The recent unexpected death of Bill Kirby The Brogue Inn Tralee at the bottom of The Rock has left a huge void in the lives of all who had the great fortune to have befriended him. And of course, he will be missed most of all by his wonderful wife Mary, his sons and daughters and extended family. I would consider Bill a great friend and I got to know him very well over the last number of years. A warm generous person he was always giving to others and to meet him in every corner of the country as he and Mary followed the Kerry team was very special. Bill was one of those people that made you feel much better following a conversation with him. Few people are irreplaceable. Bill Kerby was one of those few. A great Austin Stacks follower, we often spoke about this great clubman William Kirby and the massive impact he has had on Kerry football. Immediately following The Stacks recent county championship win over Legion Kieran Donaghy spoke to me about Bill and paid him this tribute. "Without a doubt Weeshie, Bill Kirby who as a Stacks man at the bottom of The Rock looked after us for many years and he looked after decades before me and others as well. A great man for Tralee, his son William is sitting in the stand this evening. He was up at training thursday night, three days after burying his Father and wished us the best of luck. "William is injured at the moment, but we all hope that he will be back shortly and give us even ten minutes in the next game and we could have done with him in that game this evening. This win without a doubt was for Bill Kirby. he is irreplaceable, we will never see his likes again for sure. I can put my hand on my heart and say that. He was a tremendous human being and whatever about The Stacks, and Kerry and all that, he was forever involved in raising money for cancer, alzimors, the irish heart foundation and every charity under the sun. "Whenever you would see Bill Kirby outside the Brogue, he was collecting, encouraging and doing everything he could for everyone else and I would like t dedicate the win this evening in his memory. He was a huge loss to everyone and especially to his family and a huge loss to everyone involved in the Austin Stacks Club. Weeshie, Bill Kirby is irreplaceable. He was a great Kerry man and thanks for giving me the opportunity to say these few words in his memory." The kerryman, 28/05/08 Tweet

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