4 days ago
Dublin GAA star's link to RTÉ presenter mum — who admits it's ‘hard to watch' him play
A Dublin GAA star's mum has admitted that it's 'hard to watch' her son play — particularly after she tried her hand as Bainisteóir.
Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne emerged as a rising star in the Dublin senior team, after he won an All-Ireland U20 title with the county, which he captained, in 2019.
Making his senior debut that same year under legendary manager Jim Gavin, Peadar's mum Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh — who took Nobber GFC to the semi-final of Celebrity Bainisteóir 2010 — admitted that while she's proud of her son, it's sometimes hard to watch your son in a game as physical as GAA. Dublin's rising star Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne's mum Bláthnaid has admitted that it's hard watching her son play. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
'I'm very proud,' Bláthnaid told RSVP. '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,' she continued. '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… he's very competitive and happy, and he's good at football.' Bláthnaid recently spoke about her son being a senior GAA player, admitting that it is a bit scary at times. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos
Peadar recently spoke about wanting to fill the void left by county captain Brian Fenton, who announced his retirement last November, as well as James McCarthy, who himself retired a few weeks prior.
'They are tough boots to fill. Playing with James and Brian was a pleasure,' Brian said ahead of the All Ireland club final. ' 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're gone.' Peadar admitted that he has some big shoes to fill, particularly following the retirements of James McCarthy and Brian Fenton (pictured). Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
'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.'
Bláthnaid and her husband Ciarán Byrne have four children together — with her previously trying her hand in the GAA as a manager on Celebrity Bainisteóir, managing Nobber. She ultimately lost in the semi-final, with Derek Burke and Castleisland Diamonds beating Mairéad Farrell and Ballymun Kickhams in the final.
