Weeshie's Week

Deaths of two great Killarney sportsmen

August 12th, 2011
by Eamonn Fitzgerald

 Recently Killarney lost two very fine sportsmen, who brightened the lives of all who came in contact with them.

Frank Switzer  RIP
As long as I can recall the Community Games at local ,county, provincial and national levels the name of Frank Switzer comes alive.

He served the whole concept of what the Community games are about its quality health promoting mantra.  Even when  Frank moved up the ranks in the administrative side he never forgot his roots. His heart and soul was in Killarney North, where his wife Eileen and his family were  also immersed in the efforts to promote the ideals of the Community Games. Participation should be honourable and local. The medals came in plentiful supply, but even when they didn't  the taking part mattered just as much as the glory days.

Frank and Eileen adjudicated all over the country in sports and also in dancing competitions. He did trojan work at Kerry county board level; he  was chairman of the Munster Council for 12 years and was honoured to become its president.

He had a long life dedicated to sport and whenever and wherever we met he radiated his infectious enthusiasm for the Community Games. To his wife Eileen and family, heartfelt sympathies.

Denis Coffey RIP
His life ended on his way to the 16th tee box at Lackabane  last weekend. Just 61, he was too young to leave us, but it is hardest of all on his wife Catherine and family; also his father John in his 90s and still cycling, sisters Noreen and Mary as well as brother Dermot . His funeral was attended by a whole host of friends throughout the sporting worlds of UCC, East Kerry, Killarney G & F club and so many other golf clubs in Kerry and beyond. He was a life long stylish player and supporter of Dr Crokes; fittingly he was laid to rest in Aghadoe wearing the club blazer and tie of the club that meant so much to him.

From Áras an Uachtaráin to grand marshalling in the USA on St Patrick's day to the fourball in Killarney he was the same Denis. He played his last fourball with Mikey Daly, Michael O Donoghue and  Billy O Callaghan .
Affable, roguish and as bright as a button, he was the master of the one liner. His was the quip that brought howls of laughter. You were always in the better of meeting Denis. His good humour was infectious, as he still retained that carefree demeanour that typified his undergraduate days in UCC.

He was everybody's buddy and even though he  ran a thriving accountancy business with partner Timo,  he never  boasted about his exploits. He had the common touch and the wholesome laughter belied his genius. He was  one of the most clever forwards you could wish to play with and a delightful single handicap golfer,. Wherever you met Denis he had time for you, irrespective of what company he was in. His presence lit up the surroundings ; no éirí in airde ' in Denis he never lost the run of himself and always knew where he came from.  Moss Keane and Pádraig O Meara ( High St ) were his lifelong buddies  from the days of the skull& cross bones. " Moss won't make it Christmas, " he told me. He was correct, but little did he, or any one of us realise that he would follow so quickly to join Moss. I can visualise Moss at the Gates above telling the Gatekeeper to 'leave Coff in'. United on earth and re-united above.

Thankfully, I met him very often and he always used more than the 'cupla focal'. I'll mise his roguery and wit; Denis was one of those people you always loved to meet, because he let in the sun to shine  in a world too often weighed down by impediments to real human relationships.

Slán abhaile, Denis.


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