Sean Cox’s wife, Martina, son Jack, and St Peter's, Dunboyne GAA Chairman Fergus McNulty pictured at the launch of Sunday's fundraiser game between Meath and Dublin at Pairc Tailteann.
By Cian O’Connell
Since April it has been a particularly tough time for the Cox family, but support and care is being provided by the local community in Dunboyne.
Sean Cox served as Chairman of St Peter’s and was an influential figure in the continued development of the progressive Meath club.
This weekend an inter-county challenge involving the Royals and All Ireland champions Dublin is set to attract a healthy attendance to Pairc Tailteann acting as a fundraiser for The Sean Cox Rehabilitation Trust.
Sporting organisations and clubs have contributed for the cause in recent months with St Peter’s Chairman Fergus McNulty acknowledging the efforts and energy.
“The response has been overwhelming not just around the community, I would say the whole sporting community,” McNulty says.
“The GAA family, but also soccer and so on right across the globe. Sport has that ability to unify so regardless of whatever colours you support it really does connect everyone.
“That is really the way it should be. It brings into contrast what Sean encountered back in April when it was anything, but that.
“So I think we are keen to show here is how you get two great rivals coming together with supporters, who are passionate about their colours, but that we can all sit under the one roof to enjoy the spectacle.
“Obviously Dublin and Meath is a well worn rivarly so I think it is attractive. The All Ireland champions don't come down to Navan too often and I think Sean's story has resonated right across all sporting communities, but particularly the GAA. Sean has quite close connections with Dublin GAA, but is formerly a Chairman of Dunboyne.
Meath and Dublin will contest the Sean Cox fundraiser challenge match on Sunday. Sean Cox's wife, Martina, and son, Jack, are pictured here with Andy McEntee and footballers from Dublin and Meath ahead of Sunday's game at Pairc Tailteann.
“His son has played for the Meath hurlers, he has strong connections with what is going on in Meath GAA. I think all of those factors have caught the imagination so we have been pleased with the response to date.”
McNulty highlighted Sean Cox’s willingness to work for St Peter’s Dunboyne, who are still making significant strides on and off the field.
“Sean was Chair before I took over from him and was Secretary while I was Chair,” McNulty explains. “So he has been centrally involved in the club for many, many years.
“The club has gone through quite a rapid transformation in that time. The numbers have obviously gone up as a suburban club and that brings its own challenges in terms of pressure on coaches and facilities etc. Sean has been a very important part in how we have responded to that. It is well recognised locally.”
During this demanding spell McNulty derives some satisfaction from how St Peter’s, Dunboyne has rallied around the family to assist in any way possible. “Absolutely, I think the club from my perspective of Chair, I have been very proud of the way the club has come together,” McNulty admits.
“The reality is that the club and the community are very much intertwined. The membership are part and parcel of the community, inevitably there is going to be that crossover in relation to driving events and rallying around Martina and the family.
“I think the club has really come together to support Martina and the family in whatever way they can.”
To buy tickets for Sunday's game or to support the Sean Cox Rehabilitation Trust click here.
