gaelicgab
County: USA
Posts: 281

1307748 "The Gunner" Brady

A Cavan legend. As far as I know he won All Irelands with Cavan in the 40s/50s. Would love to know the story behind this nickname. His nephew is Paul Brady the handball champ, he carries the "The Gunner" now. Anyone know anything about this?

Was told this story about him a long time ago seemed to be a fellow you would not mess with and was highly respected. Googled him and came up with this for you if its any help...

Garda Philip Brady:
Garda Philip Brady, from Mullahoran, Middletown, Loughduff, Co. Cavan, was more popularly known as Phil the Gunner Brady. As well as being one of the greats Cavan footballers, he was also a well-known and respected member of the Gardai. Phil was 23 years of age when appointed to membership of the garda on the 23rd February, 1948, and following training in the Garda Depot in Dublin, he served initially in Union Quay, Cork City and then in three stations in the Cavan/Monaghan Division - Grousehall, Mullagh and Castleblayney; sadly, he died (while serving) on 6th May, 1980, total service 32 years 16 days.

Phil was a tall athletic giant and his reputation for strength and determination preceded him wherever he went; his presence as a Guardian of the Peace at many a gathering was enough to ensure a peaceful evening. His arrival at the scene of a heated altercation or an escalating dispute had a miraculous calming effect which restored and maintained law and order; obstreperous protagonists continuing to disturb the peace, did so at their peril.

One night in 1950 he was on duty outside a country "Ballroom of Romance" when a discordance occurred in the ballroom between two warring factions which in the parlance of the late Michael O'Heir, developed into a right "shammozle" on the centre of the dance floor; as the scuffle swayed to and fro, ladies huddled for safety in corners and on window ledges; the shouts and commotion could be heard outside above the sound of the band which continued to playing in the hope that happy music might calm hostilities; but alas, this strategy was to no avail. Suddenly, the main door of the Ballroom was pushed open, and there framed in the doorway stood Garda Gunner Brady; someone shouted "Make way for the Gunner," others took up the shout and the band stopped playing and all eyes turned in his direction; the crowd stood back clearing a way for him. Looking like a master of his domain, with airy supreme authority and causal steps, he majestically strode up the centre of the hall ignoring a taunt or two by the principal protagonists who now turned their attention on him; he paused at the edge of the fracas area; and then, like a tiger he bounced; he grabbed the two ringleaders in a lock grip behind their necks and ran with them down the centre of the hall before sliding the last few strides and ejecting them out the main door which was opened and rapidly closed behind them; he easily repeated this process a few times, throwing all the troublemakers out two at a time.

Normality resumed, the dance continued uninterrupted for the remainder of the night, all merrymakers comfortable and relaxed in the strong arms of the law.
None of the troublemakers of that night were summoned; usually in such instances, a strong-armed Guard did not issue summonses, an attribute very much appreciated by all concerned; the Gunner's policy of that night was. "Ah now! That never happened, sure, I didn't hear of anyone getting hurt, did you?"

DUB1 (Dublin) - Posts: 5583 - 11/12/2012 10:22:44    1308958

"The Sack"Walsh played fullback for Wexford in the 80,s with "the Skinner"Walsh centerback.

juniorbsub (Wexford) - Posts: 646 - 11/12/2012 11:13:46    1308979

I remember standing in to coach a few 12 year olds, as they where playing a practice match they kept calling for the ball from this guy called "Fish". As there was no offence given or taken and I knew it was not his name, I asked this young lad why do you call him Fish? he looked puzzled and was scratching his head "Do you not think he looks like one?"

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4958 - 11/12/2012 11:33:10    1308986

The one and only rattler byrnes

thurlesblues (Tipperary) - Posts: 4475 - 11/12/2012 20:11:27    1309287

The Gunnar also refereed.

In 1960 Louth v Dublin League game in Drogheda. When the teams had their "schmozzle" The Gunnar ignored them and instead cleared=up the Orange Peel from the Half Time Oranges.

After the game (won by Louth!!!) a female Dub supporter crossed the pitch to have a word with the ref.

Her words, "Jaysus Gunnar, ye refereed it the way ya playd it".

A memory enchanced by the facrt that the Louth win combined with OY winning in Ballinasloe that day allowed OY into out first ever National League Semi.

KELF (Kildare) - Posts: 775 - 11/12/2012 20:20:54    1309289

Heard about this one from a Cork friend......

A young lad was playing his first game as wing forward for some junior team down there. Everytime he got on the ball his team mates called out 'Chilli', 'Chilli, pass the ball!'
A few lads were on the sideline and one asked the other "Who's that Chilli fella?'
The other replied 'That's Con Kearney's young lad!'

Toney (Meath) - Posts: 298 - 14/12/2012 15:26:30    1310549

Some more.........

Westmeath Gaels will know!

Paddy 'Steelbar' Bracken - Coralstown/Kinnegad
John 'Jobber' McGrath - Rickardstown
Tommy 'Jogger' Doyle - Lough Lene
Ned 'Dinger' Bruer - Kilbeggan
Cathal 'Rasher' Mullen - Garrycastle
Michael 'Natchie' Ennis - Ballinagore
Martin 'Flan' Flanagan - Tyrrellspass
Barry 'Squeeler' Kennedy - Castlepollard

Toney (Meath) - Posts: 298 - 14/12/2012 15:57:59    1310567

Steelbar bracken...what a name?any stories about him?

juniorbsub (Wexford) - Posts: 646 - 14/12/2012 18:08:11    1310621

There is a fella from Fermanagh. Plays midfield. Only recently on the panel. Has a great nickname that he is known by everyone in the county. However admins never let me once refer to him as it :( Eoin S*** Donnelly

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 14/12/2012 18:50:16    1310636

Ned Bruer - Kilbeggan 'The Dinger' one hardy boy

KELF (Kildare) - Posts: 775 - 14/12/2012 19:08:44    1310644

young lad called"chilli" plays minor his dad was con carney!

kavvie (Clare) - Posts: 505 - 14/12/2012 19:24:25    1310652

Peter "The Great"

gaelicgab (USA) - Posts: 884 - 14/12/2012 19:54:09    1310662

Played with a lad on our Junior team, and after a nite out on the tiles he walked straight into a lampost and knocked himself out. After that he now goes by the name Lampard.

kerryrowz (Kerry) - Posts: 833 - 14/12/2012 21:46:10    1310701

Dublin legend." THE BLUE PANTHER" (Anton o Toole)

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 14/12/2012 21:58:47    1310707

A Kerry fifteen with Nicknames.

With the week that's in it, the GAA losing one of it's greatest footballers and ambassadors

A good friend of mine from Kerry picked this one

'Weeshie' Fogarty

''Peddlar' Sweeney
'The Bawn' Brosnan
'Tiger' Lyons

'Gawksheen' Gorman
'Horse' Kennelly
'Gega' O'Connor

'Aeroplane' O'Shea
'Star' Donaghy

'Purty' Landers
'Bracker' O'Reagan
'Roundy' Landers

'Gooch' Cooper
'Bomber' Liston
'Thommy' O'Sé

thevillage (Australia) - Posts: 51 - 19/12/2012 17:05:23    1312196

Was trying to whittle down this panel to seven for some reason. Maybe because its panto season!

Fingers
Hopper
Doc
Cloot
Sambo
Sid
Creature
Gorta
Cha
Brick
Gizzy
Sparrow
Humpy
The Rock
Chunky
Fraggy
Shocks
Bonnar
The Viking
Dodger
Titch
Dotsy

Maroonatic (Galway) - Posts: 1072 - 20/12/2012 14:25:50    1312460

Great one here 'Cheddar'!

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=183355

thevillage (Australia) - Posts: 51 - 09/01/2013 16:21:53    1315939

witnof
County: Dublin
Posts: 410

1308927
Played with a guy call 'Rat' due to his facial features looking somewhat similar to that of a rat!

I knew a player who was christened 'Rat' too once.

He didn't particularily look like a rat but he was well named by all accounts from what I remember, or don't as the case may be ;)

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13842 - 09/01/2013 17:07:51    1315964

came across a player once who they called santy. don't know why but we thought it was hilarious. i've had my fair share of nicknames in the past but thankfully that's stopped now, i prefer just being called by first name.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 09/01/2013 17:59:28    1315991

during my college years I played for a team in Belfast and they had a Jaffar, a Soup, a Tock and Big Bad Barry Thunderpunch (they all used the full name for him at all times). Great lads.

CheFinny (UK) - Posts: 1358 - 09/01/2013 19:36:44    1316031