Only two people have ever served as chairperson of Tyrone GAA for two terms. Brendan Harkin’s first coincided with a period of great political upheaval dominated by the hunger strikes; his second with a period of internal county strife.
However, his masterful stewardship guided the association through dangerous and testing times, where his calming influence was vitally important. Only modesty, and dedication to his club, prevented him becoming Tyrone’s first GAA president.
To many in Co Tyrone and further afield, Brendan was simply “Mr Killyclogher”.
Born in the townland of Reaghan in 1948 to Joe, a forestry worker, and Jennie, his earliest GAA memory was around the age of four when he heard his brother talk about an All-Ireland final between Meath and Cavan. He often reminisced about listening to matches on the “wireless” in a neighbour’s home, describing it as “the place of worship where we listened to the Gospel according to Michael O’Hehir”.
There had been some hurling and football in the Cappagh parish until the mid-1950s but the GAA was largely dormant when the Killyclogher club was re-formed in 1965, with Brendan among those taking the lead.
Highlights of his playing career included junior league and championship medals, an intermediate league and a county hurling championship. While at Queen’s University, he was an All-Ireland freshers finalist and he would take great pride in Scór accomplishments, reaching Ulster finals in novelty acts and quizzes.
He also managed many teams, winning the Ulster Junior Hurling Championship with Tyrone in 1995 and 1996, as well as the 1996 All-Ireland Junior Championship, and bringing the county to the heights of National League Division 2.
However, it is his achievements in GAA administration that are unparalleled.
Brendan was only 16 when he became the club secretary, a position he would hold until 2018 – a remarkable 54 years’ service.
He quickly became Killyclogher’s delegate to the West Tyrone Board and Tyrone GAA, and would say he learned more at those meetings than he did at Queen’s. At the same time, unbeknownst to his mother, who was concerned for his studies, he was regularly taking a bus back to Killyclogher to play club matches.
At county level, he served as assistant secretary of the League Board, chair of the Youth Board, chairman of the Hurling Board, PRO, county secretary, county chairman and ultimately honorary county president. He was also the Tyrone delegate to Ulster GAA and Ulster delegate on the national Ard Chomhairle.
His skill in mediating, negotiating, cajoling and manoeuvring around entrenched positions was observed with awe by this writer many times. Heated meetings in places like “Barney the Divil’s”, Ballinamullan and Garvaghey were frequently settled by his wise and calming words.
But regardless of all these commitments, Brendan also passionately maintained involvement in all aspects of club life as player, administrator, manager, Irish teacher, fundraiser and Scór coach.
His presence on the side-line was a constant and he was loved by young and old equally.
He was a firm believer in the democracy and social equality at the heart of the GAA and was the proudest Irish man one could ever encounter — unequivocal on the national question and an active civil rights campaigner and trade unionist.
After finishing Queen’s University with his history degree, he immediately took up a teaching position in his old school, Omagh CBS, where he stayed throughout his career. He taught history, politics, Latin, Irish and PE and huge numbers of lucky pupils were moulded by his knowledge and care.
He was also a strong community man, organising carnivals, sports, concerts and shows to bring people together and helping Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann establish a home in Ulster.
As a local historian, he was also editor of The Cappagh Annual and author of Years to Remember: An Outline of the Development of the GAA in the Parish of Cappagh.
Brendan’s death on February 1 has dealt our club a severe and deep-felt blow. We are much the poorer for losing him, but much the richer for having had him in our lives.
As the seanfhocal declares: Maireann an chraobh ar an fhál ach ní mhaireann an lámh do chuir – Although the hand that planted the seed is no longer with us, his seed lives on after him through the branches that grew from that seed.
To Brendan’s wife Clare, children Gráinne, Kerry, Sinéad and Kevin, grandchildren and wider family members, we offer you our wholehearted condolences.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
Niall McKenna