Drumconrath-based GP Gerry Cummins talks about his lifelong involvement in the GAA, his role as treasurer of the Irish College General Practitioners (ICGP) and his involvement with the Gaelic Games Doctors' Association.

An unsung hero of Drumconrath and Meath GAA is Dr Gerry Cummins. Since opening his practice in the north Meath village nearly 30 years ago, the Carbury, Co. Kildare native has become part of the local GAA fabric. As well as playing a key role in making Drumconrath the club it is today, Dr Gerry has always been available to attend to the needs of injured players from the surrounding clubs and further afield.

Outside of the GAA, Gerry is well known for his role as treasurer of the Irish College General Practitioners (ICGP), which is the professional body for general practice in Ireland. Founded in 1984, the College is based in Lincoln Place, Dublin 2 but has active faculties all over the country, including one in Meath. The College's primary aim is to serve the patient and the general practitioner by encouraging and maintaining the highest standards of general medical practice. It is the representative organisation on education, training and standards in general practice.

The ICGP is the recognised body for the accreditation of specialist training in general practice in Ireland and is recognised by the Medical Council as the representative academic body for the specialty of general practice. At an international level, the College is a member of the World Organisation of National Colleges and Academies and Academic Associations of General Practice (WONCA).
"The ICGP is the academic body for GPs in Ireland. Its purpose is to provide training and on-going education. My role is a voluntary one," explains Gerry, whose busy practice in Drumconrath (which he runs along with Dr James Keenan) caters for patients from north Meath as well as parts of Louth and Monaghan.

"I qualified as a doctor from UCD in 1977 and have been working and living in Drumconrath since 1982. Our practice covers Drumconrath and the surrounding areas of Castletown, Syddan, Rathkenny, Meath Hill and Slane. We have patients from Louth and Monaghan also. One of my best-known patients is the great Paddy Meegan from Syddan, who won All-Ireland medals with Meath in 1949 and '54. As someone who has a particular interest in sports injuries, I treat a lot of GAA players."

A former assistant Meath team doctor to Dr Jack Finn during the glory years of the 1980s and 1990s. "I was lucky to be living in Meath during Sean Boylan's reign when they won four All-Ireland's," said Gerry. "I have great admiration for the work done by Meath Co. Board, especially Fintan Ginnity and Liam Creavin." Gerry is also a member of the Gaelic Games Doctors' Association (GGDA), whose mission is to provide education and professional development opportunities for team doctors involved in the GAA. The Association, which is chaired by Dr Pat Duggan from Dublin, also aims to be a resource for the playing population regarding sports medicine, health and fitness issues.

The GGDA holds regular meetings and seminars for its members, which includes the vast majority of county team doctors. Among its more high-profile members are former All-Ireland winners Dr Pat O'Neill from Dublin and Meath's very own Gerry McEntee.
Gerry Cummins grew up in the Kildare football stronghold of Carbury and played for them alongside his brothers Seamus and Kieran (their father Chris also wore the Carbury jersey before them). His sister Tina won Kildare championships in camogie. Gerry also played football for Carbury's neighbours Johnstownbridge and UCD before throwing in his lot with Drumconrath in 1983. In his seven years as a Drumconrath player, the closest he came to winning silverware was in the GAA's Centenary Year of 1984 when they lost the Division 3 league final to Baconstown.

Gerry was one of Drumconrath's most active members during the 1980s and early 1990s, combining his playing career with a number of roles on the club executive, which included treasurer, PRO and chairman. During his four years as chairman, he oversaw the development of the north Meath club's pitch which culminated in its official opening in May 1991.
"Meath played Armagh to mark the opening and a lot of people remember that game because it came just before the famous four-match saga between Meath and Dublin in the Leinster championship," Gerry fondly recalls.
The affable GP, who is married to Dublin woman Clodagh and is father to Stephen, Philip and Alice (all three have worn the Drumconrath colours), is less involved with Drumconrath these days. However, he still takes a keen interest and is a member of the club committee.

So what have been the highlights since he joined the north Meath club nearly 30 years ago?
"Apart from the pitch opening, the one that stands out is the junior championship win in 1996. We beat our parish rivals Meath Hill in the final after losing the previous year's final to Duleek. We had a very good U14 team between 1987 and '89, and a lot of those lads went on to play in those junior finals," he says.

"A good few of them were also involved when we lost the 2006 intermediate final to Rathkenny. That was the last hurrah for that particular team and it was a pity that a number of those players didn't get the chance to play senior football. The club has been in rebuilding mood ever since. We're back in junior now, but hopefully it won't be too long before we're back competing at a higher level. We have a very good underage set-up along with Meath Hill, but emigration is a big issue now and keeping the young players around will be a big challenge in the coming years."

Gerry has enjoyed the great rivalry that has existed between his home and adopted counties over the years. Kildare and Meath met on no fewer than three occasions during 2010, and all three games ended in victories for the Lilywhites.
"They met once in the league and twice in the championship," remembers Gerry.
"Even though Kildare won the three games, there was very little in any of them. I'd always support Meath, except when they're playing my own county!

"I don't think Meath did themselves justice this year. They are better than they looked and will be out to make amends next year. I see a lot of potential in Meath and they should be doing better than they did this year."
He continues: "As for Kildare, I think they've been very unlucky over the last few years. Kieran McGeeney has transformed them into one of the top teams in the country and they're not that far away from winning an All-Ireland. But they really need to win a Leinster first.

"I'm already looking forward to next year's Leinster championship and the prospect of Kildare and Meath meeting again in the semi-final. It should be some championship with Dublin going in as All-Ireland champions. They'll be the team to beat, of course, but Kildare or Meath wouldn't fear them if they met in a Leinster final.
"I'm looking forward to the coming year as a GP and also a GAA fan." Tweet

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