The late Dermot Power It was with shock and disbelief that news of the sudden death on January 18, 2006 of Dermot Power, Erribul, Kildysart was received in his native parish of Coolmeen and throughout West and North Clare. With his death, we have lost one of the best known and most popular young sports men of the parish, and the universal expression of sadness, as the news of his passing spread reflected the great respect and affection which he had on young and old in the parish of Coolmeen and in Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare Athletics Club. He had a particular love of athletics but he had an interest in all sports. Dermot gave his life to athletics from a very young age. He first came to prominence when he started competing in open sports meetings all over the West Clare and during that time, he started his running career with St Mary's AC. He continued as an athlete with St Mary's and he later joined Treaty Track club in Limerick while, over the past number of years, he wore the red and green of Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare Athletic Club. His collection of medals is unique and he was extremely proud of his achievements, a just reward for his devotion to the code. Dermot won many road races inside and outside of County Clare and his big win came when he was 17 years of age when when talking Munster gold at Killarney race course. In Crusheen, he won his first Clare senior cross-country championships and he followed that with a Munster intermediate silver medal when finishing second to Irish international athlete Cathal Lombard. He was no mean marathon summer with a time of 2 hours: 37 mins in Dublin. Dermot, who was in his early 30s, had many other interests apart from his involvement in athletics. He was a very prominent member of Coolmeen football club. We, in the athletics circle, know that Dermot was indeed a great help to his brother Seamus when he captured nine national titles in a row. When interval training had to be done, Dermot used his tractor to put Seamus through his paces and every interval mile was times to perfection. During the final week of his illness, Dermot oversaw the last ten mile run by Seamus after which he commented, "This is what I love doing best with my brother Seamus". There was a huge attendance of at the removal of his remains, to St Benedict's Church in Coolmeen including GAA members, athletics and many friends and colleagues. His coffin was draped in the colours of Kilmurray Ibrickane/North Clare AC and Coolmeen football club. A guard of honour, representing the GAA and the Athletic Association, accompanied the funeral procession to pay their respects to a friend who will be sorely missed. To his wife Roisin, and daughter Keelin, his brothers Seamus and Albert, his sisters Bernadette and Valerie, his mother Helen, his nephew Darren parents-in-law, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law and to all his relations and friends, sympathy is extended. Goodbyes are never easy, farewells are more difficult. When some one is taken from us prematurely and permanently. We find it hard to understand that Dermot is no longer with us but we can be sure that his memory will be forever etched in our minds forever. We cannot grasp that a sportsman so young, so fit, so clean living, is no longer with us. In one way or another, those who knew Dermot were all touched in some way and our lives are richer as a result. We will miss this special friend, a loyal and true colleague. We will miss his companionship and ready smile. We will miss his concern for our welfare. Clare had lost a great ambassador and friend. James Sexton, Clare Athletics Association. Courtesy of the Clare Championship 24 February 2006 Tweet

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