By MICHAEL McDONNELL
michael@northern-standard.ie
THE BONFIRES that were lit atop the drumlins around Drumgoon on Sunday evening said it all as the rural community around Maudabawn arose to greet and welcome home its proud son Aogán Ó Fearghail, fresh from his election as Uachtaráin-Tofa Chumann Lúthchleas Gael.
The Dernakesh NS principal’s resounding victory in the election at Congress 2014 in Croke Park two nights earlier saw him romp home with 170 of the 310 votes on the first count, well ahead of Wexford’s Sheamus Howlin’s 83 votes and the 57 secured by Sean Walsh of Kerry.
Having made history in becoming the first Cavan man elected to the position, Ó Fearghail will now spend a year as President Elect of the GAA before succeeding Liam Ó Néill to become the Association’s 38th president.
He will also be the first Ulsterman to hold the top spot at Croke Park since Monaghan’s Sean McCague (2000–2003), and also holds the distinction of being only the fourth contender in GAA history to win the election at the first attempt, joining Nickey Brennan (2005), Seán Kelly (2002) and Paddy Buggy (1981).
The sound of car horns filled the air around Gallonray House community centre from 7pm onwards on Sunday, and the shouts and cheers reached a crescendo as at half past seven as Mr Ó Fearghail and his entourage drove up to the entrance, complete with a garda escort.
The newly elected Uachtaráin-Tofa had earlier been feted by clubs in Virginia, Lavey, Cavan town, Tullyvin and Cootehill as he came back to the Breffni county, but this was his real homecoming — the return to his beloved Drumgoon, where he’d been instrumental over the years in building what was …