Aengus Burke’s journey through sports is one marked by both triumph and resilience.
As a talented soccer player and accomplished athlete in latter years, Portlaoise native Burke quickly earned a reputation for his skill, speed, and unrelenting drive on the field.
But his promising soccer career took an unexpected turn when he suffered a series of spinal injuries from a car crash that would test not just his physical strength, but his mental fortitude as well.
This article explores the rise of a gifted sportsman, the obstacles he faced in the wake of injury, and the determination that continues to define his story.
His remarkable sporting career begun at the age of 16 where he joined Mountrath B soccer team which was a stepping stone to bigger things.
After performing well, Burke joined Portlaoise and then went to Shelbourne where his life changed forever after been involved in a serious car crash that led to serious spinal injuries.
He said: “When I was 16 then I started playing organised football with Mountrath B in the Leinster Junior league under manager Gerry Thompson.
“I moved up the the A team. I had ambitions to play League of Ireland, so I moved to Portlaoise in 1983, it probably seemed disrespectful at the time, but I wanted to test myself.
“I started on the B team but soon moved up to the A team. We moved to the Dublin Athletic Union League. Things took off for me there, I was playing well and got a trial with Shelbourne.
“I signed for them in November 1984 and played my first game for the B team on Saturday 24th November.
“I played well and was on a high. On Sunday 25th I went to Castledermot to watch Mountrath play the local side Castlevilla, on the way home I crashed.
“I spent the next five months on my back in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.”
Burke would spend the next five months in hospital – having to learn how to walk again and from the support of his family, friends and team mates along with the nurses he would be discharged, and remarkably he would start back sport where he found a solace.
“Physically I crashed in November 1984 and was confined to bed till March. I then had to learn to walk again and build up my muscles etc.
“I returned to training straight after my release in April. I was back playing football in July.
“Mentally support at that time was non-existent., it was not even discussed or entered my head.
“The whole family had to adjust their lives for months just to visit me etc, including Christmas day so it was a strain on them also especially so soon after our mother’s death.
“I just carried on when released and got back to sport straight away which obviously played a major part in my recovery.
“To this day I shudder every now and then thinking back, lucky is not a strong enough word for it.
“The support I got when in hospital was tremendous. No motorways at that time, the NRH was a two-hour drive at least allowing for traffic.
“My family, friends, football and running mates, people from Mountrath, Portlaoise and all over made the effort. I had visitors every night of the week.
“Some of my relations and friends worked in Dublin and called each week. Again, I won’t mention names, but people were brilliant to me.
“The Portlaoise boys would play a game in Dublin on a Sunday and drop in to me after the game. It might sound strange but there was a lot of laughter at times in the ward, black humour at the best and some funny moments to remember.”
Against all odds Burke would make a full recovery and never for one minute thought that he would give up sport.
“The injury was serious, my spinal cord was hanging by a thread, I had a high fracture meaning if it had snapped, I was paralysed from the neck down.
“Apart from the impact of the crash I had climbed a gate to get out of the field after it. Whoever made the call in Portlaoise hospital made a vital one realising I had a spinal injury.
“A simple movement and my spine might have snapped completely.
“I regret not following up on my release and thanking whoever made the call. I crashed on a Sunday night; my next memory is waking up in Portlaoise hospital on Monday with my family around me waiting on a helicopter for my free trip to Dun Laoghaire.
“It was way worse for them I would imagine, waiting on word while I was unaware of what was happening.
“I don’t remember much then until waking up in the NRH a day or two later in the middle of the night. I panicked as I was in a revolving bed, my arms and legs strapped, head restricted and tubes up my nose.
“It was probably harder on my family at this stage not knowing if I would walk again. I was told the next day that the signs were good that I would walk again but it would be a slow process.
“It never entered my head to give up sport. I just focussed on getting fit and back to normal life, my main concern was getting back to Shelbourne.”
After rehab, Burke finally returned to the soccer field and made his most memorable moments of his career with the Portlaoise soccer team who went on an amazing run to the second round of the FAI Cup which is part of Portlaoise Folklore which will never be forgotten.
“We are still milking that 34 years later. The build-up that week is part of Portlaoise folklore We took time off work to prepare Rossleighan.
“Heavy rain meant we had to put down straw for spectators to get around, we won’t mention the scaffolding we put up for stands as Health and Safety was debatable.
“The game itself went like a dream. Goals from Kevin Conroy and Johnny Comerford gave us a two-nil lead at the break.
“Fifteen minutes into the second half I scored to wrap things up. I have a lot of super memories but in fairness this takes top spot.
“All my family and friends were present, people from Mountrath that were never at a football match before, people from all codes from all over the county. After overcoming my accident, to be captain and to score made it a special day indeed.”
After finishing his successful soccer career, Burke turned his focus to athletics after the birth of his son after running a marathon for spinal injuries which kicked started his career in running.
He then went onto represent Ireland on multiple occasions where he was successful and has no intention of calling time on his athletics career just yet.
“My first Irish vest came with the Irish Senior Mountain running team in Snowdon, I think 2007.
Picture: Alf Harvey/hrphoto.ie
“I was a good climber but struggled downhill, I was 2nd Irishman on the incline but fell twice coming down, I managed to finish it but lost a lot of places.
“Since then, I have made the Irish master’s team on a regular basis for the British and Irish cross-country team.
“I also have a medal for the European master’s half marathon in Portugal in 2015
“The main aim now is to make the Irish team for the Masters in November in the UK. The trial is mid-October in Abbotstown, the first 4 qualify in my category.
“If things go to plan with my knee, I hope to go the European and World Masters games in the coming years, especially trail running.
“I can’t find the meaning of retiring on Google, but I know St Abban’s legend Dick Mullins is still competing in the 0/75 category.
“I will have to keep going till then at least, I can’t let Portlaoise AC down.”
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