’s not such a bad guy after all.
