Tribute to a great Kerry sportsman Conor Spellman who died at the young age of thirty one in November 2011.

Weeshie's graveside tribute to Conor
The death of any family member is always a very traumatic and sorrowful time in people's lives but when that person is young vibrant, handsome, full of life, gentle and kind then it makes their death so terribly hard to bear especially when that death is sudden and unexpected.

And all of what I have said applies to this exemplary young man at whose grave side we gather to day to bid our final farewells. Conor Spellman was young, vibrant, and handsome; full of life, gentle and kind, and as his great friend and neighbor and outstanding soccer player Peter McCarthy remarked to me - Conor was a joy to be with, he was loving, warm and full of life. 

Conor a loving husband and father to Michelle and Holly, a devoted son to Mick and Noleen, a proud brother to Glen, Paul and Martin a much loved uncle to Lucy, Eva and Liam and a true loyal friend to those who were so fortunate to share his most private and personal moments. 

I consider myself very fortunate having come to know Conor through my association in sport and especially in latter years when mu daughter Carol Ann and Glen married it gave me the opportunity to meet him on a fairly regular basis when we would chat and discuss in particular his great love of all sport.

Conor had that unique gift of being easy and relaxed whether in the company of young or old. He could move effortlessly from older company into that of the very young and in each case was always very much at ease.

His easy gentle quite unassuming manner had for many a relaxing and calming presence and I always felt that having been in his company if only for a short period of time you would always come away feeling much better in yourself. Very few people can have this effect on our lives.

Outside his deep love for Michelle and Holly Conors great passion was sport. He was an outstanding player with both Killarney Celtic and Killarney Athletic winning major honors with both and had the distinction of being voted player of the year with Killarney Athletic in 2006 and he was presented with the Martin Beckett/Sean O Conor Memorial Trophy.

Both those young men did in a tragic road accident and Conor now joins his former team mates as we lay him to rest here in Adhadoe and its also  he will also be near his other little brother Michael.

He had harbored great ambitions of playing soccer cross channel and had spend time playing in Dublin with one of the greatest Irish youth teams St Kevin's Boys. And yes he was that good at the game he loved much. And he got trials for Irish under age sides with such renowned players as John O Shea. He rowed with Flesk Valley and ran with Gneeveguilla Athletic Club. Conors sporting life was rich and wonderful and he in turn endeared himself to all those he played with and for.

A staunch Arsenal supporter he was a passionate follower of the Irish soccer team and indeed for one so young he displayed a deep and true love for all thing Irish. What does it say of this young man that had some words of the 1916 Proclamation tattooed on his chest? This to me more than anything else tells us that this person was unique and very special in his own quiet and exemplary way.

I was fortunate to befriend Conor when he joined my club Killarney Legion and as he was at soccer he was equally skilled at Gaelic Football. I have no doubt but had he chosen this sport before his first love soccer he would definitely have worn the green and gold of his county at various ages.  The one abiding memory that will forever remain etched in my mind is of a beautiful July evening at our club grounds in Direen. Conor was under 14 years of age, fit, strong, powerful so full of running, blessed with all the skills of the game, a joy to behold as he ran at the opposition pony tail flowing in the evening breeze. For me more than any young footballer I have been associated with there was something charismatic - warrior like and fearless about this young man.  So do I exaggerate you might well ask as I describe Conors display that July evening all those years ago. 
Well when I tell you that he scored ten goals all from play, a feat that to my knowledge was never before or since achieved by any footballer in this great GAA County of ours then you can decide just how much ability this young man possessed.

Conor Spellman was his own man. He lived his life the way he wanted, not what others demanded of him. He had found great happiness with Michael and Holly. He showered both of them with gifts, always send the biggest Christmas and Birthdays card and his cooking and preparations of meals was a huge topic of conversation among family and friends.

Everyone has regrets when standing at a grave side and saying goodbye to one they loved. That is the way of life.  My regret is that I hadn't got to know the real Conor Spellman much more because he was in many ways was a different person in the best possible way. He will be terribly missed by his parents, parents in law, brothers and extended family but most of all by Michael and Holly. However it will be a great source of consolation to them as they grieve for Conor that the Spellman and McCarthy families, Killarneys finest, will be there by their side whenever their need is greatest.

The old adage "ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG" WAS NEVER MORE APT THAN ON THIS VERY SAD OCCASION AS WE LAY Conor to rest.

May the sod of Adhadoe rest lightly on him
Ar Dheis De Go raibh An Anam Delis

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