Cormac Bonnar
Encyclopedia
Cormac "The Viking" Bonnar is a former Irish
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
with the Tipperary
inter-county team from 1988 until 1992.
before progressing to the local Cashel King Cormac's
club.
before later claiming a Munster club hurling title. He later played with St. Patricks East Kerry & Dr. Crokes
.
minor and under-21 hurlers in the late 1970s with some success. In 1980 he won a Munster medal with the under-21 team, before later converting this into an All-Ireland
medal. Bonnar, however, found it hard to break onto the senior team.
His performance in the Tipperary county championship in 1988 impressed the inter-county selectors and he was called up for the Munster
final against Cork. Bonnar came on as a substitute late in the game and scored the winning goal. He was retained on the team for the All-Ireland semi-final and the All-Ireland final loss to Galway
. Bonnar became a regular performer in the National Hurling League
and won a second Munster title in 1989. This was later converted into his first senior All-Ireland
medal following a final victory over Antrim
. Bonnar’s performance in the championship earned him his first All-Star
award.
In 1990 Bonnar was dropped from the team for the Munster final against Cork, however, he returned in 1991 and captured a third provincial medal before later winning his second All-Ireland medal following a win over Kilkenny
. His performance in the championship once again earned Bonnar a second All-Star award. Following Tipp’s defeat by Cork in the 1992 Munster semi-final Bonnar retired from inter-county hurling.
Bonnar currently lives in County Kerry
and is the principal of Miltown Secondary School.
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 1988 until 1992.
Early life
Bonnar was one of a family of thirteen, and played his junior hurling for Cashel CBSCongregation 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...
before progressing to 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.
Club
He enjoyed some success at underage levels, however, by the end of the county championship in 1987 he had decided to retire from club hurling. The decision was taken, not because he was tired of hurling, but because of the traveling involved. Bonnar’s side played Clonoulty in the first round of the championship and, against all the predictions, beat them and went all the way to the county semi-final. In spite of intending to retire, Bonnar decided to continue club hurling. In 1991 he won a senior county championshipTipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
before later claiming a Munster club hurling title. He later played with St. Patricks East Kerry & Dr. Crokes
Dr. Crokes
Dr Crokes is a Gaelic football club based in Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland. Famous current players include Colm "Gooch" Cooper and Eoin Brosnan....
.
Inter-county
Bonnar had played for the 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...
minor and under-21 hurlers in the late 1970s with some success. In 1980 he won a Munster medal with the under-21 team, before later converting this into an 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...
medal. Bonnar, however, found it hard to break onto the senior team.
His performance in the Tipperary county championship in 1988 impressed the inter-county selectors and he was called up for the 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....
final against Cork. Bonnar came on as a substitute late in the game and scored the winning goal. He was retained on the team for the All-Ireland semi-final and the All-Ireland final loss 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,...
. Bonnar became a regular performer in the 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...
and won a second Munster title in 1989. 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...
. Bonnar’s performance in the championship earned him his 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.
In 1990 Bonnar was dropped from the team for the Munster final against Cork, however, he returned in 1991 and captured a third 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...
. His performance in the championship once again earned Bonnar a second All-Star award. Following Tipp’s defeat by Cork in the 1992 Munster semi-final Bonnar retired from inter-county hurling.
Bonnar currently lives in County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
and is the principal of Miltown Secondary School.