Séamus O’Brien - A True
Gentleman
On behalf of all in the Club we would like to send our
deepest sympathies to the family and many friends of the late Séamus O’Brien,
Murphy Place, who passed away last week. To say that Séamus was steeped in the
GAA would indeed be an understatement, as since he was first elected Abbeyside club
Secretary at the 1953 AGM in the Scouts Den, Séamus has served the Association
in many different ways. Séamus was a selector on the Waterford Hurling Team in
the 1957 All Ireland Final and in 1960 he was elected as Secretary of the
Western Board, a position he held for 19 years. Throughout his time as
Secretary of the Board, Séamus proved to be an excellently efficient Secretary,
and it was only natural that he would be promoted to higher office which
happened in 1979 when he was elected as Waterford’s representative on Central
Council. In a remarkable 30 year term as Central Council delegate Séamus was
elected to the Management Committee on two occasions and during his time on the
Committee the major redevelopment of Croke Park took place. Throughout his time
on Central Council Séamus constantly fought the cause of the ordinary GAA
player and member trying at all times to ensure that the GAA remained true to
itself. When Séamus retired from his role as Central Council delegate in 2009
he was deeply honored to be elected as President of Waterford County Board, a
position he held at the time of his death.
Séamus had a keen interest in the promotion of our
games among the youth and this is perhaps best seen in the service he gave to Bord
na nÓg, as he served as Secretary to both County and Western Bord na nÓg and as
Register to both the Western Board and County Board na nÓg. For over 50 years Séamus’
writings in the Dungarvan Leader were a must read for all GAA fans in the West
Waterford area, and working closely with his great friend Tony Mansfield, both
men ensured that not a trick was missed on the GAA beat in the County. Whilst Séamus
served the Association at National, County and Divisional level it was in
working for his beloved Abbeyside / Ballinacourty that he derived the greatest
pleasure. This year marked his 60th consecutive year as a member of
our Club Committee where his attendances at meetings were exemplary. Over the
years our club like all clubs has had many difficult decisions to take, and Séamus’
well thought out and sound advice meant that the club always had an invaluable
source of wisdom guiding us on the right path. Séamus took great satisfaction
from the various County Titles won by our club down the years and whilst Séamus
was never one to let his emotions get the better of him, I can recall one
occasion where a referee was being a little slow in blowing a full time whistle
(eight minutes of injury time had been played!!), and Séamus duly made his way
from the press box to the sideline to enquire was the full time whistle ever
going to be blown. The game in question was a Western Minor Football Western
Final where Séamus’ grandson was playing and when the whistle was blown Séamus
celebrated the win like a first ever Senior Title.
Throughout his lifetime of working for the GAA Séamus
was at all times an absolute gentleman in his dealings with members of other
clubs. Talking to a former Chairman of Bord na nÓg at the weekend he said that
Séamus O’Brien would always make you feel that your question or difficulty
mattered to him, and that a problem with an under 12 Competition was just as
important as resolving a difficulty in Croke Park. Séamus had an encyclopedic
knowledge of the Rule Book and Administration of the GAA. At County Board
meetings he would regularly cite the relevant rule or bye law off his head
whenever a difficulty arose, and his was an opinion that was rarely or indeed
ever questioned. It is certainly true to say that his loss to the GAA in
Waterford is a great one, as we have lost a great fountain of knowledge. In
talking to many people over the past week the one thing that kept reoccurring
in conversation, was the high regard in which Séamus was held by all who worked
with him. This is in no small part down to the manner in which Séamus dealt
with those he came into contact with. A phone call or visit to Murphy Place was
always most welcomed and on the rare occasion that Séamus could not give the answer
to a question or advice on a myriad of different issues immediately, then you
could rest assured that it would arrive as soon as was humanly possible. It is
this kind hearted nature and wise counsel in difficult times that all of us who
knew and worked with Séamus O’Brien will miss the most. As was said in Thurles
on Sunday prior to a moments silence in his honor, the Déise is all the poorer
for his passing. Again we send our sympathies to his family and friends but
especially to his children Deirdre, Caroline, Dermot, Brendan, Seamie, Colm,
Greg and Kevin. May the soil of his beloved Abbeyside rest gently on his soul.
Jack The Joker
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| No. Drawn - 39 |
Our popular Jack the Joker Fundraiser will continue
this Sunday night in Kennedy’s Live where the Jackpot will be €12,666 as on
Sunday night Jim Egan was drawn out of the drum but did not find the Joker,
however he did win €50 euro, while Jonathan and Kevin and Biddy Egan won €25.
The following are the numbers that haven’t been turned yet 3, 11, 18, 30, 40, 41,
43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52.
Senior Hurling
On
Monday we played Ballyduff Upper in the County League and at the end of an open
game of the hurling the sides were level.
TEAM: S. ENRIGHT, J. POWER, S. O’HARE, E. COLLNS,
S. O’DONOVAN, J. HURNEY, C. HICKEY, D. COLLINS, R. FOLEY, S. CROTTY, T. HANRAHAN,
M. FIVES, M. GORMAN, P. HURNEY, M. FRENCOMBE.
SUBS: E. CROTTY, L. POWER, J. O’MAHONY, M. O’HALLORAN.
This
Saturday evening at 7:30pm we play Ballygunner in the County Championship in
Walsh Park.
Intermediate
Hurling
We
play Clashmore/Kinsalebeg in the Western Championship this Sunday at 2pm in
Bushy Park.
Intercounty
Activity
On
Saturday evening last the Waterford Junior Footballers had an excellent win
over Tipperary in the Munster Semi Final where James O’Mahony had a fine game
at wing back, while Shane Briggs, Sean O’Hare, Stephen Enright, Gary, John and
Patrick Hurney were all on the Senior panel for their defeat to Kerry.
Club Bingo
Our Bingo continues this Sunday night in the CBS Hall
where the jackpot is €750.
