In recent years there has been somewhat of a revival in the Irish Language and it has been in no small part down to the efforts of those in all corners of the country and beyond. Pádraic MacDonncha was one of those and he spoke to Royal County about his work down the years to keep our native speak safe intact.

At the end of 2009, Pádraic MacDonncha was honoured by a surprise tribute party to mark his stepping down as manager of the Comharchumann Ráth Chairn after a long and devoted service to the community, the language and the culture. At the party were two cabinet ministers in the form of Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey, and the Minister for Community, Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs, Eamon O Cuiv.  
Since day one, Pádraic has spent most of his life working and living in his native Ráth Chairn, Co Meath as the man himself explained.  
"I was manager of Comharchumann Ráth Chairn," stated Pádraic.  
"There a county Co-op. We have a community centre here and we have put on a lot of courses. We've sold sites for houses and built community houses. We put in a water scheme in the 80s for the area and helped develop industry and areas for working." 
"We have 2,000 members and shareholder. Some of them would be outside the area. Since 1973, I was secretary and then I became a manager and started full-time." 
In 1973, Comharchumann Ráth Cairn (Ráth Cairn Co-Operation Society) was formed to plan and undertake developmental activities in the area. As a result, Ráth Cairn has grown to a small village embracing a community centre and clubhouse (An Bradán Feasa), a second level college, an enterprise centre, a chapel and other facilities including a group water scheme, sports field and changing rooms, shop, restaurant and interpretative display centre. 
The founding committee of Comharchumann Ráth Cairn was made up of 11 members, including the likes of Pádraic MacDonncha, Marcus Curran and Colm Carter.  
Before all that though, Pádraic, who didn't start to speak English until he was 12, went journeying around the country because at that time - like many of his contemporaries - he had to look elsewhere than inside his native parish in order to obtain work.  
"I was interested in travelling to other places in the country at that time," he explained.  
"I went to Dublin the 1960s for training in the Hotel industry and I got involved in the Irish language there. There were plenty of people speaking it that time and even now, at this moment in time, I think it's very healthy and the good will is there towards it." 
Pádraic took to the hotel and catering business well and would spend a year training at the Great Southern Hotel in Kerry, where met the woman he would marry, Mairéad. 
After his year of training in Kerry, Pádraic transferred to Galway and he explained that the hotel workers there were encouraged to speak Irish so that they could be heard by the American tourists, who it was believed would be impressed by hearing the native language, and the news was welcome by the Meath man. 
When the Royal County met the Connacht-winning Tribesmen in the All-Ireland SFC final of 1966, Pádraic was still in Galway and was central to the banter among staff members and local guests at the hotel in the build up to the big game. When the bets were being placed, Pádraic backed his native county to no surprise. 
On September 25, 1966 Pádraic travelled to Croke Park to see the Royals take on the men from the west and, unfortunately from his point of view, it the maroon and whites that prevailed by 1-10 to 0-7 to claim the Sam Maguire Cup that year. On his return back west on the train he was down money, but at the end of it all the experience was well worth it.  
Ironically, the years ahead would see Pádraic get involved with the Meath county board, but that's not to give the impression that he was miles off the GAA scene - far from it in fact. In his youth, he lined-out with several well-known clubs before going on to pursue his career  
"I was involved with the An Ghaeltacht club in Meath from 1977 to 1994 and I went on to be chairman," said Pádraic. 
"I played with Athboy from Under 14 to Minor and when I was in Dublin I played with New Irelands. I was with Griffins in Galway for three years and Johnstown in Kildare as well. 
"I was also the Irish Language Officer from 1982 to 1993," he added. "Most of the things we were doing was getting stuff for the clubs. I was involved in Scor Na Nog as well and we had scholarships for speakers. They were the biggest things. I went to the congress in 1984 and there were a few Irish Language motions from Meath. I was also involved in the organising of those centaury celebrations for the GAA. 
"I would like to pay tribute to Liam Creavin, who was Meath county board secretary for the best part of 40 years and done great work during his time there." 
Despite feeling that "the GAA has gone away from its roots with regards to the Irish language", Pádraic is still as avid a supporter as ever of the green and golds and watched keenly as the Royals delivered a first Leinster Senior Football Championship title to the county since 2001, and while he was somewhat shocked by Eamon O'Brien's departure at the end of the season, he is looking forward to seeing how things develop under the managership of Monaghan man Seamus McEnaney.  
"I thought we had a good season and did very well," Pádraic enthused.  
"I was surprised with the change in management, but the new management looks a good set-up. I would hope that we would do fairly well next year and I think we have the players coming through to do so." 
With the likes of Graham Reilly and Seamus Kenny shining bright in 2010, and an objective of retaining their provincial title, Meath will have plenty to aim for in 2011 under McEnaney, who plenty of players will be looking to impress throughout the course of the season.  
Surely at some stage in 2011, Pádraic will be able to watch his beloved Royals on TG Ceathar; a broadcast which he lauds for its coverage of Gaelic games and other Irish cultural elements - so much so that he accepted an invitation to become a member of their board in 2007. 
"I got involved about three years ago as a member of the board," he stated. 
"They have very good coverage of Gaelic games and also sponsor the Ladies football championship which, I think, highlights their dedication. They have an important role in the GAA and they concentrate a lot on club games which is great for viewers, because clubs are the heart and sole of the GAA." 
And long may it continue! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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