Tribute to Eddie O Sullivan
Recorded: 2012
Length: 9mins
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I stood at the Tahilla grave side last Friday of a passionate Kerry GAA man. Eddie o Sullivan, club President had served Sneem for decads and before that had worked for 25 years in Birmingham where he was one of a few who founded a new GAA club there. In 1959 together with the great Waterville GAA activist Paddy Fogarty, Michael Sugrue and a Roscommon man the St Brendan's GAA club was founded. Eddie was also treasurer of the Warwickshire county board for twelve years. When his brother died in Tahilla Eddie came home to run the family farm, began work in Parknasilla Hotel and immediately became deeply involved in the Sneem club. During a beautiful mass in Tahilla church on the day of his burial one of his nephews Damian from Birmingham gave a lovely touching talk from the alter on Eddies life. Tears flowed. I did a series of touching and richly deserved interviews at the grave side following his burial and each person I spoke to were of the one view about this exemplary man. He was one of Sneem's greatest servants and had been their county board delegate for fifteen years. Sneem has lost two great sons during the last weeks, John Egan and Eddie. Eddie was to Sneem off the field what John was on it. Enough said. It was a privilege to stand at his grave side. He may have been one of the relatively unknown grass root GAA activists in this county but to me he was one of those fast fading quintessential hard core exemplary workers who ask for nothing in return for a life of service to the Gaelic Athletic Association. Surely there is a lesson there for all of us.
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