CLOCH LE CARN - KEVIN HEFFERNAN
Monday, March 24th @ 19.30 on RTÉ One

Cloch le Carn pays tribute to Kevin Heffernan who died in January 2013, a man who was a giant of the GAA and the hero of Hill 16. The managerial mastermind led Dublin to three All-Ireland football titles in the 1970s and 80s, and also he had a glittering career as a player.

Known affectionately as Heffo, he revived Dublin football in the 1970s and he gave his name to the famous "Heffo's Army", the colourful Dublin supporters who occupied Hill 16 for the legendary encounters with Kerry. He raised the bar in GAA and introduced a new level of professionalism in attitude and training that was copied throughout the land. Dublin won All-Irelands in 1974 and 1976 under Kevin's stewardship and he brought The Sam Maguire back to the capital again in 1983 with a new batch of players. He also managed the Irish International Rules side to victory in Australia in 1986, winning the final two tests having been initially defeated in the opening match.

Kevin Heffernan was a superb footballer in his own right, and he captained Dublin to an All-Ireland football title in 1958 when they beat Derry. He also won four Leinster Titles and three National League medals. Heffo also devoted his life to his club, St Vincent's, and as a player he won 21 county championships - 15 in football and 6 in Hurling. Such was his talent that he was selected for the Football Team of the Century and later the Team of the Millennium with this latter accolade leading to the rare distinction of him appearing on a postage stamp in his lifetime. He was also granted the Freedom of the City of Dublin in 2004, placing him in a pantheon that includes U2, Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton.

This edition of Cloch le Carn includes tributes from friends, colleagues, opponents and fans from all over Ireland, amoung them Mick O'Dwyer, Jack O'Shea, Brian Mullins, Fiona Looney and Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh. The programme contains rare archive footage of Kevin from his playing days in the 1950s as well as a wealth of nostalgic footage from the 1970s.

Whenever Gaelic football is played, Heffo's name will be remembered with great affection and respect

Presenter / Reporter Garry Mac Donncha
Producer / Director Seán Ó Méalóid


CLOCH LE CARN - KEVIN HEFFERNAN
Dé Luain, 24ú Márta @ 19.30 ar RTÉ One

Tugann Cloch le Carn omós do Kevin Heffernan a bhásaigh i mí Eanáir 2013, fathach de chuid and CLG agus laoch Chnoc a 16. Bainisteoir ceannródaíoch ab ea é a thug peileadóírí Áth Cliath chomh fada le trí chraobh Uile-Éireann sna 70daí agus 80daí agus bhí ard-mheas agus cáil air mar pheileadóír sna 50daí.

Bhí aithne forleathan air mar Heffo, agus d'athbheochain sé cúrsaí peil ghaelach i mBleá' Cliath sna 70daí. Tháinig leantóírí nua ar an bhfód ag tacú leis an bhfoireann "Heffo's Army", dream a ghlac seilbh ar Chnoc a 16 do na coimhlintí eipiciúla le Ciarraí. D'athraigh sé an meoin a bhí sa Chumann ó thaobh traenála agus cur chuige gairmiúl, agus lean contaetha eile a shampla. Bhua Áth Cliath craobhacha Uile-Éireann i 1974 agus 1976 faoi stiúradh Kevin agus d'éirigh leis arís i 1983 Corn Mhic Uidhir a bhuachaint le foireann nua. B'e a bhí i gceannas freisin ar fhoireann idirnáisiúnta na hÉireann a bhuail na hAstrálaigh i sraith na bliana 1986, iad buacach sa dá teist deireannach in aineoinn gur chlis orthu sa chéad cluiche.

Sár-imreoir peile ab ea Kevin Heffernan freisin agus bhí sé ina chaptaen ar Bhleá' Claith i 1958 nuair a bhuail siad Doire i gCluiche Ceannais na hÉíreann. Ina theannta seo bhua sé cheithre chraobh Laighin agus trí cinn de bhoinn sa tSraith Náisiúnta. Thug Heffo a shaol dá chlub freisin, Cumann Naomh Uinseann agus mar imreoir leo bhua sé 21 Craobhacha Contae, 15 sa pheil agus 6 cinn san iománaíocht. Roghnaíodh é ar Fhoirne Peile an Chéid agus na Mílaoise, rud a chiallaigh go raibh sé le feiceáil ar stampa poist agus é fós ina bheatha. Bronnadh Saoirse na Cathrach i mBaile Átha Cliath air freisin i 2004, gradam a chinntigh go raibh sé ar chó-chéim ina chathair dhúchais le U2, Nelson Mandela agus Bill Clinton.

San eagrán seo de Cloch le Carn cloisfear ó cháirde, comhleacaithe, céilí comhraic agus leantóirí de chuid Kevin ó chuile cearn den tír, ina measc Mick O'Dwyer, Jack O'Shea, Brian Mullins, Fiona Looney agus Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh. Ina theannta seo tá an clár lán de chartlann uathúil do Kevin i mbun imeartha sna 50daí agus beidh neart aicsean le feiceáíl chomh maith ó na 70daí.
Pé áit a imreofar Peil Ghaelach, cuimhneofar ar ainm Heffo le cion agus le homós.

Láithreoir / Tuairisceoir Garry Mac Donncha
Léiritheoir / Stiúrthóir Seán Ó Méalóid Tweet

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