Graiguecullen will have a special interest in today’s All-Ireland final

MEMBERS OF Graiguecullen GAA club will have more than a passing interest in today’s All-Ireland football final. You might say, one of their own will be playing a crucial role in where Sam rests for the next 12 months.

Sam Callinan has rapidly emerged as one of the standout young footballers in Mayo, establishing himself as a key figure in the county’s defence despite still being in the early stages of his inter-county career. The Ballina Stephenites player first joined the Mayo senior setup as an 18-year-old under James Horan and has since developed into one of the team’s most promising talents.

Born and raised in Ballina, Callinan’s connection to Graiguecullen comes through family roots. Members of the Callinan family have links to club creating a bond between the western footballer and the county. Although he has represented Mayo at every level of inter-county football, the family connection means that Laois holds a special place in his background and heritage.

In every community there are people whose names become woven into the fabric of local life. In Graiguecullen, Sam’s grandfather John ‘Badger’ Callinan, was one such man.

Born and raised in Graiguecullen, ‘Badger’ was part of a family name that has long been associated with the district and with Gaelic games. The Callinan name appears throughout the history of Graiguecullen football, a club that has been one of the great sporting institutions of the Carlow-Laois border since the late 19th century.

Generations of Callinans played, supported and helped sustain the famous green and red colours.

And ‘Badger’ will always be a folk hero in Graiguecullen as he has the distinction of captaining the last Graiguecullen team to be crowned Laois senior champions back in 1965.

Sadly ‘Badger’ will not get to see his grandson play in Croke Park as he passed away in 2015.