Anyone who has been remotely involved in the GAA at club or county levels in Cavan over the last 20 years and more will know what Peter Brady is about. His passion for Gaelic culture is positively infectious says Kevin Carney. When the founding fathers of the Association figured on spawning a generation of Irishmen dedicated towards the promotion and development of Irish national pastimes, customs and language, they inarguably had the likes of Peter Brady in mind. Brady has been a feature of the Cavan GAA landscape for a long, long time now but his passion for all things Gaelic remains undiminished by the passage of time. Indeed, the Kilnaleck-based publican is such a high profile advocate of Gaelic matters that the thought of him reneging on his innate interests is unthinkable. Think of a traffic-free Ballinagh road at the junction of Breffni Park on a Friday evening and a more credible, believable vista would come to mind. The former Chairman of Cavan County GAA Board (1987-92) is a man of many passions and the receipt of an award for Shannonside/Northern Sound's Gaeilge Go Leor programme (Tuesday evenings, 8.30pm) shone the light of one of those passions. Presented by Peter and Galway native Matt Nolan, the programme has captured a sizeable share of radio's weekday evening audience with its half-hour of chat, music and teasing out of place name meanings making a distinct and increasing impression on the ratings. "I have a love of all aspects of our Gaelic heritage and culture and the language is one part of that," Peter explains. "I've been told the ratings for the show have been rising steadily and that's good to hear as is any positive development regarding increased interest in our native land, dancing, Gaelic games, seanachai, culture, legends and so forth." Peter credits his old national schoolteacher at Ballynarry, Mr. Benny Boylan from Kilnaleck, for initially inspiring and nurturing his love of Gaeilge. "At that time everyone was giving out about the language but he felt strongly that we should learn it and use it at every opportunity, even in the schoolyard. "Later my interest in Irish was helped along at the vocational school in Kilnaleck where another teacher Kathleen O'Reilly was also a lover of the language and of drama." Does he feel though that the GAA hasn't exactly pushed out the boat in its attempts over the years to promote the Irish language? "There's always talk about how the GAA pays lip service to the promotion of the language and maybe it is right to say that the Association has underperformed trying to increase the use of Irish among its own members. "I know in Cavan GAA circles we've had some very prominent users of the language such as Fr. Dan Gallogly and the current Chairman George Cartwright. "It's true to say though that the position of Irish Officer in most GAA clubs in Cavan is the poor relation of the organisation. "I'd like to see a situation develop as exists with any querys that are made to Government departments that club delegates or whoever could correspond in Irish on any matter and be replied to as Gaeilge. "It's important to note though that the GAA in Cavan sponsor around 40 Gaeltacht scholarships for school children each year. That programme could be expanded of course. And certainly the question of clubs being assisted by the county board to set up classes for its members could be looked at." The outgoing Chairman of Ballymachugh GFC and current Secretary of Ballymachugh Hurling Club was heartened by a recent survey by Foras na Gaeilge which found that a huge goodwill existed among the general public to the use and promotion of the Irish language. In this respect, Peter feels that, as a microcosm of the nation itself, GAA folk are well disposed towards the ultimate goal of transforming Irish into a living language. "I do think that the GAA could be more pro-active in tapping into this goodwill. "Unlike years ago perhaps, the Association is now pushing an open door with regard to its promotion of the language and an opportunity exists to really capitalise on that." After leaving Kilnaleck's vocational school, Peter also benefited from having the best of Gaeilge tutors when he progressed to the Salesian College, Warrenstown, Co. Meath. There, in the Royal County, he received a more rounded education in things Irish from the resident Brothers, especially one Charlie McDonnell from county Limerick. "As more and more Irish people go abroad for their holidays and to work, I think they are constantly reminded how every other country has its own language but we haven't. "Other countries jealously guard their own language and quite rightly so too," Peter opines. As well as seeing an improvement in his ability to speak his native tongue, Warrenstown also introduced him to that most quintessential Gaelic pastime, hurling. "If you didn't play hurling there it was made out to be that there was almost something wrong with you mentally," Peter recalls. It's not today or yesterday that Peter acted as Chairman of Cavan County Hurling Board but its obvious that the small ball game remains very close to his heart. "It's a game of honour, one which is unrivalled for skill and it's significant that there's no rush to change the rules at the present time in the way football is being looked at. "Having said that, I feel a move to award two points instead of one for a converted sideline cut would get my vote. "Overall though, I don't see any need to change hurling because why try and fix something that's not broken." Interestingly Peter has been in favour of advancing change in another regard, i.e. doing away with the ban on members of the British police and armed forces being members of the GAA and the ban on opening up Croke Park to so-called 'foreign games'. "Cavan has always adopted a liberal attitude to such issues and we were at the forefront of the move to get rid of Rule 42. "The County Board has been consistent too in attempting to have Croke Park opened up to other sports. "It would be good to see a situation whereby both monkeys would be off our backs by the end of the year or at least as soon as possible." As regards to possible changes in the rules of football, Peter says that it might be a good idea to allow players make the 'mark', Aussie-rules style, for catches made between the respective 45s. "I'd also like to see work being done on defining the tackle because the way things stand, it's very much left up to the discretion of the referee." And the infamous sin-bin experimental rule? "I think the idea of the sin bin warrants further examination. Refs don't seem to have been consistent enough in their use of the sin bin to date. "Maybe there wasn't enough trial matches using the sin bin before it came into play for real." At 70, Peter rates himself as much too old to make a bid for a place among the power-brokers at Jones' Road or nearer at hand among the Ulster Council decision-makers. "I've always believed that youth should be given a chance to be trained in the rudiments of the GAA's administration," he says. The brainchild of the innovative and successful divisional football county competition of 1991, Peter says a revival of that kind of fare would help stimulate increased interest in championship football in Cavan. "It would also enable fellas who normally at junior and intermediate level and who don't play inter-county football the chance to play a higher standard of football. "And I'm sure the various county team-managements would be glad to have a better opportunity of viewing the talent in a more structured and formal way." Tweet

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