Musician and former Louth All Ireland winning captain Dermot O'Brien shares some GAA memories.
As well as making a successful career as a performer and musician Dermot O'Brien captained the Louth team who won the All Ireland Football Championship in 1957.
Speaking to Jimmy Magee in a recording made for the Radio Éireann series 'Where Are They Now' Dermot O'Brien shares thoughts on some of the GAA football teams and players he admires.
Asked what players he most admired Dermot O'Brien has high praise for Seán Purcell of Galway,
I must go for Purcell. I mean all round strength, both feet, fisted pass, brains everything. I think he was the complete footballer.
He is not sure what has gone wrong with football in Louth but wonders about the alternative distractions for young people in the modern world.
I think it is these old showbands that may be doing some of the damage. Television or too much money in young people's pockets, other attractions all this modern life we are now living in.
As a busy touring musician he does not get to attend many matches now.
Dermot O'Brien feels Louth deserved their All Ireland title in 1957 despite some claiming they were lucky in the final. He himself recalls having a a bit of trouble entering Croke Park for the game after he was delayed getting a pain killing injection for an injured shoulder.
I went around to tell a few fellows at the gates who I was a few of them didn't believe me.
Where Are They Now : Dermot O'Brien recorded on 07 October 1967. The presenter is Jimmy Magee.
From the RTÉ Archives Acetate Disc Collection which has been digitised with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) Archiving Scheme.
