People speak of where they were when JFK was shot. The sudden death of Michael kennedy last Thursday had no less of an effect on the people of Pearses and the wider camogie community. Life as we knew it has changed irreparable with the passing of our mentor and friend, Mike, a native of Peterswell, came to Banogues over 40 years ago and changed the history of the parish and camogie forever. Mike and his wife Mary were blessed with four daughters and the hurling club are left to speculate what might have been had they been sons. Through his involvement in Community Games from the late seventies, Mike - who became the father of camogie in the Ballymacward/Gurteen/Castleblakeney area - has been synonymous with Pearses Camogie Club throughout its 28 year history. One of the founding members, along with others, Mike sought an avenue for the young ladies in the area to spend their free time and promote a game that was close to his heart. Before penalty points existed, Kennedy's car was loaded to the hilt carrying full teams to matches. No problem, there was always room. Such was his dedication, customers of his garage were often greeted with notice "gone to match, here early in the morning". And he always was. Training and management has always been Mike's forte and everyone will remember his steady presence on the line, quietly encouraging, while others around him may have been slightly more worked up. Pivotal to the popularity indeed success of the game was Mike's ability to see potential in any girl who turned up for training. this insight and gentle cajoling has resulted in the fruition of a club known the length and breadth of the country. In the early days, attention was paid to building a strong underage and Mike as trainer enjoyed many underage achievements, notably the club's first national title, Feile na nGael in 1988. That said, he will always be gratefully remembered for his immense success with the talented senior team of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Indeed, taking over senior management in 1996, Pearses tasted their first All-Ireland success that same year. It was a spectacular feat, no doubt made all the better when they retained the title the following year. However, Mike was never one to rest on his laurels and he strove forward, Between 2000 and 2002, the club joined the illustrious few who had achieved three All-Ireland club titles in a row. Again, the foundations of that success had been laid as far back as that Feile win in 1988. In his time with the club Mike served in many administrative positions, positions he later held at county, provincial and national level. In 1996, as county chairman, he had the honour of welcoming the O'Duffy Cup across the Shannon, as Galway captured their one and only senior All-Ireland camogie title. This achievement was made all the prouder as some of his prodigies played on that team. Six years later Mike was utilising his managerial skills at county level when he led the county senior team to National League honours. Everything comes full circle and having tasted success at the highest level he returned to his roots and his belief in promoting underage camogie in clubs. He inaugurated the North Board League for U-10s to U-16s, a competition that has proved very successful in promoting his beloved game. Evident in his long association with camogie and his many achievements therin, Mike always remained a man passionate for the sport, giving time and effort to the hundreds of girls who have had the privilege of training under him. Foremost, Mike will be remembered by all who knew him as a gentleman. He reaped what he sowed in that he showed the same respect for an U-10 team as he did a senior one, resulting in him being held in the highest regard by all in the club. An authority on camogie, Mike was the man to contact when the legality of dubious camogie decisions was to be questioned. Nothing was ever a problem for Mike; there was always a by-law! To his heartbroken wife Mary, daughters, Collette, Anne, Maura and Nuala, and their families, his sister Myra and brother Sean, we offer our heartfelt sympathy and support at this most difficult time. To a true gentleman on and off the field. Ni fheicimid a leitheid aris. Ar dheis De a nanam dilis. - Brid Hogan (Pearses Camogie Club). Courtesy of the Connacht Tribune. 21 September 2007. Tweet

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