A GAA hurling umpire reflects on his 14-year career... For Sunday Miscellany on RTÉ Radio 1, listen to Last Season for Men in White Coats by John Kelly above.
When protesters took to the streets of France this year to demonstrate against the raising of the retirement age, I wondered what they'd make of the current protocol for GAA intercounty referees, who must hang up their cards and whistles having reached the ripe old age of fifty.
As I’m an umpire for referee Paud O’Dwyer who has reached that milestone, I too have been forced into retirement after fourteen years in the job.
What began as a way of staying involved in the GAA when I’d finished my own modest playing career, quickly became a passion and an exciting new foray into top level Gaelic games...
Listen back to Sunday Miscellany's full All-Ireland Hurling special here and tune in this Sunday 30th July for a special programme celebrating the All-Ireland Senior Football Final.
