GAA Hard men (all counties)

[nrico2006]

Brian McGilligan told me that Pat O'Byrne from Wicklow was the strongest man he had ever played with or against.

story from Mick Lyons from that infamous tour (fight) v aussies out in Oz- that Pat O'Byrne and Brian McGilligan were the two hardest and toughest men on that tour and ever he seen to play football !

The aussies were running away from Mc Gilligan and O byrne during the rows. Some great pics from it. Heffo had a call that went out in each quarter which gave Mc Gilligan special licence to lamp one of the Aussie hardmen if they needed a thump. O Byrne had the same licence down the other end.
O Byrne was a sheep farmer from Wicklow and was the best front row forward the irish rugby team never had. He'd push hayes and horan together into the middle of next week.

Is there any pics floating about?  The farmers were always the toughest, I can remember at school when I was 12 or 13 and in PE the farmers could barely kick a ball but they were as strong as bulls, if they shouldered you you were on your hole with the wind knocked out of you.

[Celt_Man]

Brian McGilligan told me that Pat O'Byrne from Wicklow was the strongest man he had ever played with or against.

story from Mick Lyons from that infamous tour (fight) v aussies out in Oz- that Pat O'Byrne and Brian McGilligan were the two hardest and toughest men on that tour and ever he seen to play football !

The aussies were running away from Mc Gilligan and O byrne during the rows. Some great pics from it. Heffo had a call that went out in each quarter which gave Mc Gilligan special licence to lamp one of the Aussie hardmen if they needed a thump. O Byrne had the same licence down the other end.
O Byrne was a sheep farmer from Wicklow and was the best front row forward the irish rugby team never had. He'd push hayes and horan together into the middle of next week.

Is there any pics floating about?  The farmers were always the toughest, I can remember at scholl when I was 12 or 13 and in PE the farmers could barely kick a ball but they were as strong as bulls, if they shouldered you you were on your hole with the wind knocked out of you.

Aye I think Colm O'Rourke is right (Jaysus help me for saying that) - every team needs a farmer and a red head.... obviously a combination of the two is particularly fierce

[nrico2006]

Any pics of these brawls or incidents?

[GalwayBayBoy]

Wexford hurler Greg Jacob. Renowned for his hardness.

[sans pessimism]

Are there any hard men,such as F.Bellew left in todays teams

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

Brian McGilligan told me that Pat O'Byrne from Wicklow was the strongest man he had ever played with or against.

story from Mick Lyons from that infamous tour (fight) v aussies out in Oz- that Pat O'Byrne and Brian McGilligan were the two hardest and toughest men on that tour and ever he seen to play football !

The aussies were running away from Mc Gilligan and O byrne during the rows. Some great pics from it. Heffo had a call that went out in each quarter which gave Mc Gilligan special licence to lamp one of the Aussie hardmen if they needed a thump. O Byrne had the same licence down the other end.
O Byrne was a sheep farmer from Wicklow and was the best front row forward the irish rugby team never had. He'd push hayes and horan together into the middle of next week.

Is there any pics floating about?  The farmers were always the toughest, I can remember at school when I was 12 or 13 and in PE the farmers could barely kick a ball but they were as strong as bulls, if they shouldered you you were on your hole with the wind knocked out of you.

Sounds like Roscommon football for many a year.

[goal 10]

I wish we had a few hard players now.

we are as soft as sh,,,,,,,

[Don Johnson]

Jonathan McCarron (Armagh u21s this year) is as hard as they come. Proper old school like his grandad old Jon McCarron did midfield for Armagh though injury cut him short.

Young Jon is undefeated in the Armagh fight nights and going for 3 from 3 in the upcoming fight night next year.

[muppet]

Hardy's protégé: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rynFsyKJ2Y4

[men in black]

Derry - Tony Scullion

[Jinxy]

Brian McGilligan told me that Pat O'Byrne from Wicklow was the strongest man he had ever played with or against.

story from Mick Lyons from that infamous tour (fight) v aussies out in Oz- that Pat O'Byrne and Brian McGilligan were the two hardest and toughest men on that tour and ever he seen to play football !

The aussies were running away from Mc Gilligan and O byrne during the rows. Some great pics from it. Heffo had a call that went out in each quarter which gave Mc Gilligan special licence to lamp one of the Aussie hardmen if they needed a thump. O Byrne had the same licence down the other end.
O Byrne was a sheep farmer from Wicklow and was the best front row forward the irish rugby team never had. He'd push hayes and horan together into the middle of next week.

Is there any pics floating about?  The farmers were always the toughest, I can remember at school when I was 12 or 13 and in PE the farmers could barely kick a ball but they were as strong as bulls, if they shouldered you you were on your hole with the wind knocked out of you.

The farmers would have been a few years older though in fairness.

[Sleater]

Gerry McCarville, Scotstown & Monaghan.

I'd second that. McCarville was chiselled from granite

[The Hill is Blue]

The Quinns of Kilbride and Meath were as tough as they come.

[muppet]

Barney Rock.
Karl Diamond.

[sans pessimism]

Barney Rock.
Karl Diamond.

John Finn would tend to agree!