Don Preston Coach
“My
family is from Mayo, in a place called Killeen, where there’s a church on top
of a hill. They left during the famine, first settling in Columbus, Ohio,
before eventually moving west. A few of them ended up in California, which is
where I was born.”
Don
talks about moving to Ireland in 2004, where he played and helped set up a team
at UCD. When his playing career ended, he returned to the USA to coach college
lacrosse. He mentions that he has coached at many different schools but has
always stayed connected with the Irish lacrosse scene as he was always
interested in staying in touch with his families heritage
“My
family didn't leave Ireland to be forgetting
I am carrying on the Irish legacy as a coach and hope to make us proud.”
After
the Euros in Poland this week Don explains how this is my "twentieth year
with Ireland lacrosse.” Don first coached the Éire team alongside his friend
and colleague Richie Moran. Later, he got in touch with head coach Matt Curran,
who brought him onto the senior men’s team.
This
achievement has to be put into context the men
went from 12th to 4th with only three training sessions. “ This has
taken a lot of time and communication from the boys, especially training on
their own and letting us coaches how they were getting on.”
Qualifying
for the worlds was part of the plan” We came to qualify for the worlds and also
to win but unfortunately the last two games didn't go our way. It's a special
group we have looking forward to Japan and hopefully the Olympics”
Liam
Horkan (Attacker)
We
spoke to a number of Irish senior Lacrosse players with Mayo roots.
Liam traces his Irish roots to his grandfather
Martin, who hails from Claremorris, County Mayo. Though born and raised in
Malden, Massachusetts—a city just outside Boston—Liams connection to Ireland
remains strong with Mayo, Galway and Cork
Introduced
to lacrosse at a very young age by his father, Marty, who was also his youth
coach, Liam began his playing days with
Malden Youth Lacrosse. Alongside that, he competed for the Tomahawks Lacrosse
club team out of New Hampshire. Liam now goes to Conn College.
Pat
Smyth ( Defender)
Defender
Pat Smyth traces his roots back to Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, through his
grandmother, an Eagney by birth. Growing up in Philadelphia—a city where
lacrosse thrives—Smyth picked up the sport at a young age and quickly rose
through the ranks. He went on to compete at a high level during his five years
at St. John's University in Queens, graduating in 2021.
Even
though US born Smyth details how he was
proud to play for Ireland. ” To play for my heritage, and to stand for the
place where my grandparents came from was a dream come true.”
Ciaron
Costello (Defender)
Costello
tells us how his “grandmother, Josie Scott (nee Morrison), is from Ballina. Her
farm was in Ballinahagnish”
We
then get details regarding Ciaron's career so far.
“I
was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Went to Highschool at St. Michaels
College School in Toronto and played lacrosse at Robert Morris University
afterwards. This is my third tournament with Team Ireland. I’ve played in the
European championships ‘22 and World Championships ‘24 with the men’s Box team.
This is my first tournament with the men’s field team.”
Jack
Doherty ( Midfielder)
Doherty
tells us about his Mayo roots, which are from
his grandmother who was born in
north Mayo in 1943.”My grandmother left her home in Killala in the 60’s and settled in Long Island New
York where she still lives.”
I
am from Garden City on Long Island. I played for coach Jack Moran at Chaminade
high school and played 4 years at D3 Skidmore college.”
Jack
always has his grandmother on his mind when wearing the Irish Jersey as he
wears yellow boots so she see him play on tv.
“She had surgery on her right eye and can’t
see as well anymore, that's the reason I wear my yellow boots.”
Joe
Walsh ( Goalkeeper)
One
of the best goalies in the tournament was Walsh who explains to us his Mayo
links. His mom’s side have strong Mayo links
“My
link is on my mom’s side. Her grandmother is from Ballintubber, the name is Corley. As in
Corley’s Abbey.”
Joe
lives Coronado, California I played locally before playing lacrosse at Colgate University (Hamilton, New
York) before also playing McGill
University (Montreal, Quebec).
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