Laochra Gael: Barney Rock

Sun, 22nd March 2015

'Barney the Rock they perish on' - stated a famous flag on Hill 16 back in the 1980s.

This Tuesday night legendary Dublin footballer Barney Rock is the feature for TG4's Laochra Gael (8pm).

Barney was a superb forward and scored some incredible goals for the Dubs - goals that got Dublin to the 1983 SFC Final and the goal in the Final itself as the '12 Apostles' defied the odds to defeat Galway.

The seventh programme of ten features Dublin footballer Barney Rock. The darling of Hill 16 throughout the eighties, the Ballymun Kickham’s sharp-shooter captured metropolitan hearts with his place-kicking and match-winning scores.

Barney comes from a family steeped in the traditions of Croke Park, his family who lived in the shadows of the great stadium held the keys and his grandfather, father and uncles were all involved in the running of the stadium on match days.

So Barney got an introduction to the stadium at a young age, and his introduction to Dublin fans first came in 1978 when he excelled as a minor, winning an All-Ireland with them the following year. It wasn’t long before he had made the transition to the senior team in 1980 but after the golden days of the seventies Barney had to contend with an up and coming Offaly side who kept Dublin hands off silverware till 1983.

Charming as always Barney Rock opens up about his days in blue and the programme also features interviews with fellow Dublin teammate Kieran Duff, Galway’s Stiofán Seoige, Offaly’s Seán Lowry and Kerry’s Seán Walsh.

Click here for a preview