If you were speaking about Nickey Brennan, the Irish word ‘neart’- strength/ability- would be appropriate. Certainly, when discussing the Kilkenny man’s energy and commitment to complete the most difficult of tasks with consummate ease, ‘neart‘ fits perfectly.
Although Nickey Brennan is retired from professional life since 2014, his current roles as a community volunteer include serving as Chair of The Watergate Theatre Board, presenter on Community Radio Kilkenny City, and Kilkenny’s Age Friendly Ambassador (he was the Chair of the Kilkenny Age Friendly Alliance between 2010 and 2016).
And we are sure there is much more. In addition to his role as presenter on Community radio, Nickey is also an integral part of a highly respected Community Radio Kilkenny City sports team.
Emphasising their excellence this iconic sports team won a Craol (Community Radio Forum of Ireland) gold award 2018.
Nickey who was born in 1953 spent most of his working life with Avonmore in Ballyragget and later in Kilkenny city. Undoubtedly, his love of all things GAA permeates his life. It was the love of football and hurling, instilled in him in the idyllic surrounds of the Polo Grounds in Jenkinstown, that enabled him represent Conahy Shamrocks with such distinction that he progressed seamlessly through the Kilkenny inter county underage structure to the senior team.
His endeavours within the GAA encompassed roles as player, manager and administrator. He donned the right half back geansaí at senior level, having joined the team during the 1974 championship. He was a regular and important member of the starting fifteen until his retirement after the ‘85 championship. During this time he won five All-Ireland medals, five Leinster medals and two National League medals.
After retiring from the playing fields, Brennan became involved in coaching and team management. He was manager of the Kilkenny under 21 hurling team, which won the 1990 All-Ireland Final against Tipperary and served as a selector and later manager of the senior team. Allied to this he also had a successful term as county football manager. As an administrator, Nickey excelled and he was a proactive Chairman of Kilkenny County Board and of the Leinster Council. In 2006 Nickey Brennan was elected as the 35th President of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael.
During his tenure, Nickey travelled the length and breadth of Ireland promoting the games, the Irish language and the ethos at the heart of the association. His presidential terms also saw significant changes in the GAA sponsorship model, the implementation of new media contracts, a major GAA Oral History project plus a significant GAA rebranding initiative also.
He brought an international aspect to his endeavours with visits to Great Britain, Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. This period saw major GAA infrastructure developments in New York and San Francisco.
Therefore, no one was surprised last week, when at the The Gaelic Writers’ Association (GWA) annual awards dinner, in association with the Dalata Hotel Group, Nickey Brennan was inducted into the Hurling Hall of Fame.
Speaking to The Kilkenny Observer Nickey was somewhat surprised on receiving the award. “At this stage of my life I thought that getting awards was well behind me, but I am very grateful for the honour bestowed on me by the GWA.” Mr Brennan was also mindful of the role his family played in his various achievements down the years. “Whatever I achieved during my GAA life and other areas thus far has been very much down to the support of my family, especially my wife Mairead, but also from my son Conor and my daughters Orla, Nicola and Ciara.”
This award is a fitting tribute to one of Kilkenny’s finest GAA Ambassadors. The awards evening also saw Ger Canning receive a Lifetime Achievement award and Meath’s Brian Kelly named PRO of the Year.
The full list of Gaelic Writers’ Association award winners, in association with the Dalata Hotel Group, are as follows:
- Football Personality of the Year – Jack O’Connor (Kerry)
- Ladies Football Personality of the Year – Carla Rowe (Dublin)
- Hurling Personality of the Year – Noel McGrath (Tipperary)
- Camogie Personality of the Year – Shauna Healy (Galway)
- Football Hall of Fame – Larry Tompkins (Cork)
- Ladies Football Hall of Fame – Juliet Murphy (Cork)
- Hurling Hall of Fame – Nickey Brennan (Kilkenny)
- Camogie Hall of Fame – Imelda Hobbins (Galway)
- PRO of the Year – Brian Kelly (Meath)
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Ger Canning (RTÉ)
KiIkenny Senior hurling All-Ireland Winners 1979. Nickey Brennan 2nd from left back row Let there be light! The official turning on of the floodlights on February 3rd 2007. The first game to benefit from the lights was the National football league tie between Dublin and Tyrone, which started the night time games and events at Croke Park Oh the glamour of reporting! Nickey on Community Radio duty at Freshford Nickey Brennan 4th from left in front row with the Kilkenny team of ‘79 honoured ( jubilee team) at the 2024 All Ireland final Two proud Kilkenny men. Nickey Brennan presents Kilkenny captain Jackie Tyrrell with the National League cup following Kilkenny’s win in the final Nickey Brennan with former Taoiseach Brian Cowen at Croke Park Nickey Brennan All-Ireland Final 1982 v Cork. Blocking down a shot from the legendary Ray Cummins President of the GAA Nickey Brennan addresses congress Two Presidents: Nickey Brennan President of the GAA, escorts Uachtarán na hÉireann , Mary McAleese at the All Ireland final in Croke Park Nickey Brennan who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as the Gaelic Writers' Association held their annual awards dinner at the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge last Friday
