Alan Dillon
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Alan Ó Diolun | ||
| Sport | Gaelic Football | ||
| Position | Left Half Forward | ||
| Born |
28 September 1982 Castlebar, Mayo, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Occupation | Senior Validation Consultant | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
1999– | Ballintubber | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Mayo titles | 5 | ||
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
2003–2017 | Mayo | 134 (3–225) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Connacht titles | 8 | ||
| All Stars | 2 | ||
| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 28 November 2017. | |||
Alan Dillon (born 28 September 1982) is an Irish politician. He will enter the next Irish general election as a candidate for Fine Gael.[1] Before entering politics, he was a Gaelic footballer for Mayo. A two time All Star winner, Dillon had previously captained the Mayo senior Gaelic football team.[2]
Gaelic football career
He played football with his local club Ballintubber in Mayo and was a pivotal member of the Mayo senior football team from 2003 until his retirement in 2017, playing in 6 All-Ireland finals. His fine-tuned skill, his sharp roving eye & his clever reading of the game all contribute to his exceptional footballing abilities. Dillon won his first All Star award in 2006[3] and a second All Star award in 2012.
Retirement
On 28 November 2017, Dillon announced his retirement from inter-county football.[4][5][6]
Political career
Following his retirement from inter-county football in 2017 there was much speculation that Dillon would replace former Taoiseach Enda Kenny as a Fine Gael candidate for Mayo.[7][8]
In January 2018, Dillon announced his intention to stand for local elections in 2019. He decided not to run in 2019; instead he would stand in 2021 at the general election.[9]
He has numerous links to Fine Gael, an aunt having been Enda Kenny's Castlebar secretary and her husband being Kenny’s driver and a county councillor.[10]
Personal life
Dillon has participated in a marketing campaign for Ireland West Airport Knock.[11] Dillon attended Davitt College in Castlebar for his Secondary school education.[12] He studied at NUI Galway,[13] and played for the university football team.[14]
References
- ^ https://www.con-telegraph.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/10/24/4164018-alan-dillon-is-set-to-open-a-county-town-constituency-office/
- ^ "Dillon to captain Mayo". Hoganstand.com. 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
- ^ "Champions Kerry top All Star list". RTÉ. 22 November 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
- ^ "Eight-time Connacht champion Alan Dillon calls time on his Mayo career". The 42. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/ciar%C3%A1n-murphy-alan-dillon-leaves-knowing-he-gave-it-his-all-1.3309787
- ^ https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/1128/923311-alan-dillon-calls-it-a-day-with-mayo/
- ^ http://www.thejournal.ie/alan-dillon-fine-gael-3727918-Dec2017/
- ^ http://www.mayonews.ie/news/31209-fine-gael-and-footballer-alan-dillon-in-talks-about-surprise-general-election-bid-2
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XbnLHqoU7M
- ^ https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/alan-dillon-bring-our-people-home-467553.html
- ^ "Donegal GAA stars join forces as Ambassadors for Ireland West Airport Knock". Donegal Democrat. Johnston Press. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ http://www.mayonews.ie/sports/31206-alan-dillon-the-man-who-made-it-look-easy
- ^ "NUI Galway students and alumni head for Croke Park with Mayo senior football finalists". 17 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2016.
The Mayo squad contains a large number of current and former students including Ger Cafferkey, Jason Doherty, Alan Dillon, Conor O'Shea, Shane McHale, Chris Barrett and Cathal Freeman. Former Inter-County star James Nallen, who is a selector with the Mayo side, is a Chief Technical Officer in NUI Galway's School of Physics.
- ^ "Gardiner digs deep to bury IT Sligo". Irish Independent. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
Mayo's Peadar Gardiner, Alan Dillon and Ronan Rochford inspired NUI Galway to an impressive victory in Ballinode.... Jason Doherty smacked another goal attempt off an upright, but managed to point the rebound. Paul Garvey's pointed free at the other end kept it tight, but Keating's red card a minute later cost IT Sligo dearly, with Fiacra Deasmhunhaigh and Doherty claiming goals inside the 10 minutes that followed.
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