Eamon McGee: from Donegal footballer to GAA pundit

ALL-IRELAND winner Eamon McGee is kept busy these days juggling a full-time job, studying for a Science degree through the Open University and helping to look after his one-year old daughter Daisy.
In a wide-ranging interview in this week’s Donegal News, the Gaoth Dobhiar defender, speaks candidly about among other things religion and science.
Science was a subject that Eamon enjoyed studying during his days in Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair. It was also a time when he was quite religious but now he finds the two to be incompatible. As a result, religion has taken a back seat.
“I’ve parked the religion – for a while at least. Some days I’m more of an atheist while other times I’m agnostic. That said, as I get older I realise that religion is very important to people and I’ve no problem with that. My issue with religion is its attempts to come in and dictate to society.
“If someone takes comfort in religion you have to admire that. I would never be one to try and get rid of religion. It’s just that it is not for everyone,” he said.
A former Occupational Health and Safety student at Sligo IT, Eamon was a student at a time when many went to college to play football rather than study.
“I’ve got two Sigersons and no degrees,” he quipped referring to a time when he was part of the successful Sligo IT team with young brother Neil, Christy Toye and Kevin Cassidy.
“Someone told me it was a handy enough course which suited me at the time,” he said.
Eamon and his partner Joanne Gillen have a daughter, Daisy, who recently celebrated her first birthday.
“It’s amazing to watch her grow. It’s the wee things. I had been living in a big bubble for a large part of my life – a GAA bubble which I’m now realising isn’t as important as I once thought it was.
“I’ve learned that it’s important not to take yourself too seriously in the GAA. There’s a big bad world out there and when something like this happens (becoming a dad) you realise that and see it through their eyes,” he said.

SEE FRIDAY’S DONEGAL NEWS FOR FULL INTERVIEW

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