The Late Jimmy Morrissey Mr Jimmy Morrissey Ballycrinnigan, St. Mullins, who died unexpectedly at The Sacred Heart Hospital, Carlow on Thursday December 5th, was the eldest of the well known Morrissey hurling family from St. Mullins. But while Jimmy's six brothers featured on the hurling fields, playing together on the famed St. Mullins team which won seven Carlow JHC titles in a row along with the first cousins Peter and George Kealy, Jimmy concentrated his attention on farming the land, having a particular interest in ploughing. Having played as a youngster in a local parish hurling league, Jimmy did not pursue his playing interest in the game but had shown potential as a good sprinter. Jimmy's late younger brother Mick Morrissey won three All-Ireland SHC medals with his adopted Wexford in 1955, 1956, and 1960 - the only Carlowman ever to achieve such hurling success. Mick, who played left half back for the Slaneysiders died suddenly in New York in March 1993, to where the emigrated in the early 1960's. He subsequently played in a National Hurling League final with New York, having won a NHL medal in the 1956-57 final with Wexford on the famous occasion when the Model County came from 15 points half time arrears to defeat Tipperary on the day known as 'the big wind.' A proud life long member of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, Jimmy Morrissey, who would have been 78 next month, farmed at Ballycrinnigan all his life. He carried on a mixed farm enterprise at the family farm. He had been a patient at The Sacred Heart Hospital for the last eight years, where he was extremely popular. Jimmy was the eldest of nine children of the late Michael and Brigid (nee Bolger) Morrissey and his survived by his brothers Eddie (Castlekelly, Gowran), John (Closgregg, Thomastown), Pat (Aughnagleer, Graignamanagh), Luke (Conway Park Bagenalstown) and Moling (Mountmellick), sisters Mrs Mary Fogarty (Bodalmore, Foulkstown Kilkenny) and Mrs Breda Kealy (Ballymurphy, Borris). Moling a former St. Mullins and Carlow senior hurler, was selected as midfield on the Carlow Hurling Team of the Millennium. The remains were removed from Walsh's Funeral Home, Tinnahinch to Glynn Church, where they were received by Fr. Eddie Aughney, PP St. Mullins. Fr. Aughney celebrated the funeral Mass, assisted by Fr Gerry Byrne, PP Graignamanagh after which burial took place in the family plot at St. Mullins cemetery. During Mass tributes were paid by Fr. Aughney to Jimmy's life, noting his fine singing voice and membership of St.Mullins Parish Choir of which he was founding member 21 years ago. The Offertory gifts were representative of Jimmy's life - a photo of a man ploughing his land with a horse- Jimmy was meticulous about his ploughing, his trademark cap, his pocket watch which was a family heirloom, his bicycle pump representative of his only mode of transport, a photo of him with his brother-in-law, former Bishop Larry Ryan, who is a native of Ballycrinnigan. The former bishop was unable to attend the funeral to health reasons. Jimmy is survived by his brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces, other relatives, neighbours and large circle of friends. Courtesy of The Carlow Nationalist December 2002 Tweet

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