Larkin, Laurence
January 08, 2010Kiltormer and Galway GAA lost one of its favourite sons over the Christmas period when current President of Galway Hurling Board, Laurence Larkin, sadly passed away.
Although Laurence was known as 'Mr Kiltormer GAA' by those locally, the Kilnahown, Aughrim native was seen by many more in the greater GAA and wider communities as a man who embodied all that was, and is, good about community spirit.
In many respects, Laurence was one of the GAA's greatest volunteers, having served the association in a multitude of roles for over three quarters of a century.
While he began his playing career with Clontuskert GAA club, in 1956 he won a county junior hurling title with Mullagh. In later years, upon the amalgamation of Clontuskert and Lawrencetown in 1969, he became heavily involved in Kiltormer GAA club. Indeed, at the age of 75, Laurence lined out for the Kiltormer junior football team in 2000.
Among those to pay tribute to the 84 year old this week was Chairman of Galway County Board, Gerry Larkin who noted that Laurence would be best remembered for his involvement in Cumann Luthchleas Gael.
The County Board Chairman continued: "Since the current Kiltormer club was formed in 1969, Laurence served his beloved Kiltormer as Chairman for over 20 years. He was on the Executive until his death and missed only two AGMs during this time.
"He was also manager of the Kiltormer junior football team which won the county championship in 1979 and manager again in 1980, when the club won the county intermediate football title. He was also involved in the many successful Kiltormer hurling teams in the '70s, '80s and '90s".
In addition to his considerable involvement with the club, Laurence also served as Vice Chairman of Galway Hurling Board from 1985 to 1996 and served as Chairman of the same board for a period after the death of Tom Callanan.
Between 1984 and 1996, Laurence was Chairman of the South/East GPC at various stages, while he also embraced the role of selector with a number of Galway's inter-county sides, including the Galway U-21 football team in 1989.
He also served on many sub committees for Galway Football Board and Hurling Boards, as well as both Board Executives, and was, at the time of his passing, the current President of Galway Hurling Board and Vice President of Galway County Board.
Laurence's other sporting interest was athletics and during the late '40s, he was a member of the Aughrim Harriers, competing at several meetings and road races around the country.
A successful dairy farmer, Laurence also had a lifelong involvement with a number of other associations, including Killalaghton macra na Feirme, the NFA, the IFA and the Killalaghton Drama Group. He was also secretary of Ballinasloe Livestock Mart from 1970 to 2006; Chairman of Mid West Farmers Co-Op in the 1980s; and he served as Chairman of the very successful Ballinasloe Show Society for many years.
Survived by his wife Mary Delia Glynn, four sons (John, Frank, Liam and Tony) and eight daughters (Mary, Anne, Rita, Pauline, Helen, Martina, Claire and Cathy) along with his extended family, Laurence was laid to rest in Clontuskert Cemetery on Saturday January 2, following Requiem Mass at St. Augustine's Church.
Courtesy of the Connacht Tribune
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