Pictured is Mayo footballer and autism advocate Padraig O’Hora at SuperValu’s launch of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and its #CommunityIncludesEveryone campaign. Sponsors of the Championship for a fifteenth consecutive season, SuperValu were joined by Gaelic Games role models and advocates from across the country in Croke Park today to highlight the role of GAA communities in making Ireland a more diverse, inclusive and welcoming country for all.
By John Harrington
SuperValu really couldn’t have picked a better ambassador for their #CommunityIncludesEveryone campaign than Mayo footballer, Padraig O’Hora.
A proud Ballina man, he’s also a hugely positive influence in the wider community through his work with the Mayo Mental Health Association and Youth Work North Connacht.
His role in the latter organisation is as Youth Justice Worker for Youth Action Ballina, which sees him support young people involved in offending by helping them back on track in their lives.
It’s a job he’s very well qualified for because when he speaks to those young people he does so with the benefit of the experience of being in a similar position himself back in the day.
He was able to turn his life around with a helping hand from others, and now he’s passing on the same gift.
“I had issues, like most young people, I was giddy,” says O’Hora. “I got in a bit of trouble, a bit of bother, alcohol certainly played its role. There were loads of different moments.
“I know the GAA had a big part to play in it because it kept me honest, it kept me straight. Friday night might only be Friday night whereas, if football wasn’t there, it might have been Friday-Saturday-Sunday-Monday.
“The one real piece I can remember, one of the biggest turning points, was when I got in trouble with the Guards. I went in to see the JLO, the Juvenile Liaison Officer, the person that I now work with to support the young people!
“I went in and sat with my mam in front of him. He just said, ‘This is your last chance, otherwise you could end up in big trouble. There’s two paths here, Padraig.’ He says, ‘Football. Stay in football. See the club above there, stay in football. Keep playing your football, keep out of trouble, and you’ll be alright. If you end up in front of me again, it’s going to be a different story.’
“I recall that really, really well. We won a county title this year and myself and himself were arm-in-arm 16 years later. Maybe if that intervention wasn’t there, who knows.
“I just recall different people coming into your life. I think I get that chance every once in a while. Hopefully in 20 years time, I’ll put my arm around some lad or some lady saying, ‘now look at where you’ve come!’”
Padraig O'Hora of Ballina Stephenites celebrates after his side's victory in the 2023 Mayo County Senior Club Football Championship final match between Ballina Stephenites and Breaffy at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Sometimes there’s a nice circularity to life and O’Hora had one of those serendipitous moments after he put the JLO down as a reference on his CV when interviewing for his current job.
“My now-boss said, ‘oh, what’s the story here, I know this man well, sure he’s the JLO!’”, recalls O’Hora.
“I said, ‘I know you do, yeah.’ He goes, ‘What’s your interaction with him, have you worked together?’ I said, ‘No, I got arrested years ago and sat in front of him!’
“You may as well be honest, I suppose! It’s just a lovely turn of events, you know, we all have that in our lives. I always think about that, sometimes all it is is an arm around the shoulder or a bit of encouragement.
“I get that chance all the time, people encourage me every day of the week, ‘can you send a message to this person? Can you send a birthday…can you send a video?’ I’ve never, ever said no, and I never, ever will say no. You just don’t know who needs what at what time.”
O’Hora felt the benefit of having a steering hand on his shoulder at a pivotal moment in his life and now he wants to pass on that favour to others.
He doesn’t want any plaudits though because it’s not a selfless act. For everything he gives he feels like he receives in at least equal measure, if not more.
“I love it, I absolutely love it,” he says. “People will always pat you on the back and say, ‘Jesus, you’re great for giving back, you’re involved in X and Y.’ It’s a two-way street.
“I have given no more than I’ve got and, to be honest, I’ve probably given less. I don’t think I could ever give as much as I got. People came into my life and they helped me, they put an arm around me at the right time and they pushed me in the right direction.
“Even now, they still do, because I’m supporting people in that community. They give me just as much back, the same with all the autism and neurodivergent services.
“I learned more from members of that community than I could ever ask for. That life experience, those relationships and friendships, you can’t put a value on them.”
Padraig O'Hora of Ballina Stephenites celebrates with his daughters Mila-Rae, left, and Sadie-Rose after his side's victory in the Mayo County Senior Club Football Championship final match between Ballina Stephenites and Breaffy at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
O’Hora is passionate about the role of the GAA in promoting positive mental as well as physical health in our youth.
Gaelic games helped show him the way when he was at a crossroads in his life, and he hopes it will do the same for many others.
“My mother said a long time ago and it took me a long time to understand what she meant, ‘Show me your company and I’ll tell you who you are’,” says O’Hora.
“If you can get involved in a club, you might be from a tough part of the neighbourhood, maybe you’ve grown up with certain family members who are involved in stuff they shouldn’t be or people who live around you.
“But if you’re going over and back to that club, you’re meeting them young lads. Then they become your friends, they become your group, and they’re the lads you grow up with.
“All of a sudden, they’re the people that are impacting your life. They’re the decisions you’re making, and you’re not going out acting the fool where you would have been with other bucks.
“Now you’re in this group of lads who are too busy worrying about recovery and nutrition and training. All of a sudden, your life goes in a completely different direction. GAA clubs are brilliant, a pillar of our community.”