Thelate Jamie Coady A Fun-Loving 21-year-old whose impish grin endeared him to so many. Tullow remains devastated following the tragic death at the weekend of Jamie Coady. Jamie from 15 Shillelagh Grove, Tullow, was the youngest of Martin and Mary Coady's five children and hugely popular in the local community. A very cheery, outgoing young man, Jamie's lively personality struck a chord with both young and old, indeed everywhere he went Jamie made a friend. "He was always smiling and happy… it was impossible to have an argument with him," recalled his brother Garry "Even when he was trying to wind you up, you'd always end up laughing he adds. As well as a fun side, Jamie had a very caring side, too, and was very close to his parents, siblings and many friends. Jamie was also touched by sadness during his life, following the untimely death over the years of four class-mates, in particular, the late Paul Kirwan with whom he played on the same soccer team. Jamie lived for sport and excelled in many codes, from soccer to GAA, he gave his absolute all to every game and was always on the go, training or competing in matches. A member of St Patrick's GAA, Tullow, Jamie won an Intermediate medal with the club in 2005, and this year worked very hard to secure his place on the senior team. Both players and selectors thought very highly of Jamie who, in the past, won Player of the Year and many club accolades. Jamie also played soccer with Tullow Juveniles and in later years Parkville United, Tullow. His prowess on the soccer pitch brought him all over the world playing with Parkville, including successful Umbro tournaments in both Manchester and the USA. Last Sunday, while playing with Parkville in Ardattin, Jamie scored the winning goal from what he described as his "trade-mark free kick", and it was a great source of pride to him. The Coady family are hugely involved in Parkville United and Jamie took on his fair share of extra work for club, including collecting for the club lotto each week among his neighbours in Shillelagh Grove, who were very fond of him. Jamie also followed family tradition and played rugby with Tullow Rugby Club, and while a green keeper at Mount Wolseley Golf Club, he proved equally proficient at golf. "He was gifted at sports and so much in demand from every club but he couldn't say no to anyone and liked all the games. He had no particular favourite, he was prepared to play for everyone," recalls Garry. A past pupil of Tullow Boys NS and Tullow Community School, Jamie studied Industrial Design at IT Carlow and while there again grabbed the chance to get involved in sport, talking an active role in the college's soccer team. In recent times, the opportunity came up for Jamie to work for his brother, Mark, in his frozen foods business, Jamie thoroughly enjoyed working alongside his brother and travelling in the van around the region meeting customers, having a chat and a bit of friendly banter. Jamie was very close to his three brothers, Mark, Colin and Garry, and sister Sarah Jane, and was an adoring uncle to his niece and nephews Mickey, Molly and Cillian. A huge Aston Villa fan Jamie just recently decorated his bedroom in the Villa colours, while poignantly an Aston Villa jersey signed by many of Jamie's friends was buried alongside him yesterday (Tuesday) in a fitting tribute. The song You'll Never Walked Alone rang out in the Church of the Holy Rosary, Tullow, at his Requiem. The full capacity gathering gave an overwhelming round of applause in memory of Jamie as a powerful show of solidarity of how much he meant to so many. Guards of honour were observed by Parkville United and St. Patrick's GAA along with many other sporting organisations which the Coady family are involved in. Huge crowds attended both the removal and the Requiem Mass on Tuesday morning, with burial afterwards to St. Patrick's Cemetery. The Coady family is very grateful to their neighbours, the coaches, managers and players of so many clubs, their friends and wider community of Tullow for their support during this difficult time. Jamie is survived by his parents Martin and Mary brothers, Mark, Colin and Garry, sister Sarah Jane, extended family, relatives and many friends Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist 1 December 2006 Tweet

Most Read Stories