Joseph Taylor

Joseph Taylor is a Leitrim man who migrated to New York via Dublin in the 1960s and is a regular patron of Gaelic Park. He gives an insight into the GAA in Leitrim in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as the GAA scene in Dublin when he lived there in the mid-1950s. He moved to New York in 1959 and quickly became involved with the NY Leitrim club, both as a player and socially. Although he plays down his talent in the interview, his contemporaries suggest he was a fine footballer. He describes how strong the GAA scene was in New York in the 1950s and 1960s, despite the lack of pitches and the poor state of the Gaelic Park pitch. Visiting teams from Ireland were a big deal and he gives a great insight into how NY GAA people kept in touch with the GAA at home, and the difficulties faced by clubs in keeping going as players came and went. He is also very interesting on the development of the ‘weekenders’ phenomenon, saying that for him and many fans it was a great way to see top-quality players in action. He is also interesting on the Irish-American relationship with the GAA. He is open-minded on the modernisation of the GAA, and says the game is better now and had no problems with soccer in Croke Park, although not sure on the idea of professionalism.