The Late Mossie Shanley Clonakilty GAA Club were shocked and saddened last week of the sudden death of our great colleague and friend Mossie Shanley. Mossie's first love was his wife Phil, his children, Yvonne, Maurice, Bill and Eimear, and his six grandchildren. He cherished and adored his family and was proud of their achievements. His family can be so proud of a great husband, a great father and a doting grandfather. Mossie's second family was a the greater community of Clonakilty. He loved his native town and its people. He was involved is so many different organisations over the years- Busking Festivals of West Cork, band championships, boat club, vintners, Tidy Towns and many more. He really enjoyed the craic and the rivalry of the pub talent competitions. Mossie would never take a job unless he could do it to perfection. His appointment to the position of Pavilion Officer in the GAA Club in the mid-90s brought him a new challenge with the club that he played for in his younger days and the club that he loved so much. Mossie was the main driving force behind setting up the club weekly lottery. He visited a number of organisations and clubs who were running lotteries before deciding on our club lottery, which is a huge success to the financial running of the club in promoting our games for the youth of the town and adult players. Mossie did so much good work for the GAA club in Clonakilty. He also did so much good work for members of the GAA club. Most of this work was done very quietly and away from the public glare. It might have been a visit to a member in hospital, a quiet word of support, a gift to lift one's spirits, a spin to a hospital or a trip to a funeral. (In fact, Mossie, Thady O'Regan and Seamus O'Brien were called the 'death squad'), as they never missed a funeral of a sporting colleague or friend. Mossie was a true Gael and a popular vice-president of the club. Mossie had a presence and we are lucky to have been enriched by his company. His generosity of heart and spirit knew no bounds. He loved to see young children play music. He would encourage them and monitor their progress. How many drum kits did he acquire for parents of young children to foster music in Clonakilty? So many people are indebted to him. This was evident by the large crowd that attended his removal on Thursday and funeral Mass and burial on Friday last. Several big names called to his pub and played at his funeral Mass. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him, but especially by his family. On behalf of the members of Clonakilty GAA Club, I extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Phil, his children Yvonne, Maurice, Bill and Eimear, his six grandchildren, his sister Marion and his many relatives and friends. To quote W.H. Auden (Funeral Blues) "He was my North, my South, my East, my West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song, I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong." Ni bheidh a leithead ann aris. Ar dheis De go raibh a anim dhilis. JM Courtesy of the Southern Star November 2003 Tweet

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