1931

Portlaoise and Stradbally are in the middle of one of their most ferocious senior football matches. It's the County Final and the air is bursting with passion, deep-rooted rivalry and fervent loyalty. Nellie and I have been reluctantly dragged to Portlaoise to watch this game with Father as some of our Delaney cousins are playing. Our young brother Morgan travelled over with Uncle Mattie and is nowhere to be seen. Nellie and I have little or no interest in football but we would never hear the end of it if we didn't support 'the team'.

It must be disappointing for Father not to have had half a dozen sons to offer up for Laois GAA. He has been involved in football since he was a young lad, as player, trainer and selector for Stradbally and County Laois. I know that this match is important and I'm trying to appear interested. Nellie couldn't give a damn about it. At the moment she is chatting to some Mountmellick College girlfriends. These lassies are merely here for decorative purposes and to eyeball the lads....

© Denise Curtin