Normal People actor, Paul Mescal is putting his celebrity status at the disposal of a GAA club to help it raise €20,000 in a €10 raffle for a pair of O’Neill shorts signed by the actor.

by Gordon Deegan

The Normal People break-out star has donated the shorts to Cooraclare GAA club to help raise funds for the club and has signed the shorts with the dedication ‘to the Normal People of Cooraclare’.

The actor has close family links to the west Clare village of Cooraclare.

Paul’s father, Paul Snr was born in the parish and his Uncle Paudie, nephews and nieces, Clodagh, Aoibhinn, Páraic and Darragh Jim and first cousins are an integral part of the Cooraclare Club today.

Cooraclare GAA spokesman, Joe Considine said on Thursday: “We are delighted to have one of our own doing so well in the entertainment world.

He said: “The whole Mescal family are great supporters of the Club so when Paul came along to watch his Godson, Daragh Jim, train with the club’s under 9’s recently he kindly agreed to sign a few items for us including of course the iconic shorts.”

Tickets to enter the draw are €10 and Mr Considine said: “The past two years have been tough for everyone and the importance of the GAA Club to all Irish communities was never so obvious.  This kind donation by Paul will, we hope, help to raise some much-needed funds for our club.  He kicked around with some of the boys for a while and was very generous with his time.”

The shorts come framed and ready for hanging on the wall and in addition to the shorts, Paul has signed a club football jersey which is also up for grabs.

Mr Considine said: “Our club facilities at Caherue have served us well for the best part of 40 years but now need to be updated.

He said: “By supporting our raffle people are getting behind the planned upgrade and renovation of our facilities that will support, encourage and develop future generations of Cooraclare footballers.”

Earlier this year, sportswear firm, O’Neill’s credited the ‘Paul Mescal effect’ with contributing to a 20% increase in the sales of O’Neills shorts in 2020.

Mescal made the €20 O’Neills shorts one of the most sought after fashion items of 2020.

The former Kildare minor football captain was photographed out and about during 2020 sporting his ONeills shorts before wearing them with a €10,000 fleece for a GQ cover photo shoot last Autumn.

Link to the website to buy raffle ticket https://www.idonate.ie/raffle/CooraclareHalloweenGiveAway