A passion for the Irish language and a fervent desire to promote it through the GAA are the corner stones of Michael Gallagher's involvement in the association. At just 19, Gallagher is the youngest member of the Meath County Committee with many years to spare, but the Drumconrath club member has been a very welcome addition to the board and has his sights and his heart set on doing everything in his power to increase awareness of the language. When Michael, a student of mechanical engineering at Dundalk Institute of Technology, defeated outgoing Irish Officer Richard Harrahill of the Dunsany club in a vote for the position at last December's annual convention in the Simonstown GAA Centre he was surely becoming one of the youngest officers of a County Committee anywhere in the country. And talking to him as he approached the end of his first year in the position it is very apparent how seriously he has accepted the responsibility involved and how he is looking into the future with a view to promoting the Irish language in every way he can. Michael, a son of the Sinn Fein member of Meath County Council of the same name, was something of a surprise winner of the vote just before Christmas last year and the outcome means that there are two Drumconrath club members on the County Committee as Peter O'Halloran is the Youth Officer. Of course, the latter also served as the hard working secretary of the Juvenile Football Committee. The younger Gallagher has been assistant-secretary and Irish Officer of Drumconrath GFC since he was only 16 and is also a playing member of the club, lining out with the second team. He was a member of the intermediate panel in 2006 when Drumconrath reached the championship and league finals, only to lose out to Rathkenny on both occasions. However, it is his interest in the Irish language and his desire to promote it that occupies so much of his thoughts and his time and he admits that his election at the 2007 convention came as something of a surprise. "I have to say I was very surprised to be elected at the convention," he said. "Going up to Navan in the car on the way to the convention they were asking me if I was sure I wanted to let my name go forward. "But I was determined to go for it. I won it on a vote and I have to admit that I was a bit shocked. I think I look a bit shocked in the photographs that were taken afterwards. But it was great to be elected." So what exactly does being the Irish Officer of the County Committee involve? "You are involved in the Scor competitions and in the grants scheme for students," he added. "But we didn't run that scheme this year. Instead, we ran our own summer camp in Dunshaughlin which was staged through Irish. It turned out to be a great success and I have to say that I received tremendous help from the management committee. They were all very supportive, very helpful. "We hope to extend it to other clubs throughout the county next year. Numbers were very good in Dunshaughlin and I see it as being very important. I also got great help from Ashling Furlong, who is a teacher in Blanchardstown, and Ashling Seoige and Denise Mornington. They all helped out. The aim is to run it for the whole summer next year at as many locations as possible around the county." Meath is home to many Irish speakers and has its own Gaeltacht communities, but Michael isn't entirely happy with the way the language is being promoted here. He is of the opinion that more could be done. "I believe Meath could be stronger in the promotion of the Irish language, especially considering that we have two Gaeltachts in the county," he said. "I believe the GAA can do more. And more can be done to promote the Scor competitions which are a great activity. But only 12 clubs took part in the county last year which was a disappointing number. The hope for 2008 is to have up to 25 clubs taking part. That is a big priority for me. "I have taken part in Scor myself in the past and I am also into traditional music in a big way. I love it. We used to have great sessions here in Drumconrath in Larry Fay's pub. 'Hagan' Myles organised the sessions, but sadly he died and it hasn't been the same since. But we are trying to revive it." Michael Gallagher senior is a former player with Drumconrath and has also acted as a team selector with the club. He is the current club chairman and, combined with his role as a County Councillor and all the demands that that responsibility brings, he clearly has a very busy schedule. But would his son have any interest in a life in politics? "Having seen the pressure my father does be under I don't think so," he added. "It is a very big commitment, very demanding. The phone never seems to stops ringing. No way, it is not for me." From the highs of reaching the Intermediate Championship final in 2006, unfortunately the Drumconrath footballers haven't managed to scale such heights since. Last year they succeeded in progressing from the group stages once again, but then they lost in the quarter-finals to a Donaghmore/Ashbourne team that was to go on and win the competition in some style. However, this year proved to be a major struggle for the reds when they lost all their group matches and ended up in a dreaded battle for survival in the middle grade. Football can be a funny old game - from being one step away from the dream of playing in the senior ranks to doing everything in their power to avoid dropping back to the junior grade, and all in a relatively short space of time. But Michael remains optimistic for the future and feels that a strong emphasis on the development of young players is vitally important for the club. At the time of writing Drumconrath's survival was still in the balance, but hopes were strong that they would hold onto the intermediate status they earned the right to when they won the Junior Championship in 1996 with a final victory over neighbours Meath Hill.. "It is important to stay in the intermediate ranks," he said. "If we can manage to do that I would be hopeful for the future. We have some very good young players coming through, but we need to bring in more young players. That is very important for the future." Also very important for Michael's future is his role as Meath County Committee Irish Officer, something he is viewing as a long term project. He points out that he has three main priorities during his time in the position. "To promote the Irish language through the GAA is a priority," he said. "I feel it is also important to increase participation in the Scor competitions. I also want to see the summer camps promoted through Irish in all parts of the county." Michael Gallagher is very much a new kid on the block as far as involvement with the County Committee is concerned, but it is encouraging and refreshing to see somebody so young prepared to take on the responsibility and workload involved in such positions. After all, young people represent the future of the association and their participation at various levels is vitally important. Talking to him makes it abundantly clear that he possesses a passion for the language and for his role as Irish Officer. He also possesses fresh ideas and will work hard to see them through. Tweet

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