Derry Murphy

Martin Lynch opens the interview by outlining his family’s background in Gaelic games, which reaches back to the late 19th century. One of six boys, all of whom have been involved with Blarney GAA club, Lynch discusses the informality of his underage sporting experiences in the 1960s, the fortunes of Cork hurling during that decade and his memories of supporting the county team. Predominant among those memories are recollections about the size of the crowds, the conditions in the stadiums, the street sellers and tricksters, the hats worn and the food and drink consumed. In addition, Lynch discusses the physical infrastructure of the GAA in the mid Cork region in the 1960s. Developments on and off the field since are also covered. Lynch talks about the GAA has adapted to changes in the Blarney and become stronger as a result of its efforts to integrate newcomers to the community into the GAA. The role of the schools in games development – Lynch is schools liaison officer for the Blarney club - is also discussed, as are issues around the roles in GAA life of politics, women, rivalries and the media. Lynch recalls the highs and lows of his GAA involvement and shines a light on what he believes is the big challenges facing the GAA in the coming years – the need to provide a more regular and reliable calendar of games.