The True Story of the GAA 125
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In the course of our travels recently, Talking Balls had the pleasure of visiting Cavan. The purpose of our visit was to test out the common misperception that Cavan people commonly retain their first communion money until they reach their dotage, but more importantly to take in the sights and sounds of Breffni on a Championship Saturday evening as the men of Cavan attempted to beat Fermanagh.
The trip to Cavan was, we thought uneventful, however it transpired on the way home on a bad oul road out past Shercock, the Talking Balls sponsored VW Camper van sprung a leak in its petrol tank. Although equipped with several such tanks as a result of its former utilization as a means of moving fuel back and forth between the jurisdictions north and south, (only one tank is used these days we might add), it was rendered useless by a big hoor of a Cavan pothole that shivered the VW Camper to its very core.
Being in the arse-end of nowhere, your intrepid correspondent had no option but to deploy the shoe fada mór in search of help. After a wearisome trek we came upon a brightly lit cabin. Outside flew an immaculate trio of flags – the blue and white of Breffni, the GAA’s 125 pennant and a flag of the Japanese motorbike manufacturer Honda. A strange combination.
On hammering at the door we were confronted by an oul boy of indeterminate age, wearing that Cavan uniform of a farmers cap, worn suit jacket and tie. It would be impossible to relate the conversation that ensued such was the thickness of accent. The story however was worth the telling. Our man, from Cavan of course, had been deployed in Japan in the fifties as an engineer in Honda’s new top secret factory. He has previously worked as a migrant worker in a motorcycle works in the north of England but had been talented spotted by a Mr Itchifani and taken to Japan. The one thing tying him to home was his love of Cavan and Gaelic Football, but Japan was a distant destination from Breffni and the Blues.
In 1957, he learned of Cavan’s All Ireland success when an overland telegram reached him at the secret Honda works. To make a long story short, in celebration of the success, and to wile away the loneliness he set about making a one-off motorcycle to mark Cavan’s fifth All Ireland. Built and machined to highest spec he crafted a unique specimen. A beautifully constructed machine, inspired by Ireland, its culture and its games. Occasionally when he took it on the roads it misfired and needed fine-tuned. Often people asked for payment to ride upon it, but our man remained the one and only true pilot.
Eventually, when Honda decided to expand overseas the Cavan engineer agreed to be relocated too. But only on the condition he could ride his beloved wherever he was required to go, spreading its appeal as he rode hither and thither.
Finally after traversing diverse locations, Dubai, Boston, Chicago, Copenhagen, Ruislip, Singapore, Fintona, he ended up, back in Cavan.
The GAA 125, home at last.
