Conal Bonnar
Encyclopedia
Conal Bonnar is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
with the Tipperary
inter-county team from 1989 until 1999.
, County Tipperary
in 1969. The twelfth child in a family of thirteen which includes two siblings, Cormac
and Colm, who won the All-Ireland Championship with Tipperary. His forename reflects the family ancestry. Bonnar’s parents came originally from County Donegal
and Conal’s name was taken from the ancient name for the county. He was educated at Cashel CBS
. His father Pearse holds the unique distinction of having played for Cashel King Cormacs in a West Tipperary Junior Football Chmapionship match at the age of 72 years.
with the local Cashel King Cormac's
club. He enjoyed some success at underage levels, and in 1991 he won a senior county championship
. It was the club’s first-ever senior county title. This triumph was later followed by a Munster club hurling title.
in 1987 when he won a Munster minor title with the county. He subsequently joined the Tipperary under-21 panel and won both Munster and All-Ireland
titles with his native-county in 1989. The following year he won a second consecutive Munster under-21 medal.
Bonnar was drafted into the Tipperary panel for the 1988 All-Ireland
final. The event attracted plenty of attention because he became the third Bonnar on the panel and, to be drafted in at that stage of the championship, was an indication of the potential of the player. Unfortunately, victory went to Galway
on the day. In 1989 Bonnar was a full member of the Tipperary team and he captured his first senior Munster
medal. This was later converted into his first senior All-Ireland
medal following a final victory over Antrim
. His performance throughout the championship earned Bonnar his very first All-Star
award.
Two years later in 1991 Bonnar captured a second provincial medal before later winning his second All-Ireland medal following a win over Kilkenny
. Once again his performance in the championship earned him a second All-Star award. In 1993 he won his third Munster medal, however, Tipperary were later beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Bonnar won his first National Hurling League
medal in 1994. Three years later in 1997 Tipperary lost to Clare
in the Munster final, however, in the first year of the 'back-door system' Tipp later qualified to play Clare again in the first-ever All-Munster All-Ireland final. Unfortunately, Bonnar ended up on the losing side for a second time. In 1999 he claimed a second National League medal before retiring from inter-county hurling.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
inter-county team from 1989 until 1999.
Early life
Conal Bonnar was born in CashelCashel, County Tipperary
Cashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in 1969. The twelfth child in a family of thirteen which includes two siblings, Cormac
Cormac Bonnar
Cormac "The Viking" Bonnar is a former Irish sportsperson. He played senior hurling with the Tipperary inter-county team from 1988 until 1992.-Early life:...
and Colm, who won the All-Ireland Championship with Tipperary. His forename reflects the family ancestry. Bonnar’s parents came originally from County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
and Conal’s name was taken from the ancient name for the county. He was educated at Cashel CBS
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
. His father Pearse holds the unique distinction of having played for Cashel King Cormacs in a West Tipperary Junior Football Chmapionship match at the age of 72 years.
Club
Bonnar played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with the local Cashel King Cormac's
Cashel King Cormacs GAA
Cashel King Cormacs GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. They play their games in Leahy Park, on the Clonmel Road in Cashel....
club. He enjoyed some success at underage levels, and in 1991 he won a senior county championship
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
. It was the club’s first-ever senior county title. This triumph was later followed by a Munster club hurling title.
Inter-county
Bonnar first came to prominence with TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
in 1987 when he won a Munster minor title with the county. He subsequently joined the Tipperary under-21 panel and won both Munster and All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
titles with his native-county in 1989. The following year he won a second consecutive Munster under-21 medal.
Bonnar was drafted into the Tipperary panel for the 1988 All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
final. The event attracted plenty of attention because he became the third Bonnar on the panel and, to be drafted in at that stage of the championship, was an indication of the potential of the player. Unfortunately, victory went to Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
on the day. In 1989 Bonnar was a full member of the Tipperary team and he captured his first senior Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
medal. This was later converted into his first senior All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal following a final victory over Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
. His performance throughout the championship earned Bonnar his very first All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award.
Two years later in 1991 Bonnar captured a second provincial medal before later winning his second All-Ireland medal following a win over Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. Once again his performance in the championship earned him a second All-Star award. In 1993 he won his third Munster medal, however, Tipperary were later beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Bonnar won his first National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
medal in 1994. Three years later in 1997 Tipperary lost to Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
in the Munster final, however, in the first year of the 'back-door system' Tipp later qualified to play Clare again in the first-ever All-Munster All-Ireland final. Unfortunately, Bonnar ended up on the losing side for a second time. In 1999 he claimed a second National League medal before retiring from inter-county hurling.