The death has taken place of Cornelius Con (Dooks) Hobbert, 14 O'Rahilly's Villas, Strand Road, Tralee. Dooks was widely known in Kerry and beyond and had just celebrated his 80th birthday. Dook's involvement in sports was phenomenal and he made a wonderful contribution to sport in Tralee and Kerry. He spent most of his working life in Latchford's Mill where he made many life-long friendships and remained until his retirement. He resided with his loving sister, Ann and nephew Niall Hobbert, in the family home. Dooks was unmarried. His life centred on things sporting and he packed an awful lot into those years. He was instrumental in the forming of the Fitzgerald Jones Handball Club in the Town Park where he took on the best players in Ireland. Dooks had charm, wit and love of his fellow Tralee and Kerry person whether in love or defeat. It was playing sport, no matter what code- that mattered to Dooks. He was a true 'blue' and played football for his beloved Kerins O' Rahillys and supported the little road through good and not so good times. He won Junior Town Championship honours when the late Denis Mazi Moran captained the team in 1953, the same year that John Dowling led the club to Senior Championship success. Dooks celebrated those victories in style. The Hobbert family are pillars of Strand Road. Club president, Michael Kerins said that all the Hobberts were terrific Strand Road-loyal people and Dooks acted in several club positions over the years. When the sport was at its peak, Dooks excelled at athletics. He was an influential member of the Kerins O'Rahilly's Athletic and Cycling Club, one of the best in Ireland. Some of the performers were Tom O'Riordan (later an olympic athlete); Billy Griffin, Charlie Mansfield, Jerry Price, Richie Eager, Sean Murphy, Fr Leo Close, Jim Nolan and Michael Dineen. This crack club took part in cross country running and road cycling that were the main features in Kerry's sports held in Austin Stack Park. They won several major trophies at Kerry and Munster meetings. Dooks was also a valued member of the Fianna Fail club in Day Place where the stars of the green baize shone. He was there in 1955 when John Charles Hoare beat Donie O Regan in a thrilling Kerry snooker final. The sport of the greyhounds was very much in the mind of Dooks since his boyhood. He had a life long friendship with the prince of greyhound trainer and bookmaker Dan (Sado) Walsh and Bunny Hannifin. All three pals shared in each other's glories and Dooks also kept greyhounds and had many a memorable victory. He attended Tralee greyhound Track every night right up to his untimely death on Tuesday. A regular sight at courting meetings, be it Castleisland, Clonmel, Clounana or Lixnaw, Dooks Hobbert was held in high affection by all doggy men. He was such a shrewd judge of a dog that only man of his experience could be. Horse racing was deep in his soul. He went to all the Kerry meetings and daily to the local SP offices of his great friend, Tunney Galvin. Since Tummy retired, he was a familiar face having his wager in Ladbrokes and other offices. Dooks was joint manager to the Combined Merchants Gaelic football team with his late colleague, Paddy Mousheen Moriarty. They also shared the Merchants triumph in the Inter firm Soccer League over CWS in 1970. Both Dooks and Paddy were brilliant tacticians. I could go on and on about this unique and charitable man who loved to go to the pictures with Sado and Bunny and talk about the card in the track. Tralee and county is all the poorer with the passing of such a legend in sport and every day life of the town. It was a privilege to have known such a person, and even a greater joy to have shared one's life in the company of such a man. Sleep easy old pal. You are now enjoying your reward. Dooks is survived by his brothers, sisters and many relations. Dooks will be removed from Hogan's Funeral Home this evening (Thursday) at 6.30pm to St.John's Church. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday with burial afterwards at New Rath cemetery. Kerry's eye 25/09/08 Tweet

Most Read Stories