Interview with Willie Bryan

[True Red]

Another insightful and indeed hard hitting interview with the legendary Willie Bryan on

www.edenderrygaa.com

[Bord na Mona man]

Another informative interview.

However is there not a certain contradiction in him criticising the modern day panel?
On one hand Willie bemoans the pride in the jersey and the lack of the 'never say die' attitude.
Yet he recounts how he and his contemporaries drank before games and ducked out of laps in training.

[The Magpie]

However is there not a certain contradiction in him criticising the modern day panel?

There is. But I think we're all guilty of that. When you're not winning things, everyone is quick to tell you about pride, dedication, etc.

However, when you're winning things, the same people want to hear all those kinds of entertaining stories. The Offaly hurlers of the 90s are a prime example.

It's a double-standard for sure.

[offalyman08]

Suppose the only difference is the lads of the past could back it up on the field. They might have had a few drinks(which should be allowed imo!) but they still had to much pride to give up during a match.

[backofthenet]

I dont think its really a double standard, he is not questioning the team training or their drinking habits, he is questioning their heart.

Il only speak about the hurlers as I dont know too many of the footballers...but some of the hurlers are more interested in being on the offaly team / panel (and being known to be on the offaly team / panel) than actually winning a championship match. They swan around with a swagger after winning nothing, If they had heart they wouldnt be out on the town the night after going out of the championship...or at least I wouldnt if I was ever given a chance to get into an offaly jersey.

I understand that they have to give great commitment to it, and I applaud them for it, but they should back that up with a bit of heart, a bit of belief and a bit of bottle, if they did i gurrantee there would be no more second half fade outs that there has been for the last few years, we would actually start running top teams close, giving them a scare rather than putting up a fight for 40 minutes and lying down for the rest of the game

[offalyman08]

I think 'backofthenet' hit the nail on the head... Its the issue of heart and giving up during the match

[Plain of the Herbs]

I always enjoy the Edenderry interviews - there's always a good 'untold story' or two.

On the subject of Willie Bryan, was there another Willie Bryan / Brien who played midfield prior to Willie coming on the scene? Can anyone from that side of Tullamore assist?

And while I'm at it, Frank Weir was on the Gracefield team who beat Willie's Eire Óg in 1970. I always thought Eire Óg was a parish team (which would have included Bracknagh & Clonbullogue) before WI went it alone later in the decade. How was Weir on the Gracefield side rather than the EO side?

[bracknaghboy]

And while I'm at it, Frank Weir was on the Gracefield team who beat Willie's Eire Óg in 1970. I always thought Eire Óg was a parish team (which would have included Bracknagh & Clonbullogue) before WI went it alone later in the decade. How was Weir on the Gracefield side rather than the EO side?

Bracknagh GAA club in its current form was not founded until 1978 so that might explain it. I don't know at huge amount about the Eire Og team to be honest. Willies interview was the best read I've had in a while, great stuff.

[theman]

Eire Og was formed for one year (i think). They were beat in the final in 1970. Know a few people that played that year and it basically disbanded as Walsh Island were an up and coming team with the likes of the connors and mulhalls and went on there own while clonbullogue went back junior and bracknagh wasnt formed until 1978. Any players from bracknagh palyed with clonbullogue up until Eire Og was formed,But im not sure if they played with clonbullogue afterwards when Eire Og disbanded. On the subject of Frank Weir Sr, i could be wrong but wasnt he originialy from Gracefield and moved out to Bracknagh later on? Im open to corrections. And as far as i know there wasnt another Willie Bryan.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Cheers, theman. I've since seen that Murt Connor's club was listed as Eire Óg in 1971 & 1972 programmes but Walsh Island was his club in 1973.

Eire Og was formed for one year (i think). They were beat in the final in 1970. Know a few people that played that year and it basically disbanded as Walsh Island were an up and coming team with the likes of the connors and mulhalls and went on there own while clonbullogue went back junior and bracknagh wasnt formed until 1978. Any players from bracknagh palyed with clonbullogue up until Eire Og was formed,But im not sure if they played with clonbullogue afterwards when Eire Og disbanded. On the subject of Frank Weir Sr, i could be wrong but wasnt he originialy from Gracefield and moved out to Bracknagh later on? Im open to corrections. And as far as i know there wasnt another Willie Bryan.

[leinsterman]

Eire Og was formed for one year (i think). They were beat in the final in 1970. Know a few people that played that year and it basically disbanded as Walsh Island were an up and coming team with the likes of the connors and mulhalls and went on there own while clonbullogue went back junior and bracknagh wasnt formed until 1978. Any players from bracknagh palyed with clonbullogue up until Eire Og was formed,But im not sure if they played with clonbullogue afterwards when Eire Og disbanded. On the subject of Frank Weir Sr, i could be wrong but wasnt he originialy from Gracefield and moved out to Bracknagh later on? Im open to corrections. And as far as i know there wasnt another Willie Bryan.

Yes frank Weirs home place is in gracefield cushina i think its call and the fitzgearld's mick and pat came from there as well, there was another Willie Bryan in walsh island
big Willie Bryan they used to call him don't think he played for offaly but played a bit for Walsh Island. The Bryans and Connors would all be first cousins that played with offaly