Bereavements
Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2021 1:48 am
I usually only emerge on this site in reactive rage, but Just a few words. On two very different Offaly people who reflect the diversity of our association.
In the last few months we have lost a number of truly great Gaels who deserve glowing tributes.
I think in particular of John Glennon.
In my opinion John was a Quiet Giant in Offaly GAA.
An influencer long before the word was used, a man who lead by quiet example.
I didn't make a post at that time of his passing, because I felt Beezy would have preferred if I went to the pub and sang a few songs(badly in my case), but that doesn't reduce the loss his parish, this county and his many friends feel.
He was one of the people who do the unglamorous, thankless work and keep the entire association going and I feel ill equipped to describe the esteem he was held in. I feel honoured to have counted him a friend.
On a more recent bereavement, PJ Molloy passed away this week.
PJ wasn't a player or an officer, but I think it would be nice to acknowledge him here.
In an increasing performative world, there was nothing fake about PJ, he was completely genuine in his love for Offaly GAA.
He suffered a lot with illness during his relatively sort life, but I think Gaelic games were a massive positive outlet for him.
On occasion I got vexed with with PJ but he was impossible to fall out with. Equally there were times I got annoyed with younger supporters for playing a trick on PJ, but you only had to see the extent to which they were genuinely upset by his passing to understand how much he was loved. They grew up with PJ and sometimes took him for granted, but at the back of it all, there was real affection. They understood that there was nothing fair weather about his support,
Niall McNamee's tribute showed us how lucky we are to have people like PJ and players like Niall.
PJ will be missed ,on Sunday evenings in Tullamore, at league matches in Newbridge, Christmas midnight mass in Moate, at country music sessions and where ever an Offaly team is playing in front of small numbers against the odds.
In the last few months we have lost a number of truly great Gaels who deserve glowing tributes.
I think in particular of John Glennon.
In my opinion John was a Quiet Giant in Offaly GAA.
An influencer long before the word was used, a man who lead by quiet example.
I didn't make a post at that time of his passing, because I felt Beezy would have preferred if I went to the pub and sang a few songs(badly in my case), but that doesn't reduce the loss his parish, this county and his many friends feel.
He was one of the people who do the unglamorous, thankless work and keep the entire association going and I feel ill equipped to describe the esteem he was held in. I feel honoured to have counted him a friend.
On a more recent bereavement, PJ Molloy passed away this week.
PJ wasn't a player or an officer, but I think it would be nice to acknowledge him here.
In an increasing performative world, there was nothing fake about PJ, he was completely genuine in his love for Offaly GAA.
He suffered a lot with illness during his relatively sort life, but I think Gaelic games were a massive positive outlet for him.
On occasion I got vexed with with PJ but he was impossible to fall out with. Equally there were times I got annoyed with younger supporters for playing a trick on PJ, but you only had to see the extent to which they were genuinely upset by his passing to understand how much he was loved. They grew up with PJ and sometimes took him for granted, but at the back of it all, there was real affection. They understood that there was nothing fair weather about his support,
Niall McNamee's tribute showed us how lucky we are to have people like PJ and players like Niall.
PJ will be missed ,on Sunday evenings in Tullamore, at league matches in Newbridge, Christmas midnight mass in Moate, at country music sessions and where ever an Offaly team is playing in front of small numbers against the odds.