IT’S been one of the most tumultuous weeks in the 24 years I've been working in The Irish News.
Within a matter of days, the company lost two esteemed and cherished members of staff: Hugh Russell and Dawn Egan.
Hugh, a photographer, and Dawn, a production journalist, columnist and hurling die-hard, were both brilliant at their jobs and worked for the paper for a combined 80 years.
They were two of the nicest people you could meet. They were too young to die.
Dawn would never pass me in the office without asking about my children.
Hugh had already been diagnosed with cancer when I last spoke to him in early August. He was going up to cover John McKillop’s funeral in Cushendall.
He was still full of hope about the future. That summed Hugh up.
Days like these are difficult to process. Even though you’re not actually looking for it, leadership often emerges – and we’re thankful that it does.
For staff members, leadership came in the guise of our editor Noel Doran.
Noel’s tributes to both Dawn and Hugh, which appeared in print and on our digital platforms, were both heartfelt and uplifting.
The written word is easily the most powerful.
His eulogies helped the rest of us navigate our way through two devastating and unfathomable losses.
Just as Noel’s words acted like a soothing balm to the families, so does the GAA.
I attended last Sunday’s Antrim Senior Hurling Championship final between Cushendall and Loughgiel at Corrigan Park.
It was like medicine.
It’s rare we’re able to say this - and maybe we should try harder to say it more often - but Sunday was a perfect day at St John’s GAC.
It was fitting a minute’s silence was paid to Hugh, organised by the Antrim County Board, before Sunday’s final for “being a great friend of Antrim GAA” while the memory of the late John McKillop was warmly acknowledged following Cushendall’s one-point win.
The massive crowd, the stubborn afternoon sun, the stewards, the county officials, programme sellers, referee Colum Cunning and his team of officials, just the whole mood of the place was exceptional.
This column is about leadership in all its different forms. What I loved most about last Sunday in a resplendent Corrigan Park was the honest endeavour and integrity displayed by both sets of players.
Cushendall and Loughgiel have been hurling rivals for generations. The Ruairi Ogs hadn't won the coveted Volunteer Cup since 2018, the Shamrocks since 2016.
For 60-plus minutes of hurling, nothing else mattered to the proud parishes of Loughgiel and Cushendall - and yet, there wasn't a bad stroke in the entire game.
Each player on the field competed honestly for every single ball.
Nobody summed up the honour that can be found in the game of hurling better than Neil McManus.
"I love the feeling of going up for a high ball," he said.
"Whenever I’m watching a game, people are throwing ash very, very hard and somebody has the bravery and the skill and the timing to go up and pull that ball out of the sky.
“There is something special about that. You don’t get that in other sports – such a small ball and the danger that’s undertaken to be able to perform that skill, keeping your eyes open when sticks are breaking around you. It’s a mad thing, isn’t it? But there’s a beauty to it."
There is no better ambassador for Gaelic Games than Neil McManus. Still a young man but mature beyond his years, he showed wonderful leadership during the game and after it by what was contained in his speech.
One observer, who was in the St John’s clubhouse after the game, noted the camaraderie in the room that included officials, management and players from both camps.
Cushendall and Loughgiel players congratulated and commiserated with one another.
We don't come close to celebrating these aspects of Gaelic Games enough.
There was leadership in the way both managers spoke after the game, leadership in how the logistics of the day was managed and leadership displayed among two hurling rivals in the clubhouse afterwards.
Everything about the day at Corrigan Park was underpinned by leadership and was a wonderful expression of our culture.
By contrast, all hell was breaking loose down in Newry ahead of the Down Senior Football Championship final between Kilcoo and Down GAA officialdom and whether or not there would be a game at all over the appointment of a referee.
A few weeks ago, we all watched the mobile phone footage - images that can never quite tell the whole story - of the disgraceful end-of-match scenes between Kilcoo and Clonduff.
The scenes were akin to a pub brawl at closing time - bound to become a pathetic, rubber-necking reel on social media.
Down GAA has a serious problem on its hands - but the default position is to lay into the county board.
All the arguments, claims and counter-claims are well-rehearsed at this stage down in the Mourne County.
It's always someone else's fault.
Leadership is many things.
Leadership begins with looking in the mirror - not out the window.
It is resisting the temptation of punching an opponent in the face.
It is sometimes as simple as keeping your mouth shut.
The situation in Down seems intractable; it's intractable because no-one is prepared to give an inch.
Initially, non-negotiable stances appear worthy and strong, but when you drill down into them, it's where you'll find weakness.
Of course, there's comfort to be found in a siege mentality, and not budging from your own trench position because you're surrounded by the 'truth'.
But it'll never, ever, challenge you.
So many people misconstrue what leadership really is. Acts of leadership beseeches you to walk a different path because you know it's a better way forward.
Leadership is bravery. Leadership is conceding some ground for the common good.
It's also having the balls to knock on a sworn enemy's door up or down the road to sort this mess out.
People in Down can blame the county board all they like - it'll not get them anywhere.
Right now, there's a serious leadership deficit in the county. It's time someone stepped out of the trenches and led from the front.
It's what leaders do...
