Early September was extremely sad for Clonakilty GAA Club, as all activities were overshadowed by the sudden death of its esteemed president, Thady O'Regan. The fact that his death occurred at Ahamilla, within minutes of his turning of the first sod on the ambitious new development, added to the sense of enormous loss felt by all in the club, and the town of Clonakilty in general. There was great shock throughout Clonakilty as news of Thady's death spread and many were genuinely unable to fully comprehend that it had happened so suddenly and in such dramatic circumstances. Many members of the club were present as Thady had so happily turned the first sod to signal a new era in the illustrious history of Clonakilty GAA Club. Having wished the club well and spoken very fittingly on the auspicious occasion that it was, Thady departed this life in the presence of so many people that respected and admired him. Immediate medical help was rendered, but to no avail. To add to the poignancy of it all, Thady's death took place on the very day that he had celebrated his ninetieth birthday. It would not be remotely possible to pay an adequate tribute to such a extraordinary man within the confines of these notes. A full and proper tribute will appear separately. Because of his death all club activities were cancelled up to and including Saturday last. At a specially-convened meeting of the Clonakilty Ladies' Football Club a vote of sympathy was passed to the O'Reagan family and the Clonakilty GAA club on the death of the club president. The marvellous thing about the GAA is the way it keeps producing great characters at all levels, both on and off the playing fields, Was it Christy Ring who said, "Let nobody say the great hurlers are always in the past. They are with us now and better still to come." We thought of that as they lowered Thady O'Regan into his native sod in Clonakilty. When it came to characters, they came no greater than Thady but he would be the first to say there will be more to come. Thady enjoyed life as God meant it to be enjoyed. As a footballer he shared in the glory days of Clon in the forties and then became a club officer, a selector, a board representative and county selector. He lived to be ninety, never giving up, dying in harness, because he lived life to the full.Thady was known far and wide and his flaithiuil and friendly nature made him easy to befriend. I never remember Thady speaking ill of any person and his store of stories was legendary. In his later years Thady served as president of the Clon club and they could not have picked a better ambassador. At funerals and events all over the county Thady upheld the proud tradition of the club and it was indeed a privilege to be in his company. a gentleman to his fingertips, he was in his element when leading the St Patrick's Day parade or making speeches in his position as president. We won't say, ni bheildh a leithead ann aris, because we know there will and Thady would have wanted it that way. He died while turning the sod on Clon's new headquarters and somehow, on his 90th birthday, it was indeed fitting that he should signal the end of the old era and usher in the new before he went. He has handed over the reins of control to a new group of Clonakilty GAA men who have proved already that they are willing and more than capable of taking up the challenge.In fact, just after Thady had turned the sod, he gave a few short words and finished by saying: "I'm handing it over to ye now." Minutes later he was gone. But we won't leave the memory of Thady on a sad note because he inspired too much laughter to do that. We recall instead one of the many great stories that have been doing the rounds since his death and which typified the man. The location and the occasion are a little confused among the tellers but enough to say it was in some hostelry in Clonakilty as some great win was being celebrated. The crowd, including Thady, retired to the pub just as dusk was descending and early next morning Thady emerged with a few friends. he looked up at the light in the sky and said, "God, lads, isn't there a great stretch in the evenings." now he joins the ranks of Mick Finn and the boys of the forties and what craic must be going on there. To his family and friends we send our sincere sympathies and thank them for sharing Thady with us for so long. Go ndeana Dia Trocaire ar a anam uasal. Courtesy of The Southern Star. 15 September, 2007. Tweet

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