Cork teacher Brian will be TG4’s GAA voice of summer
IT’S going to be a Summer unlike any we’ve ever experienced and, as a result, GAA fans may find themselves listening more and more to the authoritative voice of TG4’s commentator, Corkman Brian Tyers.
A teacher in Bishoptown’s Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Brian has been sharing his unique GAA and Gaeilge blás with TG4 viewers from the early days of the Irish language station back in 1996.
Back then he was commentating on Olé Olé Olé, TG4’s pioneering coverage of La Liga football from Spain.
For several years now he has been the station’s main GAA commentator.
The GAA club championships, to which TG4 has the rights to broadcast the pick of the clashes, is going to be the focus of GAA fans this Summer.
And that means Brian is going to be in the hot seat for the next number of months as action resumes on our small screens as club clashes, parish rivalries and local derbies take over from the intercounty scene.
Throw in for the coverage is this weekend with a foray to Wexford where St Martin’s take on Model County legends Oulart a’Ballagh on Friday and a trip to Dublin on Sunday for a clash between Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyboden St Endas.
The following weekend sees the first trip to Cork for the mouthwatering encounter between Carbery Rangers and Castlehaven.
This summer has shown us the importance, according to Brian, of not taking for granted the enjoyment we get from sport.
“The coronavirus has had a huge impact on the country and all sports have been adversely affected,” he said.
“The GAA is in every parish and townland and is often the heartbeat of the community. .”
Allowing that people are desperate to see matches resume, Brian says that we must remain exceptionally careful as the ‘virus is still with us’.
“The players and supporters must be protected and it’s troubling to hear and see reports of people not taking the virus seriously.
“Unfortunately it wouldn’t