63 OBITUARIES The death occurred on August 4th this year of Gerry Daly, the tall, powerfully built fullback on the great Galway senior football team of a glory year, 1956. A native of The Square, Ballinasloe, Gerry would spend most of his adult life in Dublin, where he worked as a Garda. Winner of a County Minor Championship medal with Ballinasloe in 1948 and a Junior Championship in 1951, Gerry was joined in the county senior team’s full-back line for the 1956 All-Ireland final against Cork by his younger clubmate Seán Keeley at No. 2 and the teaktough Ahascragh man Tom “Pook” Dillon in the left corner. The team was captained by Tuam Stars goalkeeper Jack Mangan and other star players were midfielders Frank Evers and Mattie McDonagh, Seán Purcell at centre halfforward, Frank Stockwell at full-forward and another Ballinasloe man, Gerry Kirwan, at left full-forward. It was considered an epic final, with Galway winning by 2-13 to 3-7. It wasn’t played until October because of a Polio outbreak in Cork city and county, which resulted in the deaths of 20 people (starting with a five-year-old girl) and illness in over 500. The Croke Park attendance for Galway vs Cork was 70,772. It would have been over 80,000 if the final had been played in September. This year, the town of Tuam honoured the victorious 1956 captain, Jack Mangan, by naming a roundabout after him, in the same area as the town’s Purcell and Stockwell roads. Gerry Daly and Gerry Kirwan drove down from Dublin specially for the happy occasion but on the way, while stopping in their home town Ballinasloe for a short break, Gerry Daly suddenly felt ill and, very sadly, he did not recover. His passing was deeply regretted by all who knew him, and by all who saw him play Gaelic football in his prime. Gerry wore the Galway jersey with pride and distinction, and off the field he was a popular, highly respected man who will be fondly remembered. He is survived by his wife Áine, sons Paul and Conor (Br. Columba), daughter Grania and the extended family. —J. C. The former Dunmore MacHales and Galway senior football goalkeeper Brendan Glynn died, at the age of 80, at his home in Galway city on June 15th this year. Brendan, aged 80, was earlier featured in a Tuam Herald special article on the 1962 Connacht Championship final between Galway and Roscommon, played at McHale Park, Castlebar on “the day the crossbar broke. ” Also remembered as the last time Brendan Glynn and two other long-serving Galway stalwarts, Seán Purcell and Frank Evers, played inter-county football, that famous game was won by a Gerry O’Malley-inspired Roscommon team who subsequently lost the All-Ireland final to Kerry. In conversation at his home in Whitestrand Park, Galway in early June, Brendan recalled the extraordinary events of Sunday, July 22nd fifty years ago, and although he still regretted that the Galway team had relinquished a six-point lead (2-7 to 1-4) in the closing ten minutes he was philosophical about it, realising it was “all in the game — you win some, you lose some. ” He had such happy memories of playing football for Dunmore and Galway that it wasn’t difficult to take sporting disappointments on the chin. Indeed, such was the relaxed nature of this genial, courteous, highly intelligent man, a gentleman, that he had the capacity to keep a balanced, proper perspective on life and sport. After he brought the curtain down on his football career, which included playing for Galway at the famous Wembley tournament (against Down) in 1959 and, for his club, County Senior Championship medals in 1953 and 1961, he played golf, squash and tennis and the natural competitor in him ensured he won plenty of prizes and honours on the golf course and on the squash and tennis courts of the city which became his new home when he married, in 1962, Dympna Connolly from Cummer, Corofin. Brendan had worked in earlier years for the family shop and pub in his native Dunmore; his parents were James Glynn and Margaret (Peggy), née Lee from Headford, and Brendan was one of a family of eight, along with his brothers Basil, Herbie, Frank, Patrick (Parry) and sisters Mary, Evelyn and Joan. Dympna Connolly’s family also owned a well-known shop at Cummer, on the Tuamto-Galway road, but in the year they were married Brendan took the brave decision to start his own business, as a confectionery wholesaler and distributor. It was a very successful move; the business prospered, covering a large part of the West of Ireland, and Brendan and Dympna had a happy life rearing their three children, Séamus, Marian andRonan. The strong Glynn family link with Dunmore was also maintained. Brendan’s love of football never waned and in his heart he remained a proud MacHales man. Brendan Glynn was laid to rest in Rahoon Cemetery on June 18th after Requiem Mass at St Mary’s Church, Claddagh. GERRYDALY BRENDAN GLYNN One of the greatest ever Galway club football teams, MountbellewMoylough 1963-6465, has lost another of its stalwarts. Paddy Donnellan from Springlawn died on June 2nd at his residence, after a short illness bravely borne. His death was deeply regretted by all who knew him as a true gentleman and his very large funeral, on both days, was a testament to the affection, esteem and respect in which he was held. First and foremost, Paddy was a great family man; he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and he was also a kind neighbour and friend to all in the community. In his day-to-day work down through the years, as a master of his trade, joinery, he earned the admiration of all who dealt with him, not least all who learned the trade from him, first hand, passed on with expertise, enthusiasm and scrupulous attention to detail and accuracy. He was a man who took pride in his work; he liked to see a job done properly, and he was quietly proud that his son Brian, who would also prove himself on the football fields, followed in his father’s footsteps and became a highly accomplished carpenter. Paddy gave outstanding service to his club as they went from defeat by Dunmore MacHales in the 1963 County Championship final to back-to-back titles in ’64-’65. Sadly, Paddy Donnellan was predeceased by five clubmates from that golden era: Johnny Gavin, Matt Higgins, Mick Keane, Enda Colleran and his cousin Cyril Colleran. As a footballer, Paddy was physically very strong; he played every game hard but fair, he always put the needs of the team above himself and he never made a fuss. It reflected his nature: modest and unassuming, a man of sound values and integrity. After reposing in the Franciscan College Oratory and Requiem Mass at St Mary's Church, Mountbellew, Paddy Donnellan was laid to rest in the local cemetery. He is survived by his wife Assumpta, daughters Kay and Patricia, sons Desmond and Brian, sons-in-law Phill and Michael, Brian's girlfriend Sharon, Paddy’s adored grandaughters Mya and Ruby, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. PADDY DONNELLAN
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