Local Heroes - Gerry O'Rourke

In a new series, The Saint celebrates the local heroes who have made an indelible mark on the national and international sporting scene down through the decades.

These men and women - all born in the environs of Richmond Park - have excelled in their chosen sport and are remembered fondly both here in Ireland and further afield.

Our third Local Hero is Gerry O'Rourke - the Irish and World wheelchair champion who was born in the CIE Estate in Inchicore and turned tragedy into triumph following a horror accident that destroyed his dream of becoming a professional footballer - but failed to halt a remarkable career...

If events had transpired differently, Gerry O’Rourke would be dusting off some green velvet caps from a long, successful football career.

The dream was to play at the highest level, and more importantly, for Ireland. His abilities certainly matched the youthful ambition.

It was the path in which the sports-mad teenager was heading down and also the journey he had set his heart on growing up in the Dublin townland of Inchicore in the late 1970s.

English club scouts had him on their radar and there was big interest in the young centre-back, who played for Emmett Rangers and then the St Patrick's Athletic youth teams.

Gerry fitted the bill. At 15 years of age, O'Rourke cut an impressively strong figure in his favoured position in the heart of defence.

"I played with Emmet Rangers up to the age of 13 and then went on to St Pat's from age 14. I was doing very well," he says.

"It was a very good club. We used to play in Brickfields in Drimnagh and the odd time we'd get the chance to play in Richmond Park."

At school, he captained St James' CBS to their maiden Leinster Senior Cup success in 1978, winning the final at Tolka Park.

It wasn't long before an English club made an approach. Coventry City were interested and offered him a trial, through the usual route of talking to the manager.

Gerry was aware of the interest but not the trial. Possibly a way of keeping the young player grounded.

"I would have loved to get the chance to go away and play in England. There weren't many kids going over there," he recalls.

"I had been told by my manager at St Pat's at the time that Coventry were interested in me.

"In fairness, I didn't really think too much about it, I was only 16."

Then fate dealt him another hand entirely.

"Some days you think about things and you look at it and say, 'I'd love to have been able to play over there,' and especially for your country. It was just a dream you'd have, but then it was all cut short."

The living nightmare

Friday, September 14, 1979. Just a normal weekend day in the CIE Estate where Gerry lived with his parents, five brothers and four sisters – Gerry being the youngest.