Yesterday was a truly remarkable occasion at Croke Park. Yes, the game between Dublin and Kerry was a cracker, but we also saw the new GAA mascot.
The opening half was breath-taking stuff from both sides and if supporters thought that the interval was going to be some kind of breather from all the action, they thought wrong, as Fionn the Irish terrier was unveiled to the crowd.
A direct descendant of the Irish Wolfhound, Fionn originally came from the hills between Newry and Dundalk in an area known as the ‘Land of Legends’ and his hobbies include Gaelic Football, Hurling, Rounders and Handball. So he comes from good stock.
Pic credit: Twitter/@officialGAA
Fionn is the result of an online competition held by the GAA, with the winning entry inspired by siblings Devin (11) and Saoirse McLoughlin (8) from Ardagh in Co. Longford, who were both in Croker yesterday with their mam and dad to see their design come to life.
Fionn’s job is to “communicate the GAA ethos and key messages to our members and supporters”, which sounds more like a role for somebody in a suit rather than a walking, six-foot terrier, but maybe we are underestimating Fionn.
We wish him all the best in his new role.
