When Bish student and Galway's Secret of Kells Oscar nominee Evan McGuire took to the red carpet in Hollywood a few months ago, little did he know that a real story of friendship worthy of a movie would unfold before his very eyes in the coming months.
A keen basketball player, Evan McGuire was hospitalised with a viral infection two weeks ago before his school second year team was attempting to retain theNational title won last year.
McGuire, who played a leading role when he returned from the Oscars in winning the 2010 Western Regional Basketball title for the Bish two months earlier, was understandably bitterly disappointed. Medics told him he could not play for a minimum of six weeks.
However members of the Bish team, captain Patrick Lyons, Stephen O’Brien and Cathal Evans visited him in hospital and made a pact: the team would win the national title, but he needed to get well enough for the medics to allow him to accept the cup on the school’s behalf.
On Sunday Evan McGuire travelled to Limerick with the Bish team, and proudly lifted the All Ireland A Schools Basketball Cup. Captain Lyons recieved the tournament's Most Valuable Player award for the second year running.
