Peter McDermott and Michael O'Brien

Peter McDermott and Mick O'Brien recall their GAA experiences in Meath and beyond over the years. A Johnstown native, Mick played with the Walterstown club and also with the De La Salle team in Navan and St Finian’s in Mullingar. He regularly contested finals with those teams and shares his experiences on what things were like in his time. He also went on to coach teams at his local club, and in 2011 was still involved in management. Peter was originally from Cork but moved to Meath, where he became involved with the Ardcath team. He frequently attended games at Croke Park as a spectator and later represented his county at different levels. Eventually he made the Meath senior team and was involved in the side that won their first All-Ireland title and contested other finals in the early 1950s. That success allowed Peter and his teammates to travel to places like New York and later Australia as the modern-day International Rules came into existence. Both Mick and Peter lived through harsh economic times associated with the impact of World War II, but the GAA was a constant in their lives which brought them many happy memories that they continue to hold dear in 2011.