For the love of a special woman

On Tuesday next, a group of young men and their management team will leave the villages of Cong, Cross and The Neale and head to Claremorris to play in the South Mayo Minor A final. The footballers will be clad in the famed green and white of The Neale GAA, but there will be purple stripes on their togs, purple socks in their boots and a Pancreatic Cancer Ireland logo on their chests.

What’s the story behind the classy additions to the usual uniform worn by those who play football for The Neale? We took a trip to Ashford Castle which has welcomed guests to the banks of Lough Corrib for the past eight centuries years to find out.
There were clouds in the sky over Cong and rain was falling over the ramparts at the castle but not even the dreariness of a 'soft summer day' could dim the sparkle in the eyes of Niall Rochford when he spoke to The Mayo News about the love of his life.

The General Manager at Mayo's 800-year-old jewel in the crown took time out from running the five-star 83 bedroom resort to speak with The Mayo News about his late wife Stella, and the heartfelt campaign he is part of. Stella was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt, friend and so much more. When Niall found a quiet corner of Ashford to speak about her, it was obvious that the native of Doneraile in Cork was a spectacular human who left an indelible mark on those fortunate enough to have encountered her.

She left this life on July 13, 2022, just eight weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and now the young men who proudly wear the colours of The Neale’s minor team will play in her memory with the Pancreatic Cancer Ireland logo on their chests. Niall, the boys of The Neale and their manager Pat Casey are adamant that people need to be more aware of the cancer which afflicts 600 people every year in Ireland.

While there are clear challenges in terms of diagnosis, where the cancer is captured early, surgery can be very successful in removing a tumour and giving the patient the best possible chance of survival. Around 20 percent of patients will have disease amenable to surgery, so early intervention is absolutely critical.

“Sadly 500 people die from it every year in Ireland but we want to save as many families as possible from the trauma and devastation we have experienced and that starts with awareness of this deadly disease that ruins so many lives,” Rochford explained. “Stella received her diagnosis, but the cancer was already advanced and she died just eight weeks later.”

The man who has been at the forefront of exciting change in Ashford for more than two decades went on to speak about the shock, the disbelief, the fear of the unknown felt by the Rochfords when the diagnosis was delivered. His words took the listener through a journey nobody would want to travel, but he also spoke about the joy of Stella spending her last days in their beloved home in nearby Lackafinna surrounded by the unbridled love of generations of her family. Now, Niall, the family and The Neale want to make a real difference in memory of a woman who meant so much to so many.

“We’re very proud to carry the Pancreatic Cancer logo on our jerseys,” team manager Pat Casey told The Mayo News. Niall, and Ashford Castle have been fantastic supporters of the team over the years and when he suggested this to us, we were only too happy to be part of this great movement. Stella was a special woman and if we can all work together to make even one person more aware of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer, then we will have achieved a great thing.

“In the minutes after we won the county final last year, Niall rang to say ‘keep the jerseys’ and he would have new ones for us for this season. Ronan Hughes at Hughesy Sports came on board and designed the gear with the logo and the purple socks and he has even purple gloves for the lads as well.

“Wearing the logo and being part of this campaign is what teamwork and sport is all about - community, taking care of one another and facing adversity together. Niall, Stella, the family and all at Ashford have always been there for us, and we’re absolutely honoured to remember a special woman in such a special way.”

The final word is left to Niall Rochford. “Stella wouldn’t want any fuss or any publicity. She loved living life behind the scenes, but she would be so determined about this. We will do everything we can to make a difference in her memory.”