Cathal Seoige enjoys his work as Irish Officer on the Co. Board executive. He also enjoyed his playing days with Martinstown-Athboy and An Gaeltacht. Here he talks to Royal County about his lifelong involvement in the GAA. Cathal Seoige began his football career in the early sixties with a combined Martinstown-Athboy underage team. "At that time Martinstown would have been a newly formed adult football club in the parish of Athboy following a break up with the then Athboy football club. Dan Prendergast and Pat Tuite would have been the major influences at underage level then. Dan would have been associated more with Athboy while Pat with Martinstown. "Another person heavily involved at that time was the late Larry ('Lag') Mitchell although he would have been more associated with hurling. "As the years progressed all of us living in the Gaeltacht area played with Martinstown and in those days Miceal Ó Mealóid, who played with Meath from 1966 to 1971 was the major influence. Miko was the original fitness specialist who brought a professional attitude into his own training. A non-smoker and non-drinker, Miko was, in many ways, years ahead of his time." Martinstown had been knocking quite heavily on the Junior 'A' door in the sixties and the big breakthrough arrived in 1969. "Rathcairn supplied that Junior 'A' winning team with Miko, Colm and Seamus Ó Mealóid along with Sean and Miceal MacDonncha. Other great players on that team were John and Jim Keogh, Tom Ryan, Brendan McNulty and Michael McGovern, although, to be fair, the whole team was a class act and should, perhaps, have had more championships." In 1966 Cathal left Rathcairn to pursue his second level education at Coláiste Eanna in Galway. It was there that he first became acquainted with the Sam Maguire as Enda Colleran, captain of that great Galway teams, was one of his teachers. "St. Enda's were never a driving force of college football like St. Jarlath's or Mary's but nevertheless the college produced many fine players, in both hurling and football. Two of my classmates were Seosamh MacDonnacha (outgoing President of the GAA) and Michael Connolly of Connolly brother's fame, both All-Ireland hurling winners. Joe, of course, was also a great footballer." On completion of his time at Coláiste Eanna, Cathal lined out with Martinstown but silverware was a scarce commodity. In 1975 Martinstown and Athboy joined forces once again to form a new club, Martinstown-Athboy. Four years later the fledgling club captured the Intermediate championship at the expense of Wolfe Tones. "Gradually, that championship winning team went their own seperate ways," recalls Cathal. "On that team were Eddie Mahon who played with Meath and later Wexford, the Priest brothers Pat, Michael, Jim, later with Kildalkey, and Eddie who continued with the club. Andy Hayes went on to play with Nobber and Joe McDonagh and Padraig Joyce (Cathal's brother) went to An Gaeltacht. "I transferred to An Gaeltacht in 1981 although I was living in Dublin at the time and more or less retired in '79." An Gaeltacht claimed the Junior 'C' title in 1983. "The Junior 'C' competition was confined to single teams and by winning it you automatically gained promotion to Junior 'A'. The standard was very high, Drumconrath, Bective, Baconstown, Robinstown, Bellewstown and Boardsmill, were regular adversaries of ours. "We beat Bellewstown in the final which was played before the Walterstown/O'Mahony's senior final in Navan. Patsy Martin scored a goal in the last minute to clinch it. Our game was the first to be broadcast in Irish on a national network, Radio na Gaeltachta." The period from 1986 to 1994 could justifiably be referred to as the 'Golden Years' of An Gaeltacht football club. They boasted a very strong junior team and, indeed, were considered unlucky by many not to have progressed to the Intermediate grade. "We never seemed able to get by the quarter/semi-final stages in what was a very competitive competition. Current senior teams Ballinlough, Carnaross, Cortown, Dunboyne and Simonstown normally provided the opposition. We beat all of those at some point with the exception of Carnaross who got the better of us in 1988 and '89 at the quarter-final stages." Where did Cathal's involvement with the Co. Board begin? "During those years I attended Co. Board meetings on behalf of the club and it was at those that I got to know the delegates and my fellow officers on the Meath GAA executive. "I 1997 toghadh mé mar Oifigeach na Gaeilge do chontae na Mí. Ba é Antóin MacDomhnaill a bhí mar oifigeach romham. Níor sheas Antóin don phost agus mar gheall ar shin toghadh me d'aon guth. "An príomh obair atá ar Oifigeach na Ghaeilge a dhéanamh ná an ghaeilge a chuir chun chinn agus fresin deis a thabhairt do clubanna páirt a ghlachadh i gComórtas Scór." The Scór competition had been dormant in the Royal County since 1990 but Cathal was one of the principal architects in its revival in 1997. Cathal assumed the post of An Cathaoirleach and the remainder of the committee that year comprised of Paddy Brady (runai), Colm Ó Mealóid (cisteoir), Séan Ó Laoire, Donal Ó Loinsigh and Henry Ó Ceallacháin. "Each and everyone played their part in the intitial year and we were thrilled when Donagh-more/Ashbourne reached the Leinster final in the Ballad Group section. Due to the pressure of his involvement with underage hurling Paddy Brady was not with us on the 1998 Scór committee." The Scór committee for 1999 was: cathaoirleach - Séan O Laoire; leas-cathaoirleach - Henry Ó Ceallacháin; runai - Domhnall Ó Loinsigh; cisteoir - Colm Ó Mealoid; O.C.P - Cathal Seoige. "1999 was a very successful year. We had strong support from Magh Locha, Athá Buidhe, Dun Doire, Magh Nealta, An Obair, Domhnach Mor/Cill Dheaglán, Dún Samhna, Rath Cairn. Athá Buidhe Ballad group reached the Leinster final at adult level and were judged very unlucky to lose. Magh Locha's novelty act at Scór na n-Óg went one better, winning Leinster and finishing second in the All-Ireland. It was a tremendous achievement for a small rural club to participate on the National stage. "New Scór committees are being formed throughout the county, in this bracket I would place Car na Rois, Drom Samhraidh, Gael Baile Shiomóin, Naomh Ultáin, Syddan and Atha Troim. "Obair eile ata faoi lamh againn na scólaireachta chuig Colaiste an Phiarsaigh i ngaoth dobhair contae Dún na nGall. Gach blian bhionn 25 scolaireacht againn ar leath gnath costas m.s £170 in áit £340. Is ball do chumann luth cleas ghael amháin a rachann chuig Colaiste an Piarsaigh san g Córas seo chun gaeilge a fhoghlaim." Tweet

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