Kennedy, Willie
December 26, 2013The late Willie was a native of Newtown, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, and although he probably spent much more of his life in Co Cork, he never forgot his roots, especially when the Tipp hurlers (in any grade) took to the championship or league arenas.
Willie arrived in Fermoy in November 1972, where he joined the Army and was posted to the 1st Motor Squadron based in the old Dublin Road in Fermoy. He was still serving with the defence forces at the time of his death. During his years of service he served on Border duties during the Troubles and he also served his country and the UN by doing his duties on no less than 11 trips to the Lebanon and other places. He was certainly a great servant to his country.
After a few years stationed in Fermoy, Willie met Helen Barry, who at the time was a great fan of all Fermoy GAA teams.
They settled down, happily married and reared two lovely daughters, Clodagh and Ciara.
Their home was in St Patrick's Avenue where Willie proved himself a great husband and family man. Apart from his love of home and family, Willie's great passion was sport and as long as that was hurling he and his great friend, "Doty" were always very happy.
He joined the Fermoy club shortly after his arrival here, where he played many sterling hurling matches with the locals. He also spent a few years with the Juvenile Club in Fermoy where he loved to pass on his skills to the younger members of the club - a factor that was not forgotten by those boys when it came to his funeral last week.
As stated, he was very proud of his native county, and the blue and gold jersey. His native club was Burgees, a club which down the years always had a great attachment to Tipp Co teams, especially when one of their own was the great Donie Nealon - player, selector, Munster Co. Secretary etc.
He always liked to celebrate any Tipp victory, especially when it came at a cost to either Cork or Kilkenny.
The celebrations usually meant that Willie would sing the song that was dear to his heart, "The Galtee Mountain Boy".
His after-match summing up was keenly awaited and he had a unique knack of being able to make a comment that would set all others talking their heads off while he quietly slipped away home. In more recent times he would enjoy himself by walking many miles at a time which kept him as fit as he always was.
It came then as a huge shock to Willie, Helen and family when he was diagnosed with illness only fairly recently. He fought his biggest battle with great fervour and with great dignity until the end came on December 13th in The Mercy University Hospital, Cork.
Proof, it it was needed, of his universal popularity was very evident at his removal and at his funeral. His army colleagues and UN veterans formed a guard of honour as his coffin entered St Patrick's Church. His Fermoy GAA colleagues also formed a guard of honour from the Gaelscoil to the church.
His funeral Mass was concelebrated by Rev Fr Aquin Casey, Adm Fr PJ O'Driscoll CC and Rev Fr Dan McCarthy, chaplin to the Defence Forces. After Mass his funeral to Kilcrumper New Cemetery was a full Military affair, with band and guard of honour.
It has been many years since we had a military funeral such as Willie's and it was a wonderful send-off and tribute to a great young man who served so well.
To his loving wife Helen, daughters Clodagh and Ciara, his brothers and sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, army colleagues, relative, neighbours and friends, we extend our sincere condolences.
The Corkman, 26th December 2013 Tweet
