CLARE O’Shea reckons it was well over a year since all her gang were together for a family photo.

At a guess, it was her brother Niall’s 18th birthday. He’s 19 now.

So, when the youngest of the six O’Shea siblings, Urhan football powerhouse Kieran, was named man of the match after Cork won the Munster minor final at Páirc Uí Rinn, it was the perfect opportunity to update the family album.

Standing alongside parents Carmel and Joe, it was that rare moment when all six were together – Rachael (31), Helen (28), Clare (26), Joseph (24), Niall (19) and Kieran (17).

The O’Sheas from Eyeries are a remarkable GAA family.

Incredibly, five of the six siblings have played inter-county with Cork, amassing a collection of accolades that include All-Ireland and Munster titles.

A word first for Carmel and Joe – the achievements of their children are a credit to them. Don’t forget it’s a two-hour drive from Eyeries to the city, so that’s a four-hour round trip. It’s a road the O’Sheas know incredibly well, too, as five of the six siblings are still living in Beara.

A nod, too, to Urhan GAA Club for their role in this story, arming the O’Sheas with the tools and skills to prove they’re amongst the best in the county.

Now, let’s start with Rachael, the eldest.

While athletics eventually took over, Rachael put together an impressive underage career with Cork. In 2009, she won U14 Munster and All-Ireland titles, and two weeks after the latter Rachael was called up to the Cork U16 panel that conquered Munster. Fast forward to 2011, and she added an U16 All-Ireland Shield title to her trophy list.

Cork minor Kieran O'Shea with his niece Sadie Moloney.

Helen, second in the order, took a different path in the O’Shea household, making her name in Irish dancing. She danced with Scoil Rince Carney from Eyeries for several years, reaching championship level and competing in Munsters, All-Irelands and the Irish nationals. Helen still teaches classes in the school now.

Her ten-month-old daughter, Sadie, the first granddaughter in the family, stole the show at the Munster MFC final, too. Decked out in her Cork colours, she cheered her uncle Kieran on to glory.

Former Cork senior Clare could fill a trophy cabinet on her own. Her inter-county story started when she was 12 years old, when she helped Cork U14s win the Munster and All-Ireland titles in 2013. She then played two years with Cork U16s, before making her mark at minor level in 2017 and ’18. Clare won Munster and All-Ireland titles in ’17 and was named player of the match when the Rebels retained their provincial crown the following year.

A highly-rated defender, Clare stepped up to the Cork senior panel in 2019 and was part of the Division 1 league-winning team, while Munster titles followed in 2019 and 2022. After three seasons, Clare took a break, returned last season, but stepped away again this year. She was also centre back on the history-making West Cork senior team that won the division’s first and only county senior title in 2020.

Clare O'Shea in full flight for West Cork.

The O’Shea boys have carried on the tradition. Joseph, who captained the Beara senior football team this season, won an All-Ireland minor football title with Cork in 2019, and went to play with the Cork U20s.

Niall is also a former Cork minor, playing in 2023 and ’24, captaining his county in the latter season. He was involved with the Cork U20 panel too this season. Niall was part of the Beara Community School that won the All-Ireland senior D football title in 2022.

With Kieran now making an impact with Cork, it means all three brothers have lined out with the Cork minors.

Kieran, the youngest of this GAA dynasty, standing tall at six foot three inches, is making sure the O’Shea and Urhan flags are flying high. A fourth-year student at Beara Community School, he stood out in the Munster final, after being named man of the match as the young Rebels dethroned Kerry, sparking celebrations that led to the latest O’Shea family photo, including Sadie.

More memories banked for an outstanding West Cork GAA family.