James Patrick (Jim) Burns

Jim Burns talks about a lifetime of being involved with the GAA. A native of Louth, he was brought to a county final at the age of nine and became hooked on Gaelic games. There was no club in his parish so he and others set about forming the St Patrick's club. There had been other teams in the area down through the years but none had survived. The club became established and they got great help from members of the clergy. Athletics and soccer were also prominent at the time, but the Ban was in place and there were vigilantes around to make sure that it was enforced. Jim has been to numerous All-Ireland finals down the years and he talks about the adventures he had trying to get to Dublin – and trying to gain access to Croke Park when the gates were shut. He later emigrated to England for some years and became involved with the GAA there, which was very important to the Irish population. He then came back and got involved as a trainer and selector with his local team St Patrick's. Jim has no shortage of stories from both history and his own experiences with the Association. He recalls with great fondness Louth's 1957 All-Ireland win and a championship win for St Patrick's - the club which he helped to found and has been an integral part of his life ever since.