Since his childhood, Cavan County Councillor Charlie Boylan has been an avid follower of Gaelic games in the Breffni County. The Sinn Fein and Castletara native spoke to Breffni Blue about his career as one of the longest serving councillors in his party's history.

Staying strong in politics is no simple feat, but for the past 30 years Charlie Boylan has managed to combine his duties as a Sinn Fein/Cavan County Councillor, a Managing Director of his own company and an active member of the Redhills GAA club.
All this, along with family commitments, has saw the past 37 years fly by for Charlie, who currently occupies the position of SPC Environment, Water and Sanitary Services Policy on the Cavan County Council.
"I came from a Republican family," explained Charlie. "In 1974, I was asked to stand for election and to my surprise I was elected."

Up until that point, politics had come simple to Charlie and he was keen and felt able to make a difference in his local community, as well as throughout the county of Cavan and beyond.
However, he would suffer a set-back early on in his career with the death of hunger striker and friend Kieran Doherty, who died in Long Kesh in August of 1981. Charlie had been an election agent for the then Cavan/Monaghan TD and recalled the day of his passing as though it were yesterday.

"That was one of the saddest moments of my life," he stated. "After 73 days on hunger strike, Kieran died and at the time I believe a lot more could have been done. It was a day that I will never forget.
"It was very sad for me because I had to make the acceptance speech on his behalf, but it was a very difficult time for many people and many families, because it was hoped things could have been resolved quickly."

In August of this year, over 200 people gathered at Cavan Courthouse to commemorate and celebrate the life of Kieran Doherty. Members of Kieran's family were in attendance as were many who campaigned on behalf of the Hunger Strikers 30 years ago, including Charlie Boylan. They were also joined by many younger people who weren't alive during that period but who are living testimony that the legacy of Kieran Doherty and the rest of the Hunger Strikers lives on.
Since that pivotal point in his career, Charlie has continued to devote himself to the things that he feels are important in life as a family man, County Councillor and GAA enthusiast.

"I'm a native of Castletara," he explained. "I played football with Ballyhaise GFC back in the 1960s but I had to retire early because of injuries.
"I've since left the parish and have been residing in Redhills since 1985. I've been a member of Redhills GFC since then and would have helped out with development down the years. One of my sons would have also played junior football with Redhills." Charlie is married to Margaret who is a native of Redhills and they have two sons, Cathal & Ciaran. Cathal won medals at U-12, U-14 & Minor level.

Charlie also journeyed to Enniskillen and Clones on both occasions to watch the Under 21 and minor footballers of Cavan make history to capture Ulster championship titles for the Breffni County.
In April, Terry Hyland's richly-talented Under 21 side produced a scorching display against red-hot favourites Tyrone at a wet Brewster Park to claim the Irish News Cup on 1-10 to 0-10 score-line, with Niall Murray's first minute goal proving the telling difference between the sides. Charlie's fellow clubmen Oisin Minagh, Packie Leddy and Tuloc Mooney would all line-out on what was a historic night for the Blues.

A little over a month later and Cavan were back into a provincial decider against tough northern opposition. This time it was Armagh that were favoured over the young Breffni men in Clones, where a spirited second-half display saw Cavan upset the odds to claim their first Ulster Minor Football Championship title in 37 years.
The Blues had made a sizzling start to the final by notching the first five points inside the opening 11 minutes, but Armagh recovered well and hit an unanswered 1-6 to hold the lead come half-time. It took 13 minutes for Cavan to get off the mark in the second-half and once they did they wouldn't look back, as their sublime defence held the Orchard County scoreless for the entire half-hour to record a long-awaited provincial success at the Under 18 grade.

"I was delighted to see the Cavan minors winning Ulster and I also went up to the Under 21 final in Enniskillen when the beat Tyrone," said Charlie.
"I'd like to also mention our ladies as well, after their success in reaching the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final. They've a very good team and hopefully 2011 can be the start of a real recovery in Cavan football because we've got good players."

If there's one thing Charlie has, it's faith in his fellow Cavan men and women. Since his early days with the Council, he has got a close-up view of the good work that has gone on, as well as being apart of it himself. While he acknowledges the work that has gone on, he also knows that there is plenty more to do with the current state of the economy.
"The Cavan County Council has been a very good Council and there's great work going ongoing at present," he said.
"At the moment, like everyone, we're under pressure for finance and there are still many problems to address, such as waste. Rates and water charges are an issue for business people as well. It's only in the last three years that things have been cut back so much, but our rate payers in Cavan are amongst the best in the country. Councillors are trying their best to deal with these problems, but these are tough times for everybody."

A businessman himself, Charlie knows the toll which the recent tough times have taken on businesses across Cavan.
Crossdoney Tractors, located just outside Cavan town, has been under Charlie Boylan's Management since the 1970s and he, like so many other businessmen across the country, has felt the effects of the recession.

"We're main agents for Case New Holland Tractors, which deal in Ford and Fiat machinery," he stated. "I do sales as well and I have good men working for me here. It must be said that I wouldn't be able to keep up my role as a County Councillor if it weren't for the men I work with.

"I'm in the garage business since the 1960s when I started working in Jackson's Garage in Cavan town".
While he always has one eye set on the future, Charlie is very much a man for the present, and when it comes to Sinn Fein and the present there is no looking beyond Martin McGuinness, who has been grabbing headlines over the past weeks and months as he bids to finish first in the race for the Irish presidency.

Unsurprisingly, Charlie has given his full-backing to Mr McGuinness throughout the entire campaign as he bids to succeed Mary McAleese as the next Irish President.
"I think the entry of Martin McGuinness has brought a new interest into the presidential campaign," he said. "If elected I'm confident that he would do an excellent job".

"He has played a pivotal role in bringing about piece and there are some former Presidents that came from a similar background; Eamonn De Valera and Sean T O'Kelly but to name a few. He also comes from a GAA background himself, as his brother would have played for Derry back some years ago."

Whatever the outcomes, 2012 should make for another interesting year and one which Charlie hopes will see Cavan enjoy more success on the football field.
"I'd just like to express a wish that Cavan football will get stronger and that the young people will play the game knowing that they're taking the place of men whom were once legends.
"Hopefully, the Sam Maguire Cup will be back in Cavan sooner, rather than later," he concluded. Tweet

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