Dublin GAA star's family connection to RTE broadcaster revealed as famous mum admits ‘it's hard to watch' him play
PEADAR O COFAIGH BYRNE is a rising Dublin GAA star looking to fill the void left by the legendary Brian Fenton.
And he is also the son of a famous RTE broadcaster.
2
Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne is a rising star for Dublin
Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
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His mum is Blaithnaid Ni Chofaigh
The 25-year-old emerged as a future tentpole of Dublin football after captaining the county to the All-Ireland U20 title in 2019.
The Cuala clubman made his senior debut under Jim Gavin that same year, with famous mum Blaithnead Ni Chofaigh having a front row seat along the way.
While proud of her son's rising stardom, she previously admitted to finding it difficult to watch him play.
She told
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"It is hard to watch as a mother though; if they get a belt, you want to kill the person that hit them, it is human nature.
"If the referee is talking to him, you are wondering what he said.
"The younger lads are playing together on the club minor team as well, pride is a great thing.
"My daughter Síle played basketball as well and that was strange because you are so close to the action, you can hear every breath and it is such a vocal sport.
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"When I think of Peader, I think of all his pals and of course you want them to continue.
"When you are in the thick, everything is important but you take the next thing as it comes because there are injuries.
Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview -
"He is very competitive and happy, and he is good at football."
Peadar is
He had to bide his time for consistent football as James McCarthy and Brian Fenton held down the fort in midfield.
However,
last November and Dessie Farrell's men were rocked when
.
O Cofaigh Byrne has enjoyed a breakout 2025 in response, starting in January when
He started in their last two fixtures in Division 1 and proceeded to start all of their Leinster and All-Ireland football championship matches so far.
And speaking before the All-Ireland club final, he declared his intention to
He said: "There is a hole but it is an opportunity.
'They are tough boots to fill. Playing with James and Brian was a pleasure.
'I know there are a lot of lads there. Ethan Dunne is a young fellow coming up, Tom Lahiff and myself.
'There were a lot of lads chomping at the bit and trying to get the jersey off the lads, trying to compete with them and that made us better as a team. That was great but now they are gone.
'I have not been involved yet so I don't even know who is even there at the moment . . .
"Even with the new rules and stuff, I am sure it will be quite different.
'I know that it is going to be a massive loss for the team, character-wise.
'With regards to replacing them, you hear the same cliches that they can't be replaced and stuff like that.
'But there are a lot of lads there, not only myself, who are ready to go.'
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