64 OBITUARIES Castlegar and Galway hurling mourned the loss of one of the stalwarts of the game, Ted Murphy, who went to his eternal reward in mid-June. In his mid-sixties, “Tedeen,” as he was affectionately known, was a legendary defender for the great Castlegar team of the 1960s, ‘70s and into the ‘80s. He won six County Senior Championship medals — as early as 1967 and as late as 1984, the Centenary Year of the G. A. A. In the memorable year of 1980 several Castlegar men, led by Connolly brothers, won All-Ireland and Railway Cup medals, and on June 1st that year mighty Cashel’ were crowned All-Ireland Club Champions after a 1-11 to 1-8 victory over the Antrim and Ulster champions Ballycastle McQuillans in the final at Páirc Tailteann, Navan and an epic semi-final encounter with the Cork and Munster champions Blackrock at Athenry on May 25th: Castlegar 2-9 Blackrock 0-9. A clash of legendary status — tense and exciting — Kenny Park that day was no place for the faint-hearted. There was no doubting the class and flair of the Rockies, backboned by household names such as John Horgan, Dermot McCurtain, Tom Cashman, Pat Moylan, Ray Cummins, Eamonn O’Donoghue and the powerful Kilkenny man Frank Cummins, but the proud men of Castlegar had the hurling too, indomitable spirit and all-consuming will-towin as made manifest by the lionhearted display given by Ted Murphy. No more would Munster and Leinster clubs monopolise the AllIreland Club Hurling Championship. On his death, after an illness borne with characteristic courage and fortitude, many tributes were paid to Ted Murphy, most memorably by his lifelong friend and a colleague on club and county teams, the great John Connolly. Born in the Claddagh and reared at Two-MileDitch, Castlegar, Ted is survived by his wife Bernadette (née Finn, Frenchfort, Oranmore), sisters Mary and Bríd, brothers Frank, Joe, Tommy, Michael and Tony, and the extended family. He was predeceased by his first wife Bridie, sister Margaret and brother John. After Requiem Mass at St Columba's Church, Castlegar on June 18th, the funeral took place to Renville Cemetery. —J. C. TEDMURPHY The community of Dunmore was deeply saddened by the death of James O’Toole on the 18th of June this year. James was a member of the MacHales intermediate team, a coach of the U16 team as well as coaching at other levels including our summer camp. He was the player representative on the executive of Dunmore MacHales. A woodwork teacher in St. Coleman’s College Claremorris James was very committed to whatever he undertook and was a leader both on and off the field. James is sadly missed by all especially his parents Seamus and Sally, siblings Sarah, Paula, Kieran, Stephen & John. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. The death of Jimmy Kelly last April left an immense void in his family, of whom he was a much loved husband and father, amongst his friends, Garda colleagues and especially in the Sarsfields Club. A native of Streamsfort, New Inn, Jimmy joined the Garda Siochana in 1970 and after passing out as a Garda from Templemore two years later, he was assigned to Monaghan. A year later he was assigned to Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan where he spent the remainder of his career during which he was promoted to the Detective branch. He served the Gardaí loyally and with distinction gaining widespread admiration from colleagues and superiors. Apart from his work Jimmy’s other great passion was sport. Though better known as a hurler with Sarsfields, he was also a fine footballer playing with Kildallan Club and the Garda Divisional side. He later moved to Drumlane Club and it was in this parish that he met his future wife Anne and with whom he raised a family of five. Jimmy was a big man with a big heart, wonderful company, a great family man who b ore his illness with bravery and fortitude. He is survived by his wife Anne, his children Deirdre, Danny, Catriona, Dara and Shane. He is mourned by his mother Lizzie (Streamsfort), his brothers Michael, Tommy, Sean, Gerard and Vincent, his sisters Marian (Scully) Bullaun and Patricia (Prendergast) Craughwell. Ar dhéis Dé go raibh a anam dílis A stalwart member of the Corofin football team of the 1950s and early 1960s passed to his eternal reward in August of this year. The unexpected death, in his 80th year, of Laurence (Laurie) Newell, from Sylane, was deeply regretted by the entire community and by all much further afield who knew him in his long, well-lived, happy life. The very large attendance at Laurie’s funeral spoke volumes for the affection and esteem in which he was held. A quiet man, who valued family life and the friendship of his neighbours and all he came into contact with, he was fondly remembered in particular for his role in making the Corofon Junior football team a major force in the 1950s, leading to their promotion to the senior grade and all the glory that followed in later times. He is survived by his wife Nina and son Willie, sister-in-law Mary, nephew Eamon, niece Colette, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends including his former work colleagues at Tuam Sugar Factory and Rynn Eng. , Galway. His loss is mourned, too, by all the friends who enjoyed a weekly game of cards with Laurie and by all in Sylane Hurling Club; he loved hurling and was a committed Sylane supporter. Laurie Newell’s most memorable year on the football fields was 1959, when at the age of 27, in his prime, he gave one outstanding display after another in the backline as Corofin won the North Board and County Junior Championships. A team-mate into the 1960s, Paddy Keating, paid Laurie this tribute: “He was a rock-solid, ever reliable corner-back, a fine footballer who played the game hard but fair. Laurie was the kind of man you would always like to have by your side. Off the field, he was a true gentleman. ” —J. C. JIMMY KELLY 1952 – 2012 JAMES O’TOOLE LAURIE NEWELL
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