The Late Joe O'Toole and the Late Mickey O' Hare A two week spell was one of sadness and remembrance for both camogie and football gaels of Ballymacnab as they turned out in numbers in memory and honour of two of the Nab's former playing gaels, Joe O'Toole and Mickey O'Hare. Joe O'Toole died in tragic circumstances in the early hours of Sunday 13th August. News of his untimely death at the age of 44 was met with shock and sadness by his many present and past footballing colleagues from his local Round Towers football club and from clubs from across the county and beyond. The many friends who attended Joe's wake and funeral, including several distinguished names of Armagh football, was a mark of the respect and esteem in which Joe was held. St Brenda's past and present camogie players and committee members also took their place among the guard of honour for Joe at what was one of the biggest ever funerals in Ballymacnab. The silent dignity, respect and pride with which the St Brenda's camogie and past and present footballers of Ballymacnab escorted Joe on this final journey was testament to the warmth of feeling that was held for Joe. Many's a story about Joe has been told and recalled fondly over the past couple of weeks by Nab gaels, and about the exploits he got up to on and off the field of play, on and off the stage of entertainment, behind many's a trick or prank and of course behind and in front of the O'Toole bar counter. The camogie recall many's a late night in O'Tooles after a league or championship win, when Joe would take great delight in meeting the cup taken home by the girls and filling it with whatever beverage was in demand on the night. Joe's smiling face may not be there when the Nab camogie or footballers next take a cup to O'Tooles bar but we can be sure that he'll still be a proud Nab man smiling down and singing his own words 'Sing Out for Armagh' with perhaps a little change to the ending... ' Sing Out for the Nab'. The sad news of Mickey O' Hare's untimely passing after a period of illness at the age of 59 filtered through to the Nab on the morning of Joe O' Toole's funeral. Mickey was one of the Nab's fittest and most talented footballers, having starred in the maroon jersey from the late 60's to the mid 80's. He played football for a period in the 60's with Madden but he was always a Nab man at heart and this was much in evidence during Mickey's wake as photos of his playing days with Nab teams of the 1970's and 80's were proudly on display at his side, photos that generated much debate and fond memories of the times when Mickey fielded and played with glory in the maroon and white. As a signal to the esteem with which Mickey O' Hare was held around Nab his funeral cortege was accompanied from his home to his resting place by many former playing colleagues of Ballymacnab Round Towers and also present committee members. Many former playing colleagues of Mickey from his days with Madden also attended his funeral. The large turnout of sporting and other gaels to Mickey O' Hare's funeral was a testament to the man's remarkable footballing talent and well- liked personality. St Brenda's Camogie Club Committee and Management express our sincere sympathies to the families of these two great Nab gaels at their time of loss. To Joe's wife Bronagh and children Marty, Colleen, Cait and Mairead and to the entire O' Toole family and to Mickey's wife Irene and children Denise, Genevieve, Paul and Helen and to the entire O' Hare family. Courtesy of the Armagh Observer 24/08/06 Joe O'Toole died in tragic circumstances in the early hours of Sunday 13th August. News of his untimely death at the age of 44 was met with shock and sadness by his many present and past footballing colleagues from his local Round Towers football club and from clubs from across the county and beyond. The many friends who attended Joe's wake and funeral, including several distinguished names of Armagh football, was a mark of the respect and esteem in which Joe was held. St Brenda's past and present camogie players and committee members also took their place among the guard of honour for Joe at what was one of the biggest ever funerals in Ballymacnab. The silent dignity, respect and pride with which the St Brenda's camogie and past and present footballers of Ballymacnab escorted Joe on this final journey was testament to the warmth of feeling that was held for Joe. Many's a story about Joe has been told and recalled fondly over the past couple of weeks by Nab gaels, and about the exploits he got up to on and off the field of play, on and off the stage of entertainment, behind many's a trick or prank and of course behind and in front of the O'Toole bar counter. The camogie recall many's a late night in O'Tooles after a league or championship win, when Joe would take great delight in meeting the cup taken home by the girls and filling it with whatever beverage was in demand on the night. Joe's smiling face may not be there when the Nab camogie or footballers next take a cup to O'Tooles bar but we can be sure that he'll still be a proud Nab man smiling down and singing his own words 'Sing Out for Armagh' with perhaps a little change to the ending... ' Sing Out for the Nab'. The sad news of Mickey O' Hare's untimely passing after a period of illness at the age of 59 filtered through to the Nab on the morning of Joe O' Toole's funeral. Mickey was one of the Nab's fittest and most talented footballers, having starred in the maroon jersey from the late 60's to the mid 80's. He played football for a period in the 60's with Madden but he was always a Nab man at heart and this was much in evidence during Mickey's wake as photos of his playing days with Nab teams of the 1970's and 80's were proudly on display at his side, photos that generated much debate and fond memories of the times when Mickey fielded and played with glory in the maroon and white. As a signal to the esteem with which Mickey O' Hare was held around Nab his funeral cortege was accompanied from his home to his resting place by many former playing colleagues of Ballymacnab Round Towers and also present committee members. Many former playing colleagues of Mickey from his days with Madden also attended his funeral. The large turnout of sporting and other gaels to Mickey O' Hare's funeral was a testament to the man's remarkable footballing talent and well- liked personality. St Brenda's Camogie Club Committee and Management express our sincere sympathies to the families of these two great Nab gaels at their time of loss. To Joe's wife Bronagh and children Marty, Colleen, Cait and Mairead and to the entire O' Toole family and to Mickey's wife Irene and children Denise, Genevieve, Paul and Helen and to the entire O' Hare family. Courtesy of the Armagh Observer 24/08/06 Tweet

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