Dessie Ryan pictured with Martin McAviney (President, Ulster GAA) and Sean O’Neill at the presentation of the Paddy O’Hara Medal of Honour on Friday night at Riddel Hall in Belfast.
The honour was bestowed on Dessie by the Past Members’ Union of Queen’s University GAA for services to the club and university and distinction in coaching and management. Dessie Ryan is a highly respected coach, who managed Queen’s University to Sigerson Cup successes in 1990 and 2000. A native of Tyrone, he won McKenna Cup, Lagan Cup and Gaelic Weekly Cup medals with the Red Hand County before emigrating to New York, where he won two National League titles. He has a distinguished record in coaching with Ballinderry, Ardboe and Queen’s.
The Paddy O’Hara Medal of Honour was initiated by Queen’s in 2013, with Sean O’Neill as the first recipient. It is named in honour of the late Paddy O’Hara, former Antrim great and GAA broadcaster, who managed Queen’s to their first Sigerson Cup success in 1958.
The recipient is inducted into the Queen’s University GAA Hall of Fame.
By tyronepro Mon 14th Dec
