Hall of Fame Person of the Year 2022 - Peter Watson
The recipient of this years Hall of Fame award was a stalwart from the beginning of Clann Senior success. Playing at wing back on the first of the three in a row minor Championship winning teams in 1957, senior success quickly followed for him.
A strong and versatile footballer our recipient played as a back, midfield and forward throughout his footballing career. He won a Connacht Junior Championship with Roscommon in 1959 and won another such honour in 1964 as a panellist with Roscommon. In between he won 2 Connacht Senior Championships with Roscommon in 1961 and 1962. He played in the 1961 Semi Final against Offaly. He starred at midfield when Clann won their historic 1st County Senior Title in 1961. Further County titles were added in 1966, at wing forward and in 1970 at Full forward.
In that time also, he would have won 7 O’Rourke Cup Senior League Titles and numerous tournaments with Clann. Having finished playing in the early seventies, he continued to support Clann and was a Senior Selector in 1984 - 1985. A strong crafty and versatile footballer, he was strong marker as a defender and very tough to mark as a forward. He continued to be an ardent supporter of Clann and Roscommon and will always be remembered when the historic achievements of Clann are recalled.
This year’s recipient of the Tony Whyte Jnr Memorial Clann na nGael Hall of Fame is Peter Watson who recently passed after an illness bravely borne. Shortly before his passing, his daughter Regina was able to tell Peter of his achievement in winning this award which he was delighted with particularly as it also honours his best friend’s son. While Peter can’t be here in body, he is with us in spirit and we ask his daughter Regina to accept the award on Peter’s behalf.
