UK born of Nigerian descent – but minor star is Galway to the core

It’s not the most common name in the parish – but Dylan Towolawi’s journey to Galway’s County Minor Final has nothing to do with his roots!

A quiet, unassuming but driven young man who just loves his hurling, his familiarity with the ash and sliothar is as natural as learning to walk.

Of Nigerian descent and UK born, it’s been quite an odyssey for this 17-year-old to make it to Kenny Park for a minor decider.  But it’s his recovery from a broken collarbone just three months ago that makes Dylan Towolawi’s story all the more remarkable.

The youngest of three, Dylan and his siblings, Jerome and Vivien, moved to Ireland when he was just one year old.  His mother Mary, a native of Kilnadeema, brought her young family home after nearly two decades in London and quickly embedded them into community life.

The boys learned the skills having watched cousins Calvin and Conal.  And their uncle Mike Finn wore the Kilnadeema colours with pride before relocating to Gort where he runs a successful furniture business.

Gort’s former Brazilian player Leonardo – recently back for Galway’s All-Ireland showdown – also inspired Dylan.

“Since I was about four or five, I’d say,” is how Dylan responds when asked how long he’s being hurling.  It started like it does for so many children; there was a hurley at home and one day, he started swinging.

Kilnadeema/Leitrim won a county under 10 title seven years ago before commencing a healthy rivalry with Clarinbridge.

“That (under 10) was the first thing I ever won with the club,” says Dylan.  “The same crew that won that, that’s who I’m playing with now.  If we win this, we’ve achieved everything we’ve been trying to do since that time.”

Dylan plays Gaelic football with St. Brigid’s Vocational School and he has also won two All-Ireland titles in volleyball under the guidance of Mary Barrett.  But hurling is his first love and in St. Brigid’s, he shares a link with his uncle who lined out for the school in an All-Ireland final in 1985.

“I’d be very proud.  I’m proud of Dylan from day one really,” admits Mike Finn.  “He’s from, where I come from, Kilnadeema.  It’s our own patch and he’s carrying that flag with great dignity.”

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.