On January 20 last, the village of Carrigadrohid and the Canovee area lost one of their great legends as Neilie Twomey died peacefully at his home in the village.
Neilie was born in Carrig in 1926, where his father known as 'Dixon' was the local blacksmith. This house, where Neilie lived all his life, apart from a brief time working in England, was always a meeting place for local people - a tradition that lasted until his death, as so many people called to him during his illness.
Neilie was best known for his association with the GAA . From his minor days in the 40s playing football with Canovee and hurling with Aghabullogue and later Cloughduv, to the mid-sixties when he was also chairman of the Canovee club. The highlights of his career included many Mid Cork wins in football and hurling and a county junior football championship win in 1950.
He captained the senior team that lost to the Army in 1953. He also played with Muskerry in hurling and football. In 1968, when Canovee won their second Junior county championship, Neilie was club chairman. Something really special for him was attending, as president of the club, the 2007 All-Ireland Junior football final in Croke Park with his lifelong friends and sporting colleagues, JJ Hinchion and Dan O'Sullivan, when Canovee took the honours. In the previous year, 2006 Neilie was a selector with the junior team.
All his life Neilie was a hard-working man. One part of his working career he had great memories of, was the construction of Carrigadrohid Dam. He was one of the first to work at this biggest ever enterprise in Mid Cork and the last to leave it.
During his time there he captained the construction team that won the inter-firm tournament. He later worked for Hegarty Construction firm in many projects, including the building of Cork Airport. Neilie also had many talents in the world of entertainment. He played the accordion for the old dancing platforms, played many roles on stage with Canovee Dramatic Society and was excellent at singing and dancing.
He was a wonderful man for involvement in the local community, always helping the people of the area. Less than two years ago, an entry was made to the Tidy Towns Competition and Neilie again led the way, out every day digging weeds, picking rubbish and watering flower baskets. When the Christmas tree lights were switched on in the village for the first time in 2008, Neilie was the man to do it and was elected president of the Tidy Towns Group.
Neilie was good friends with people of all ages from the under-age lads, friends of his grandchildren, right up to his own older generation and was willing to help them in every way. He lost his wife, Ann, at a very young age, but himself and his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren lived as a very lose family and in his final year, they all put in many hours helping him to live out his life in his own home.
To his daughters, Jane and Margo, sons Richard and Liam, daughters-in-law Tina and Aoife, son-in-law Finbarr, sister Mauny, grandsons and great-grandchildren, sympathy was extended. May he rest in peace.
- The Southern Star, February 6, 2010 Tweet

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