Peter Solan the forgotten Legend

When you think of GAA legends, the names Joe Langan, Sean Purcell, Christy Ring come to mind, the forgotten legend in this is the great Peter Solan.

He started his football career with Islandeady a small rural club located between the urban area's of Westport and Castlebar, he then went on to boarding school in the legendary St Jarlaths and in 1947 he helped them win the All Ireland colleges final, he scored 2-1 in that final, a notable team mate of his was the great Sean Purcell.

He then went on to feature with the Mayo Senior team, A Connaught telegraph report from the Connacht semi final of 1949 had this to say. "The safe hands of Peter Solan were never used to better advantage and no blame could be attached to Kelly in the Sligo goal, one in particular ripped into the net with the speed of a Sliotar" Solans total for that match was 5-2 which will take some beating

He was of course part the legendry (In Mayo eyes anyway) double winning team of 1950 and 1951. in the 1950 final he contributed a goal in Mayo's 2-5 to 1-6 victory over Louth, The legends of the game spoke about Peter Solan down through the years with great esteem.

Peter Solan died in South Africa in 1985 after spending most of his life working there as a Civil Engineer, just a small piece to give some regonition to one of the greats of the game.

Cheers for that PS. I hadn't heard of him so its good to learn about him.

Good stuff. One of many good men to play for Islandeady.

RMDrive wrote:Good stuff. One of many good men to play for Islandeady.

A Donegal man in Mayo, who knows of good men who played for Islandeady, could you be the man himself?, a former son of Islandeady (well played for them)

This is valuable and much needed thread, on this, a GAA board, patronised, in the main by true followers of our games..

I have, however, as ever, reservations regarding legends, whether imagined or witnessed..

Therefore, I'd invite forumites to contribute to a thread that I'll start tomorrow, must be accompanied with video tape or fulminous script, not to ascertain, but enjoy, those who(m) are unable to repeat their halycon days..

Peter Solan the Great wrote:

RMDrive wrote:Good stuff. One of many good men to play for Islandeady.

A Donegal man in Mayo, who knows of good men who played for Islandeady, could you be the man himself?, a former son of Islandeady (well played for them)

LOL. No, not him. His brother did teach me up in Letterkenny though. We were good to let yous have him! The footballer that is, not the teacher.

Peter Solan the Great wrote:When you think of GAA legends, the names Joe Langan, Sean Purcell, Christy Ring come to mind, the forgotten legend in this is the great Peter Solan.

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In all fairness now Pedro, and having read your spiff, and allowing for problems with Bocerty, Mossbags and Loyal (Geraghty man) you could hardly define Solan as a legend...Legends are guys who would jump into' a concrete mixer after a ball,(Colm Coyle, any OSé, Mick Lyons, Niall Cahalane, Ricey or Gormley, O'Rourke, Geraghty, Barr, McGeeney...them lads who laid their bodies down...
Then there are constructive guys, like the true "legend" Sean Purcell, Greg Blayney, Giles, Ógie Moran Hanahoe, Padraic Joyce....a genuine 40' ,mam

Ive nearly allowed these legends* slip past me ..Micko, Jacko, Darro, Briano........and Paul McGrane.good guy...Honest out.

Boxtyeater wrote:
In all fairness now Pedro, and having read your spiff, and allowing for problems with Bocerty, Mossbags and Loyal (Geraghty man) you could hardly define Solan as a legend...Legends are guys who would jump into' a concrete mixer after a ball,(Colm Coyle,

You lost me immediately - Coyle - legend. A disgrace to legends basically