The GAA in New York continues the trend of congratulating its hardest working personnel with its highest honor for 2013, when Longford’s Joe Prunty is guest of honor at the annual New York GAA dance on Friday, April 5 at Antun’s in Queens Village, starting with cocktail hour at 8 p.m.
Prunty is synonymous with Gaelic Park every week for the games of the Gael and each Thursday night as a long time officer of the association.
Prunty hails from Ballincurry Drumlish in Co. Longford and is the youngest of a family of seven born to the late Michael and Ellen Prunty. Five of the Prunty family currently reside in New York.
Prunty attended Carrowill N.S. and continued his post-primary education at Longford Technical School. Growing up in Longford, the start of what was to become a lifelong love of the GAA began to blossom.
In 1970 Prunty arrived in New York, as he already had family here. It was the obvious choice to get involved with the Longford Association and of course the Longford Football Club.
Never one to stand back from the front line, Prunty has been an officer and mighty worker down through the years not only for the his beloved Longford, but also the New York GAA.
An officer for years, he is a permanent fixture on Sundays not only helping out at the gate, but also constantly stepping into linesman, umpire or other roles. His presence on the press box side with flag in hand allows full interaction with the throngs of players and mentors for the sides involved in any given game who must try and get ever closer to the action.
When Longford stepped aside from football in New York for a number of years, Prunty stepped into high profile shoes as a delegate for Leitrim. An active member, he was recognized by the club with the Joe McInerney Memorial Award in 2012.
Prunty is also active in a host of other organizations such as the United Irish Counties, AOH Division 4, and of course the recently reformed Longford GFC. One of the highlights of last summer was a brilliant contest between Brooklyn and Longford played on a weekday evening that turned into a classic.
For the last 30 years Prunty has been employed as a building manager on Park Avenue, a job that he thoroughly enjoys and where he is very highly regarded. He married Kathleen McEvoy, a native of Ballinalee, Co. Longford in 1992 and they are the proud parents of Laura and Joseph.
For information call banquet chair Tom Fahey at 914-384-3043.
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