Conor Brennan – A pillar of the GAA in Meath
In many clubs all over the country there are men, who although they may not have been great footballers or hurlers in their younger days some may not have played at all] have contributed nobly to the rise of the Gaelic Athletic Association. One such “pillar” of the Association in Meath, undoubtedly, is Connor Brennan from the Seneschalstown Club.
Connor’s interest and participation in G.A.A. affairs dates back to the late 1920’s, and his dedicated work for his club for nearly half a century has often gained him the so appropriate tag of Seneschalstown’s “Mr. Football”. This loyal servant of our national sports organisation must have gained many friends and admirers with his quiet and courteous manner plus his affable dignity as regards the wonderful part he played in the rise of the Association in the Royal County. Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Connor and spent a very enthralling hour with him as he turned the clock back and recalled some of the highlights of his “career”.
He started off by telling me that he never played football. “I had the intelligence to know that I lacked the guts and determination to play gaelic football” he quipped. But off the field Connor Brennan certainly did not lack determination and one of his earliest memories is cycling to Croke Park back in the late 1920’s, particularly to see the wonderful Kerry v. Kildare clashes of that era. The deeds of great players of that time like John Joe Sheehy, Con Brosnan and Paul Russell from Kerry and Paul Doyle, Larry Stanley and Matt Goff of Kildare were recalled. Connor also looked back to some of the fine game between Meath and Kildare in those early years. “Great Meath players at that time were Mattie ‘Buller’ Rogers, Charlie Cudden, Mattie Russell, Father McManus and Joey Loughran, one of the greatest midfielders of all time” I was told.
The first football team that Connor remembered in his native Yellow Furze parish was Knockerke in the late ’20’s but there was Gaelic football in the parish before the G.A.A. was formed. The present Seneschalstown club was formed in 1932 and since then Mr. Brennan has been involved in the organisation quite a bit. “Club work has always been a great pleasure and the club has won all the county championships” he remarked. Connor strongly objects to his parish being called Beauparc!. He related the following to me: “There is no such parish in the Diocese of Meath as Beauparc and the natives of the parish never gave permission to change the great Irish name of Yellow Furze. The name “Yellow Furze” goes back to the penal days when our forefathers attended Mass in a makeshift church down in the clumps of furze, just a few fields away from the present new Church. The pass word was “Are you going to the furze”, to Mass, Confessions, etc., and so in 1826 when a Church was built then the parish priest named it Yellow Furze. “I recall the esteemed G.A.A. writer Paddy Downey, stating in an “Irish Times” article, at the time of the opening of Seneschalstown’s new park, that it was a pity that the club ever changed from it’s lovely name of Yellow Furze (there was a team called Yellow Furze Grennans shortly after the G.A.A. was formed) and certainly yours truly can vouch for the same in the light of some copy takers in the National daily papers, attempts to spell and pronounce Seneschalstown.
Connor Brennan’s long association with the G.A.A. has left him with many happy memories and when I asked him what was his happiest day he picked out three “winning our first juvenile championship, our senior final victory over Navan O’Mahony’s in 1972 and the opening of our new park in1974. The latter occasion saw a great wish fulfilled with Kerry and Meath playing the opening match to honour a son of the parish, Fr. Tully.”
The veteran Seneschalstown Gael does not think Gaelic football is as good as it was, say 25 years ago. He compared the standards as follows: “It has changed and is not as good now. We need to try and speed up the game and get the hand pass back to perfection. No, I do not agree with the Dublin style hand pass. Men like Peter McDermott, Frankie Byrne, Brian Smyth and Paddy Meegan should be asked to coach players in the art of hand passing. Also I would like to see the one hand pick off the ground introduced. It is a pity that some of the Australian football rules were not accepted by the G.A.A.”
Again going back to the past Connor feels that the Kerry v. Galway All-Ireland final of 1938 was the best game of football he ever witnessed. He singled out Mattie Rogers as the greatest forward ever seen. Singing the praises of this fine attacker of other days he said “Buller could turn his back to the posts and shoot a point from as far out as 45 yards. Nowadays players have to take the ball in to the 14 or 21 yards line to score.” Changing the subject to referees, Mr Brennan picked out Paddy Ratty from Navan as the best “man in the middle” in his time. Continuing he said: “We have some good referees in Meath at present, particularly Aidan Gillic , Liam Brady, John Ennis and my own clubman Tommy Collins.” He selected the Navan Gaels combination of the late ’20’s and the early ’30’s as the best Meath team seen quipping “it is a pity that there was no club championship in those days”.
Connor has been a regular attender at Meath County Board meetings for the last 40 years and holds a proud record of having missed only one convention in that long period. When asked as to who was the greatest character at meetings he named the late Jack Callaghan from Skryne who was known to all as “Bundy” “and will always be remembered for his witty comments.” Connor obviously has much regard for long serving County Secretary, Liam Creavin whom he described as “a wonderful fellow, civil on any question and always smiling.” But “the greatest” in his book is Peter McDermott, who receives the following tributes from Connor:”As a player, you name it, he has won it. As a referee he was one of the best. Now he is a great official and speaker. Delegates could talk and talk but when finished Peter could “down” or pass a motion in a few words. His finest achievement was the part he played in Meath’s historic trip to Australia. I will never forget his advice when the question of the trip arose ‘grasp it as it may never rise again’ and this he did.”
While reluctant to single out particular Seneschalstown players he did pay special tribute to Ollie Geraghty saying “he is an example to all our players as a footballer and a sportsman.” Then he paid tribute to the Seneschalstown supporters in the ‘Furze and Kentstown..’ Their support and interest has left the club with a first class Gaelic Centre. But without Fr. Seamus Mulvany it would never have been built.”
Then I asked him for his views on Gaelic Centres and he replied: “The emphasis these days seems to be on youth. We need the youth and as such we should cater for them. But the parents and senior citizens must also be part of the scheme. Old Gaels like to be remembered and love to be brought together for a reunion.” And what about modern music and bands? “I am always worried about the possibility of damage to the roof and ceiling but young people enjoy the ‘noise’. The clubs should remember our official guide where the important words ‘preserve our identity’ are to be found. Now that we are in the European Community we must protect our language, music and dancing or all will be gone” said Connor. In conclusion I asked Mr. Brennan if he would devote the same time to the G.A.A. if he had the opportunity of living his life over again? He said: “Yes, I would and maybe more time. The G.A.A. was the foundation stone of the 1916 Rising but now we seem to be resting on our oars. We tend to forget that there are still six counties to be recovered. Nobody seems to care, the Republican spirit of the G.A.A. is almost dead and we need more of the spirit of past years in our present set up.”
There you have views on various matters from Connor Brennan, one of Meath’s greatest Gaels who is also a great Irishman and a gentleman.
POPULAR POP
One must first ask the question is there a more dedicated Gael in Meath, or indeed the G.A.A. than Tommy ‘Pop’ Collins the County Board Vice-Chairman and Seneschalstown Club Chairman, who never spares himself in his untiring efforts for the good of club and country. Tommy started his career as an under-14 player with his parish team, Yellow Furze. But despite his many fine displays on good teams the Furze failed to win divisional honours. In East Meath, Duleek or Stamullen always proved to be the obstacle. Tommy Collins also played under-16 football with the parish team, but it was to be with a grand Boyne Emmetts minor side in 1958 that he was to win his first championship trophy.
After his minor years, Tommy played junior football with Lougher and though reaching a final his next trophy was the 1967 intermediate championship having transferred back to Seneschalstown. It is often questioned how ‘Pop’ came to play with Lougher. Seemingly due to lack of players, Seneschalstown did not take part in the 1958/’59 championships. The popular ‘Pop’ ‘threw in his lot with the club over the road’. Tommy Collins remained there until 1967 despite being under constant pressure from his parish officials. Any fair-minded person at that time could understand the situation. He was a tower of strength in his club and did not wish to let his comrades down. Each year Seneschalstown and Lougher discussed this great hearted player and common sense always prevailed. One worthy of mention in this saga was Liam Flood the General Secretary and manager of the Lougher club.
Following his transfer, Tommy played his part on the ’67 championship winning combination, bringing the first adult trophy to the parish since 1940- a wait of 27 years. Later in 1972, the Keegan Cup, League and Feis Cup were won by this grand team. Tommy Collins achievements on the playing fields have always been marked by sportsmanship despite the fact that he was a robust hard hitting player. His love and enthusiasm for his parish club has won him the admiration of friend and foe alike. Every leisure moment is spent working at the club grounds and centre. One great rule in Collins’ notebook is the motto of never asking a person to do anything he would not do himself. As a referee his definite and honest decisions are seldom questioned. He handles the game as he played it, and never adopts the classroom attitude of lecturing and waving a finger in a players’ face. He has taken charge of matches in all grades at county and provincial level, but always takes on the less glamorous but most important juvenile matches.
As club delegate to the County Board his interests and qualities were soon evident and soon he was elected Deputy Vice-Chairman and latter Vice-Chairman. In both positions he has proven himself an enthusiastic and hard-working official. His local club, Seneschalstown also appreciate his work-rate and interest. One has only to meet a parishioner or club member and ask a question re. grounds, team, centre etc. and it is always answered with a tailpiece-“Pop Collins Will Tell You”-
………Noel Coogan
Main Sponsor
