Brendon Sampson first moved to Lisnaskea from South Africa at the age of three he instantly fell in love with GAA, soon declaring he would play at Croke Park someday.
This summer, at the age of 11, the Bunsoil An Traonaigh pupil will realise that dream in front of a crowd of more than 80,000.
The Erne county is set to be well represented on the pitch at Croke Park this year, with a number of skilled local pupils selected to take part in Cumann na mBunscol exhibition matches during half-time at the season’s biggest games.
Seanie Gallagher from Enniskillen Integrated PS, for example, has been picked to play at half time of either the All Ireland Senior Football semi-final or final, while Michael Carron from Holy Trinity PS has been selected to play at half time in the Ulster Senior Football final.
Brendon has been selected to play during half time of the All Ireland Senior Hurling semi-final, due to take place this July, something his grandfather, former MLA Sean Lynch, and all his family are immensely proud of.
Speaking to the ‘Herald, Sean – who is more like a father figure to Brendon than a grandfather – said from the minute Brendon moved here in 2017 he had immersed himself in Irish culture, particularly the language and the sport.
“The first GAA pitch he saw he ran onto it,” Sean said, adding Brendon doesn’t even stop when on holiday in Donegal.
“He would live on GAA pitches, especially in Gweedore. When we go down there he would spend at least two hours on Gweedore GAA pitch practicing hurling.”
Sean added, “He’s been to Croke Park a number of times, but he told me some day he’d play in it. I didn’t think he’d play in it when he was 11. They reckon there will be upwards of 80,000 people there that day.”
Sean said Brendon, who plays for Knocks Grattons, had “excelled” in Gaelic games, noting last year he had also joined the Belnaleck U14s team, getting on when he was just 10-years-old.
During a recent visit to his beloved Gweedore, Brendon thinks he may even have been scouted for the Donegal team!
“The last time we were down, a man pulled up to watch up and then gave him a couple of sliotars,” Sean recalled, who said the man in question had been the manager for the Donegal minors.
“Brendon said to me after, I think he thought I was from here, but then he realised he was a Fermanagh man. The man then said Fermanagh was way in front of Donegal in hurling.”
Reflecting on Brendon’s latest achievement, Sean said, “For someone who came here on this third birthday, there he is now representing the county primary schools in Croke Park at an All Ireland semi-final.”
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