The 2023 MacNamee Award winners were announced this week. Congratulations to all the winners, in particular:
“ Hall of Fame – John Knox, Kilkenny
The Mac Namee Hall of Fame Award in recognition of a lifetime of excellence in Gaelic games coverage will be presented to John Knox, a man who worked for nearly 50 years in the Kilkenny People. In that time, he lived the highs and lows of Kilkenny GAA, reflecting the feelings of fans through his writing. Now retired-ish, John Knox his a hugely respected member of the GAA media corp, a reputation enhanced by the fact that for many years, long before we had PROs, Knox was at the coalface of GAA matters in a County that was envied, lauded, and admired by GAA followers near and far. If it happened in Kilkenny John Knox knew about it before the dawn broke. His job took him into the red-hot cauldron that was the County Board meetings under the only stand at the time in Nowlan Park. In the face of GAA Admin icons like Paddy Grace, Mick
O’Neill, Ted Carroll, Kevin Fennelly (Snr), Joe Walsh, Johnny Ivory, Mick Neary, Nickey Purcell, Kieran Meally et al, a “spalpeen” journalist would have to have all his ducks in a row when the Kilkenny People hit the street or face the wrath
of the aforementioned.
During his career, John reported on 26 All-Ireland senior hurling finals and two replays. He told the story of numerous camogie All-Ireland Finals and Leagues. He covered numerous Under-21 and Minor encounters, and he also told the
struggles for the survival of football. He helped Gaelic games progress from the pitch to the printed word. Over the 50 years John’s stories from players and management was the daily diet of supporters who craved information. He would readily admit that the supporters, the dedicated people in the Kilkenny People and a visionary County Board was an unbreakable Co-Operative that stood the test of time.
During his tenure with the Kilkenny People, John was privileged to see his beloved Kilkenny win the famous 4 in-a-row, which went to nearly a “five timer” with minutes remaining. John too, was very much part of the club scene in Kilkenny as his coverage of years of superb club hurling by great clubs who garnished their reputations with many Provincial and All-Ireland club wins. John Knox has been a wonderful servant of the Gaelic Athletic Association, and more precisely the Association in his beloved Kilkenny. This is a most deserved accolade for his dedication and longevity to a noble cause.”
By Mary Morgan Sat 19th Oct
