A PE Teacher by trade, his work took him to Donegal, in 1991 where he took up a post as Principal at Carndonagh Community School. While working in Donegal, Brian took the helm at Derry, where his influence was not inconsequential: He brought Derry to win the National League in 1996; in 1998, Derry secured an Ulster Championship win under his stewardship.
In 2000, Brian returned to Dublin to take up a post as Director of Sport at UCD, where he drove initiatives for participation at all levels, and devoted his energies to the Ad Astra Sports Scholarships programme; helping to ensure that talented athletes could be nurtured to fulfil both their sporting and academic goals.
The on-field achievements for the club are immense too; Brian was part of the St Vincents teams that won the Dublin County championships in 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1984; On three of these occasions, we were also Leinster Champions (1972, 1975 and 1984), and secured All-Ireland victory in 1976. Brian also managed our Senior Footballers, when they won the Dublin Senior Club Championship in 2017.
Whilst most known outside the club for his on-field performances, Brian is talked about with the highest accolade that is given in club circles: Brian was a total "Club Man". Brian has at various points of his career with St Vincents managed juvenile teams, managed adult teams, was senior manager (twice), juvenile games director, and club chairperson, to name but a few. As recently as last January he put his hand up and volunteered to take the position of Adult Games Director.
But there was also more. Clubs are run by volunteers, and there are so many tasks that are often hidden, or go unnoticed. There was many a time when people saw Brian cycling up the Malahide road towards Pairc Naomh Uinsionn. Little did they know that he was on his way to carry out a pitch inspection, or to meet an individual who needed his counsel.
Always kind with his time, anyone who took over a role after Brian will attest that they took it on comforted by the knowledge that should they need help, encouragement or advice, Brian was always on the end of a phone.
As a club, we are overwhelmed by the outpouring of good wishes from the length and breadth of the country which have been coming in since the announcement of Brian's passing last Friday. All games across Dublin this weekend were preceded by a minute's silence, and we thank all of our opponents for your respect and kind words. It's a wonderful reflection of the esteem held for Brian throughout the county and epitomises the values of the GAA.