John Joe McCarthy

John Joe McCarthy recalls his youth in Cork and his memories of the GAA. He grew up not long after the State was formed, when money was scarce and GAA clubs had not been established in every community. In time different hurling and football clubs were established in his home parish of Inniskeen. John Joe played hurling and football and he describes how they prepared for games and what they wore, and reveals that it was relatively easy to go undetected playing under a false name. He also travelled to see the county team play, and remembers watching Christy Ring in action. John Joe talks about the changes he has seen in the GAA over the years, lamenting the increased prevalence of hand-passing in football and expressing his fears for the future of the amateur ethos of the Association.