Tom Dempsey calls for more supports for retiring GAA players

Three former Wexford hurlers featured in a new short documentary….

The trio of George O’Connor, Tom Dempsey, and Larry O’Gorman have all featured in a new short documentary which highlights the void which came after their unbelievable and historic All-Ireland hurling win in 1996.

All three former Wexford hurlers spoke candidly about their experience post-1996. The highs that come with sports are no doubt very high and for GAA players, the pinnacle is achieving All-Ireland silverware.

That was the case for Wexford in 1996, now 28 years ago.

But, what happens after that? What happens when the body starts to fade, or when you’re not selected on the team anymore. Retirement, or stopping the game you love and the game that gave you so many highs, comes to the fore.

For George O’Connor, he struggled filling that “void” after retiring after the 1996 All-Ireland win. He spoke about taking a “high percentage of life away”. He went farming, coaching, but eventually it caught up on him and he had to check into St John of God in Dublin, an independent acute psychiatric hospital. Likewise, for Larry O’Gorman mentioned that he “didn’t know if I wanted Wexford to win or not, because I wasn’t part of it.”

In the documentary, former Wexford hurler, Tom Dempsey, called on the GAA to offer more supports for retiring GAA players.

“For three or four years after winning the All-Ireland, you wouldn’t even have to buy a pint. And then there’s a little bit about getting your mind to deal with the fact that you’re getting a little bit older, and there’s new kids now on the block.”

“I think if the GAA or if the GPA were to do something at the moment, put something in place for retiring hurlers. To give them support for what the come-down from the high is going to be like. It can have a very very tough effect. I think every player will admit that there was a bit of a down when they retired from hurling,” Dempsey said.

The new 10 minute short-documentary entitled “Crossroads”, directed by Wexford native Hugh Turner, can be watched here in our previous article and on YouTube.