When the history of the GAA's controversial Rule 21 is written, Galway's contribution to its demise should be recorded. It was Galway's former GAA president, Joe McDonagh, who had the vision to initiate the move, according to one of the leading football referees, Supt Mick Curley.
Mr McDonagh, recently appointed chief executive of Foras na Gaeilge and chairman of the Government's National Anti-Racism Awareness Programme, opened up the debate in the wake of the Belfast Agreement. "He may have been a little early but the time seemed right, with many positive developments occurring in the North," Supt Curley says.
Though Rule 21 was finally voted out with relative ease several weeks ago, the handling of its dispatch will have to be treated sensitively, Supt Curley agrees. It appears there will be no rush to host friendly challenges between the new Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda S∅ochβna.
"The stance of five Northern counties is a signal to the GAA," he says." The playing field will change, but it won't change that quickly. However, I am glad it's gone. It didn't serve any useful purpose."
Supt Curley is far better known to the public as a referee than as a senior member of the Garda, one of the youngest to be promoted to his position at the time, and now serving in the busy Galway station of Salthill. Born in Creggs, just inside the Galway-Roscommon border, he played football at club level for Roscommon. He has been a referee for 17 years, and, like many referees, is no stranger to controversy.
Supt Curley does not comment on individual incidents in matches, as is the protocol. "Well, I wouldn't anyway, because it would be unfair to the other party," he explains. He has never felt intimidated on the pitch, and although he has taken his fair share of abuse as a referee, he says he has never felt that he wanted to pack it in.
"Referees are their own biggest critics," he says. "Sometimes we get things wrong, and we all accept that. We meet regularly to try and analyse situations and keep the standard up. You know immediately when you have missed something, but the worst thing to do is to try and rectify it in some way, because that only compounds the error.
"It has to be said that everyone makes mistake. Players and managers do, and they have to get over that. There are seven officials on the field, and we support each other, but not all of us can possibly witness everything that occurs."
As the Wildfire Films documentary, Blowing The Whistle, illustrated, referees have to know how to leave a heated situation behind. The documentary, screened on RT╔ last year, profiled Supt Curley and Pat McEnaney and gave a unique insight into their role. It also revealed the extent of communication between referees and the players, as picked up on the microphone and backpack that Supt Curley wore during filming.
There is no pay for the job, apart from expenses. Nor does Supt Curley, personally, agree with the idea of pay for it, in spite of the substantial time put in.
Of that sacrifice, he says: "I couldn't do it without the support of my wife, Dympna, and family. You can feel very bad on a Sunday when you are going off one way, and they are staying at home or going somewhere else."
His three children are aged 23, 21 and 15; the two young men play football, and his daughter has been involved in athletics.
He began his career in the Garda in Dublin and worked in Cavan, Listowel, Co Kerry, and several stations in Galway, including Mill Street in the city, Rosmuc and Spiddal to the west, and latterly Clifden. "The job always comes first. There is no compromise there in terms of the sport," he says.
The highlight of his sporting career so far was refereeing the All-Ireland final in 1999, the only year in the last four that Galway did not qualify for the final. He also travelled with the Ireland International Rules side to Australia that year.
Fitness is a big part of the job. "You have to be as fit or fitter than the players, because you don't get a break whereas they do," he says.
He does not believe the game has become more violent. "You look at this year's championship as an example. By and large, players go out to play and win. They don't want to be sent off, and there is a stigma attached to it anyway."
Supt Curley has no plans to retire and clearly loves his game, a love shared by many interviewed for a recent video on the history of Galway football, made by former Galway hurler Frank Burke. However, the former Fine Gael minister and Galway East TD, Mr John Donnellan, is not so enthusiastic. He criticises the GAA for being hypocritical and believes he made a terrible mistake by encouraging his sons to play Gaelic games.
Mr Donnellan was captain in 1964 when Galway won the Sam Maguire Cup, and won three All-Ireland medals, as did his brother, Pat.
His two sons are involved: Michael has won two All-Ireland football medals and two All-Star awards, and John was on the winning team in this year's All-Ireland final. The Tommy Varden History of Galway Football was made by US3 Films, with interviews by Michael ╙ Muircheartaigh and voice-over by Michael Lyster.
