Respected GAA scribe O’Brien passes away

PEADAR O’BRIEN, whose death has occurred in Dublin after a short illness, was one of the best known sporting journalists in the country.

While in later years he specialised in Gaelic games in his role as GAA correspondent with the now defunct Irish Press – and subsequently with the Irish Sun – he also reported extensively on other sports at the highest level.

Aged 75, he spent the greater part of his working life with the Irish Press. And while he was the paper’s GAA specialist from 1979 to 1995, he had made his name prior to that reporting on cycling – covering numerous Rás Tailteann events – and boxing. And, during all these years he also reported on Gaelic games.

The timing of his appointment as GAA correspondent followed the death of Padraig Puirseal. Peadar will be remembered for lots of things, not least his wit and good humour. Everybody who knew him would have a favourite story or two to tell about him and in conversation yesterday, colleague Brendan Mooney recalled fond memories of travelling around Ireland with him on cycling events and on trips to the US with Irish boxing teams.

Anecdotally, we have all spoken about the supposed comment from Kerry legend Ger Power when Peadar looked for an interview during a press night in Killarney during the ‘Golden Years’ era. Power is reputed to have said: “Put me down for what I said last year!”

In more recent times, I recall an occasion after a game in Croke Park when the assembled media were gathered outside a dressing-room door while waiting for words of wisdom from a team manager. It was longer than you would normally have to hang around and at one stage Peadar piped up and said, ‘don’t you know what he’ll say?’ and proceeded to reel off a couple of sentences. And, when the manager eventually appeared, Peadar’s version wasn’t too far off the mark.

To use the well-worn cliché, he was a character, a remnant from the old school of journalism, who thrived at a time when the media scene was very different from what it is nowadays.

There were occasions when he got himself into hot water (who hasn’t?) over things he had written, but yet he never made enemies.

And that was because he was so much liked as a person. You mightn’t be happy about a report, but you would have found it hard to fall out with him.

Interestingly, he was one of the few journalists I knew who didn’t embrace modern technology. He never used a lap-top to transmit stories when he was away from the office. He would always long-hand his report after a game and then phone it. Long-time colleagues will remember with affection how, on completing his report, he would announce that “it was time to talk to the nation”.

In a tribute yesterday, GAA President Christy Cooney acknowledged that he had been amongst the longest serving journalists covering the affairs and activities of the Association for more than half a century and that he had only stepped back from his involvement in recent times. “Few people covering our games saw more big games or top players over a respected career that spanned almost six decades,’’ he stated.

“Peadar’s colourful personality and unique take on events will be missed by his friends and colleagues and many more besides and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

The removal of remains takes place to St Brigid’s Church, Killester this evening and the burial will follow Requiem Mass at 10am tomorrow.