Rodger (Roddy) Gribbin

Roddy Gribbin talks about his childhood growing up in South Derry and the fact that he had to leave school at an early age to work on the family farm. He won the final of the McGlinchy Cup with Newbridge. During his playing career with Derry, he won 2 Dr. McKenna Cups, 2 Dr Lacken Cups and a National League title. As player/manager with Derry he won an Ulster Championship and got to the All-Ireland Football FinalHe talks about playing for his club Newbridge for the first time and putting on the Derry jersey for the first time. He talks about Derry winning the National League title for the first time in 1947. He talks about being player/manager for the All Ireland Football Final in 1958 and the excitement and hype in the county coming up to the final. Derry were beaten by Dublin in the 1958 Final and Roddy believes that Dublin were a more experienced team and this was evident on the day. He also talks about retiring from the game and the short time he spent in prison in Belfast. He discusses recent changes in the GAA such as the opening up of Croke Park and some of the challenges facing the association.