‘I just wonder where the years went’ - John Joe Brady

Milltownpass GAA referee John Joe Brady is celebrating six decades in the role, an amazing achievement and one that is unlikely to be matched anywhere in the country.

JJ explained how he received a pleasant surprise at the Milltownpass GAA and LGFA Dinner Dance. “I was made president of the club last year and I got two tickets to go to the function. There was a table reserved for the family. Triona Murray was a special guest, President of LGFA,” he said.

“Geraldine Giles, Westmeath LGFA chairperson, was also in attendance.”

There were presentations to JJ on the night and a letter from GAA President Jarlath Burns. Following that, he received a pleasant surprise when he received a call from the national broadcaster.

“Oliver Callan of RTE radio contacted me. He was after finding the oldest choral society in Ireland: he has an interest in that subject. They are throwing it out to see if I’m the longest serving referee in the country: I started at 17, a lot younger than most, and I’m 60 years involved this year,” he said.

It is a well deserved accolade for the dedicated GAA official, who remains active on the GAA scene in Westmeath.

“It’s been a great week. If I didn’t have my health I wouldn't have been able to referee for this length of time, so I’m grateful for that,” he remarked.

A non drinker and smoker, he started in Moynihan Park, Ballynacargy at an U16 final, Killucan versus Tubberclair, in 1968.

“I was invited back to the Greville Arms for a meal and in 1971 I was brought into the Westmeath GAA post-county final, following my first senior final, Moate All Whites versus Athlone. I was only 22 years of age at the time,” he recalled.

There was an early test of commitment as that first county final came a week after his wedding, interrupting the planned honeymoon.

“Mary and I went to London for our honeymoon and it was for two weeks. I took a break on the Saturday and returned after the senior final on Sunday for the second week of my honeymoon,” he recalled.

John Joe and Mary are 55 years married.

“Refereeing can interrupt family life and cuts across family occasions, but we are well used to it over the years, and Mary and the family are very understanding,” he said.

John Joe refereed his second senior final in 1989, Rosemount versus Athlone.

He went on to referee numerous other finals at Intermediate, Junior and underage level in Westmeath.

He has endured plenty of abuse, like all GAA referees, both verbal and sadly physical, but his most tricky assignments came when he was still a player and had to take charge of semi-finals against potential opponents.

“I did two Westmeath semi-finals when I was already playing in the final and they were the most difficult to referee.

“There was extra pressure; you just didn’t need anything to go wrong.

“It would have been a major talking point if I had to send someone off in any of those games,” he said.

There was a very special and somewhat different welcome for his daughter, Fiona when she was born, again showing the level of commitment it takes to be a GAA referee.

“I remember I took her and her mum straight to an intermediate football game in which I was playing for Rochfortbridge. And immediately after we went to Moate to a game I had to referee. It never did her any harm,” he recalled.

JJ continues to be active at LGFA and underage games in Westmeath, and linesman at adult games.

He also officiates as linesman at inter county LGFA games. And he has been linesman for the last couple of LGFA senior finals in Westmeath. His experience is a great benefit to the younger referees and he continues to enjoy it.

“I just wonder where the years went,” he remarked.