Offaly legend tells mad story of Noel Gallagher’s GAA debut in Croke Park

During the week, a fantastic photo of Oasis songwriter and guitarist, Noel Gallagher, popped up on social media, ahead of the band’s gigs at Croke Park this weekend.

Contrary to what most would have believed, it is not the first time Noel has played at the home of GAA.

His debut was in fact back in 1983, long before he became a music icon.

Playing for Manchester GAA club Óisíns, Noel headed over with a team to play against Kilmacud Crokes in a minor exhibition match.

On hand to coach the English side was Offaly’s 1982 All-Ireland winning captain, Richie Connor.

Speaking with the Irish Independent last year, he explained how the match was organised and the photo came to pass.

He said: “There were two connections, one was a guy involved with the Manchester club from Laois and a brother of his is married to my sister. Andy O’Dwyer was involved with Oisíns and my sister Mary is married to his brother John, who has since passed away.

“On the Kilmacud side, there was someone involved very much from Offaly. Those two men chatted and said, ‘Will we get somebody in to do a coaching session with this Manchester team?’ My name came up between the two of them and there was contact made.

“I’m not sure if it was through Eugene McGee [then Offaly manager] or straight to myself. I was asked would I come up and coach them in Croke Park, I think it was prior to a league match as we were playing Dublin in Croke Park the same day and the coaching session was at 11.0 in the morning.

“I would have put out a few flags and got them running up and down. I didn’t get Noel to sing a song or anything! They just ran up and down and I did some drills with them, some passing, skill games and a few little things like that. Then, there was a photograph of the team taken in Croke Park and I was asked to sit in.”