Martin Dawson is well known on all the GAA pitches of Meath as a popular referee, always ready with an encouraging word for young lads who unwittingly overstep the mark, or maybe a yellow card if things get really bad! Despite plenty of abuse over the years, he loves refereeing, and sees it as a profession in itself, and the referee as a mentor to young players.

“You have to love refereeing or you just wouldn’t do it” he says. “I love being able to guide young lads on what’s acceptable or not, and I find that chatting them about what they’re doing, right or wrong, is a good way to go about it. I’m at it a good ten years now, and the scary thing is seeing young lads, like Rory Crawley or JP Purcell, who were U9s when I started, coming up to adult football now!”

Martin is using his winter break this year to part in the Oldcastle Gfc Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday February 4th in the Kilmore Hotel in Cavan. This huge fundraiser by Oldcastle is in aid of a new clubhouse at Millbrook, and Martin was delighted to be asked to take part. Despite his baby girl Clodagh being born just two weeks ago, Martin is putting in a huge effort fundraising and learning to dance!

“I have a lovely dance partner, Suzanne Cromwell from Kilskyre, and we are getting on great. Loads of people are telling me they hope I’m a better dancer than referee! It’s all great craic and I’m really enjoying it. I have been told that if I dance well enough on the night, instead of getting abuse thrown at me, there might be knickers getting thrown on-stage, so I’m looking forward to that!

To support Martin go to: www.events54.com/event/oldcastle

 

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