Joe Brolly

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| image = Joe Brolly in December 2011.jpg

| caption = Joe Brolly, taken at a 2011 event to promote the Irish language

| name = Joe Brolly

| irish =

| nickname =

| feet = 5

| inches = 10

| occupation = Barrister, columnist, television pundit

| sport = Gaelic football

| code = Football

| county = Derry

| province = Ulster

| clposition = Corner forward

| club = Dungiven

| clyears = ?–?

| clapps(points) =

| clcounty = 2

| clprovince = 1

| clallireland =

| clubs = Dungiven
St Brigid's

| counties = Derry

| icposition = Corner forward

| icyears = 1990–2001

| icapps(points) =

| icprovince = 2

| icallireland = 1

| nfl = 4

| allstars = 2

| icupdate =

| clupdate =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1969|6|25}}

| birth_place = Dungiven, Northern Ireland

| Spouses = Emma-Rose McCann

(m. 1999; div.)

Laurita Blewitt

(m. 2022)

}}

File:Joe Brolly celebrates Líofa.jpg enthusiasts, taken at a 2011 event advocating that people learn the language]]

Joe Brolly (born Padraig Joseph Brolly;{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/derry/the-passion-of-joe-brolly/29487970.html|title=The passion of Joe Brolly|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=10 August 2012|accessdate=21 September 2023}} 25 June 1969{{ Cite journal | date = 29 May 1994 | journal = 1994 Ulster Championship Quarter-final Programme | title= Derry Pen Pics }}) is an Irish Gaelic football analyst, coach, selector, former player and barrister who played at senior level for the Derry county team. He is from Dungiven.

Brolly played for Derry in the 1990s and early 2000s and was part of the county's only All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning side in 1993. He also won two Ulster Senior Football Championships and four National League titles.

Brolly played club football for St Canice's Dungiven for most of his career, before transferring to St Brigid's GAC in Belfast.

He usually played as right corner forward and was renowned for his accurate point-taking, goal-scoring ability, pace and ability to take on opponents. He was also known for his goal celebration of blowing kisses to the crowd, and had his nose broken twice during his career immediately after scoring goals.{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Brolly |title=R-E-S-P-E-C-T (find out what it means to me) |work=Gaelic Life |date=18 April 2008 }}

After retiring as a player, Brolly fashioned a niche for himself in television punditry, most prominently with RTÉ on The Sunday Game until 2019.

Early and family life

Brolly is the son of noted traditional singer and Limavady Sinn Féin councillor Anne Brolly. His father Francie, also a traditional musician, played Gaelic football for Derry in the 1960s, and was later a Sinn Féin councillor and MLA.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-51399025|title=Francie Brolly: Former Sinn Féin MLA dies|work=BBC|date=6 February 2020|accessdate=16 September 2021}}

Brolly boarded in Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh where he played basketball for Ireland as a schoolboy.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/derry/the-passion-of-joe-brolly-29487970.html|title=The passion of Joe Brolly|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=12 August 2013|accessdate=16 September 2021}} After school he progressed to Trinity College Dublin to read law graduating in 1991 with a Bachelors in Laws degree,{{cite book |last=Sherlock |first=D.J.M. |date=2006 |title=Trinity College Record Volume 2006 |location=Dublin |publisher=Trinity College Dublin Press |isbn=1-871408-07-5|page=}} before doing a postgraduate course at Queen's University Belfast. He was a prominent member of the Dublin University Central Athletic Club (DUCAC) in his Trinity days,{{cite book |editor-last1=Lee West |editor-first1=Maura |date=2016 |title=Trevor West: The Bold Collegian |url=https://www.lilliputpress.ie/product/trevor-west |location=Dublin |publisher=The Lillipus Press |isbn=9781843516767}} and became a member of the student executive.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}

Brolly's first wife was Emma-Rose McCann{{Cite news |date=2013-08-10 |title=The passion of Joe Brolly |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/derry/the-passion-of-joe-brolly/29487970.html |access-date=2024-04-09 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} from Ballymena, daughter of the famous Jack McCann,{{Cite web |title=Jack McCann |url=https://www.newulsterbiography.co.uk/index.php/home/printPerson/926 |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=www.newulsterbiography.co.uk}} historian, raconteur and proprietor of Jack McCann & Son Solicitors, whom he met in Trinity where she studied French and English literature{{Cite web |date=2013-11-17 |title=A Walk on the Wild Side - Paul Kimmage meets Joe Brolly |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/a-walk-on-the-wild-side-paul-kimmage-meets-joe-brolly/29760681.html |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}} before qualifying as a solicitor. Emma is a first cousin of the actor Liam Neeson. The couple have five children. Brolly is now married to podcaster and radio presenter Laurita Blewitt. They married at the Ice House Hotel in County Mayo in August 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-40935494.html|title=It's a match! Laurita Blewitt weds GAA pundit Joe Brolly in Mayo|publisher=Irish Examiner|first=Nicole|last=Glennon|date=8 August 2022|accessdate=10 August 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/gaa/gaa-legend-joe-brolly-marries-24699883|title=GAA legend Joe Brolly marries podcast host Laurita Blewitt in intimate ceremony|publisher=Belfast Live|first1=John|last1=Kierans|first2= David|last2=Kent|date=8 August 2022|accessdate=10 August 2022}}

Joe Brolly is a first cousin of Derry player Liam Hinphey and Monaghan player Vincent Corey, and second cousin to Tyrone footballers Colm and Plunkett Donaghy.{{cite news |last=Brolly |first=Joe |date=31 October 2008 |title=A tribute to Maisie Donaghy |url=http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/GL/free/292985270896384.php |access-date=14 November 2008 |work=Gaelic Life |page=48}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Playing career

=County=

Brolly made his Derry Senior debut against Cavan in the 1990 National League. In 1993 he was part of the Derry side that won the Ulster Championship and the county's first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. His All Stars Award recognition surprisingly came in the relatively barren years of 1996 and 1997.{{cite web|url=http://gaa.ie/page/football_all_stars_90s.html |title=Football All Stars 90's |access-date=8 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121211937/http://www.gaa.ie/page/football_all_stars_90s.html |archive-date=21 November 2007 }} He was top scorer in the 1997 Ulster Championship with 3–15 (24 points).{{ Cite journal | publisher = R & S Printers Ltd, Monaghan| date = 31 May 1998 | journal = 1998 Ulster Championship Quarter-final Programme | title= Facts and Figures }} Brolly added a second Ulster Senior Football Championship in 1998, in the final of which he scored the clinching goal in the last minute.{{cite web|url=http://quis.qub.ac.uk/gaelicfc/halloffame/ulster.htm|title=Queen's Hall of Fame|access-date=8 March 2008|archive-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202814/http://quis.qub.ac.uk/gaelicfc/halloffame/ulster.htm|url-status=dead}} Derry won the National Football League four times in a nine-year period from 1992 to 2000 (1992, 1995, 1996, 2000), with Brolly being part of all four. Brolly and Derry finished runners-up to Offaly in the 1998 National League decider.{{cite news|title=Lyons' pride pass tough test of character to land League |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/04/27/shead.htm |work=Irish Examiner |date=27 April 1998 |access-date=6 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903084000/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/04/27/shead.htm |archive-date= 3 September 2009 }}

=Club=

As a 21-year-old, Brolly was part of Dungiven's Derry Senior Football Championship success in 1991.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} Brolly won another Derry Championship medal in 1997, and also won the Ulster Club Championship. He was top scorer in that year's Derry Championship with 1–25 (28 points) and was man of the match in the final at Celtic Park.

He played for St Brigid's GAC in Belfast when it won the Antrim Intermediate Football Championship. In 2006 St Brigid's became the first GAA club to play against the Police Service of Northern Ireland Gaelic football team.{{cite web |url=http://irishaires.blogspot.com/2006/08/board-rules-sean-ocealleagh-can-be.html |title=PSNI Could Join GAA League |access-date=3 August 2008 |work=Irish Aires News |date=1 September 2006 }} In 2009 Brolly broke his leg while playing in a challenge match against Cookstown.{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Brolly |title=Bread and butter of the club |newspaper=Gaelic Life |date=4 September 2009}} St Brigid's reached that year's Antrim Senior Football Championship semi-final, but were defeated after a replay by a point by Portglenone.

=College=

It was in the Sigerson Cup that Joe Brolly first appeared on the national stage. He won his only inter-varsity medal in 1992, as a member of Queen's victorious Ryan Cup team.

=Hurling=

Brolly played hurling for local club Kevin Lynch's when they won Division 2 of the All-Ireland Féile na nGael in 1982.{{cite news |first=Joe |last=Brolly |title=Liquid asset the obvious solution |work=Gaelic Life |page=48 |date=26 October 2007 }}

Coaching career

Brolly helped out with the Antrim team that finished runners-up in the 2007 Tommy Murphy Cup and winners of the 2008 competition.Said by Michael Lyster and Brolly during the RTÉ Sunday Game Live coverage of the All-Ireland Qualifiers Round 3 games. Down versus Wexford and Tyrone versus Mayo. (The Tommy Murphy Cup final had preceded the two games) – 2 August 2008.

Brolly joined Mayo club Knockmore GAA as a selector and head coach in 2025, working with Dessie Sloyan and manager Ray Dempsey.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/joe-brolly-appointed-as-selector-and-head-coach-at-mayo-gaa-club-knockmore/a664181421.html|title=Joe Brolly appointed as selector and head coach at Mayo GAA club Knockmore|work=Irish Independent|first=Donnchadh|last=Boyle|date=29 January 2025}}

Other work

Brolly writes a column for Gaelic Life{{cite news|first=Joe|last=Brolly|url=http://www.gaeliclife.com/2012/12/16/joe-brolly-this-is-a-vicious-piece-of-work/|title=This is a vicious piece of work|work=Gaelic Life|date=16 December 2012|access-date=16 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101141230/http://www.gaeliclife.com/2012/12/16/joe-brolly-this-is-a-vicious-piece-of-work/|archive-date=1 January 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} and the Sunday Independent. A radio{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/radio1/drivetimesport/ |title=Drivetime Sport |access-date=8 March 2008 |work=RTÉ News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309215553/http://www.rte.ie/radio1/drivetimesport/ |archive-date= 9 March 2008 }} and television football pundit,{{cite web|url=http://www.laoistalk.com/?p=599|title= RTÉ unveil Championship coverage|access-date=8 March 2008}} he is a former regular on the long-running RTÉ programme The Sunday Game.{{cite web|url= http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/brolly-i-am-still-cringing-about-morrissey-insult-679190.html|title=Brolly: 'I am still cringing' about Morrissey insult|date=28 May 2015|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=28 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/rte-tell-joe-brolly-similar-comments-wont-be-tolerated-after-marty-morrissey-ugly-jibe-31258445.html|title=RTE tell Joe Brolly 'similar comments won't be tolerated' after Marty Morrissey 'ugly' jibe|date=28 May 2015|work=Irish Independent|access-date=28 May 2015}} Keith Duggan, writing in The Irish Times, described Brolly as "the most lippy and articulate pundit on Irish television". In 2012, he was dubbed "the Salman Rushdie of County Mayo".{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Duggan|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2013/0214/1224330009987.html|title='It is funny the stir it can cause when you say what you think'|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=14 February 2013|access-date=14 February 2013}}

As a barrister he has specialised in criminal matters and has defended Irish republicans in court.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3579937.stm|title= IRA membership charges dropped|access-date=16 March 2008|work=BBC|date=29 March 2004}}{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2006/1115/breaking57.htm|title=Court hears of Real IRA bomb plot|access-date=17 March 2008|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=11 November 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?pt=n&id=32728 |title=Two Belfast men bailed on gun charges |access-date=17 March 2008 |work=UTV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031129165057/http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?pt=n&id=32728 |archive-date=29 November 2003 }}

He appeared as Counsel in a UK Supreme Court case in 2011[https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2011/18.html], R (on the application of Adams) (FC) (Appellant) v Secretary of State for Justice (Respondent); In the Matter of an Application by Eamonn MacDermott for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland); In the Matter of an Application by Raymond Pius McCartney for Judicial Review (Northern Ireland) [2011] UKSC 18. that established a right to compensation for a miscarriage of justice without the requirement to prove the innocence of the wrongly convicted person (in this instance the Derry republicans Eamonn McDermott and Raymond McCartney).[http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0512/1224296753146.html Irish Times] report of Supreme Court case. Retrieved 13 May 2011.

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="2"\|Ulster !colspan="2"\|All-Ireland !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
rowspan="11"\|Derry \|1990 \|1	0-01	0	0-00	1	0-01
1991 \|1	0-02	0	0-00	1	0-02
1992 \|2	0-00	0	0-00	2	0-02
1993 \|2	0-03	2	0-02	4	0-05
1994 \|1	0-02	0	0-00	1	0-02
1995 \|0	0-00	0	0-00	0	0-00
1996 \|2	1-06	0	0-00	2	1-06
1997 \|4	3-14	0	0-00	4	3-14
1998 \|3	1-10	1	0-00	4	1-10
1999 \|2	0-03	0	0-00	2	0-03
2000 \|3	0-02	0	0-00	3	0-02
colspan="2"\|Total \|21\|\|5-43\|\|3\|\|0-02\|\|24\|\|5-45