David 'Crocky' Maher

Originally published: Town Tattler Vol 5 Issue 9

David “Crocky” Maher is our resident photographer and social historian, a man who has spent a lifetime steeped in the white and green of Portlaoise. We all know his work from the pitch, those sharp action shots that catch the heart of a game, and the quiet gems he finds away from the sporting setting. With a camera in hand and the club in his heart, Crocky has documented our town, our club, our places and our pride. This month he sat down with us to share what the club means to him, and where he hopes to see it go in the years ahead.

What is your first memory of Portlaoise GAA?

When I was very young, my father brought me to the Portlaoise matches. Later I was dropped up to Father Browne Avenue where we did hurling and football with the late Bill Phelan and Ollie Byrne.

When did the club shift from a place you visited to a place you felt you belonged?

After we won the National Football Féile, we had great memories of going on those trips, both football and hurling. Great lads like Johnny Keenan, Brian Rodgers and many more, and we are all still great friends today.

Who were the early people who shaped how you see the club?

The people who I think shaped the club back then, outside of the players, were the likes of Tommy Keogh, Bill Phelan, Dick Sides, Teddy Fennelly, Peadar Molloy, John Hanniffy, Niall Kavanagh, Vinny Dowling and Peter O’Neill, and many more too many to mention.

What small moments still stick with you?

The small moments that stick with me were after the Town won a county final, the great nights in the clubhouse on Father Browne Avenue.

The stories from Doc Fitz, Paddy Fitz, Bill Murphy and Dinny Bowe. God, they were some characters.

And winning the Junior ‘A’ football back in 1992. Some great lads back then: Grellan Delaney, Joe Walsh, Pat O’Brien, Ger O’Brien (RIP), John Taylor, Fats Brown, Barry Kavanagh, the Rake, my own brother Anthony and many more.

A crazy bunch but some talent. Don’t ever mention that to Fats.

Which Portlaoise teams through the years have given you the most joy to watch and or to photograph?

I love watching all the club matches, hurling, football and camogie. Once it’s the Town.

I have to say my favourite matches to photograph are the hurling ones. Some belters going on there.

Is there a side that never won a league or a county final but earned a special place for you because of how they played or how they carried themselves?

We were a bit barren in the nineties, but contrary to what some people say, all those players trained as hard as anyone and gave 100 per cent commitment to the Portlaoise jersey.

Who are the standard bearers you point to when talking to younger players about Portlaoise at its best?

Standard bearers for me are every player that put on the Town jersey, not just the winners.

What drew you into the juvenile section of the club?

I got involved in the Juvenile Section many years ago. I suppose like most clubs, volunteers were scarce, so I did my duty, got all my coaching badges and never looked back.

I worked with great people like Malcolm Nealon, Paul O’Connell and Dick Finnegan on the committees.

Tell us a bit about your time with the ladies section?

At a committee meeting one night there was no coach for the Ladies Junior team. I couldn’t believe that people would not step forward for a club our size.

I had managed underage teams and also junior and intermediate men’s teams, so I said I’d give this a go. I did one year, got beaten in a semi-final of the championship. No regrets.

Great bunch of ladies. Some of them are representing the senior ladies in the county final shortly. All the best to them.

How did you get into photography?

I always loved the old black-and-white photographs. I made the move to the Portlaoise Camera Club with no clue how to do photography.

A couple of years later, here I am, a qualified photographer.

Back in my day there weren’t too many photographs of players unless you won something and I played with some great players. So now I think I have every player in the club photographed.

For reference, people who are at matches, do not be afraid to ask me to photograph their son or daughter.

Tell us about one photograph that means the most to you and the story around it?

I have a lot of photographs that people don’t see, but one I have of the late Eoin “Rake” McDonald, who played in goals for our winning junior team back in the nineties, is special.

What are your hopes for the club over the next few years?

Hopes for the club are to get back to winning county finals in both football and hurling. When you’re winning there’s some buzz.

There’s some amount of talent in the underage section from what I see. It won’t be long before we’re back to winning ways.

Most photogenic place in the world?

The most photogenic place, and I have done some places, is on our doorstep: the Rock of Dunamase at sunset.

One match you wish you could have shot from the sideline in any era?

The 1983 All-Ireland winning match. My dad was a selector on that team. I would have some photos of him.

A picture you still want to take that has not happened yet?

A picture I would like to take that has not happened yet: my granddaughter lifting the cup in a county final in the Town jersey.

Any final thoughts?

I apologise if I’ve left people out.

A big thanks to Teddy Jr. for a super job as chair and all the lads behind the scenes doing the financial end of things. The people on the club committee.

The crazy gang out in the grounds committee are the fabric of the club. If you are ever feeling down, go out for tea in the morning with those lads, it’s some craic.

Not least to mention Richie Coss in England, how he does the club page is beyond me.

Thanks again.

Crocky.