The Late Gerard Jennings

Gerard Jennings, Kevin Barry's Villas, the quintessential Kerry Football supporter,passed away on the Bon Secours Hospital on Wednesday March 31, following a brief illness.
Gerard had Kerry football blood running through his veins from the day he was born until the day he died.
His late father Mick was masseur to the John Mitchels and Kerry football teams. Gerard grew up in a household where football was spoken of morning, noon and night. Young boys are easily impressed by their football heroes and when Gerard's sporting icons came to visit his father, Gerard sat, watched and listened.
He could list off the luminaries of Kerry football as easily as he could say his maths tables at school. School friends were highly impressed when Gerard could recount to them the names of the Kerry stars who came to have aching muscles soothed by his father's expert hands.
Aged 63 years, he was christened Michael Gerard after his father, but was known all his life as Gerard. His mother was Deborah (Dora) Fitzgerald and siblings were sister Mary and brother Eddie.The family home was in Kevin Barry's the heartland of Boherbee John Mitchels.
Gerard's education was received from the Sisters of Mercy, Moyderwell and the Christian Brothers in Edward Street and The Green. He grew up in a time when John Mitchels and Kerry footballers were riding on a creast of wave. The green and gold of John Mitchels was witnessed by him as they swept all before them in their unequalled five-in-a-row county championship victories.
Many of that team went on to represent Kerry in their quest for the Sam Maguire Cup. It was easy to see how Gerard's interest became and all-consuming passion as a supporter of Kerry teams. Gerard could never be counted among the 'footballers on the ditch' for he had an encyclopedic knowledge when it came to Kerry football.
As a member of the Kerry Football Supporters Club he travelled the length and breadth of the country. He sold more tickets than any other member when it came to fundraising. Whether it was the first round of the National League in Ballybofey against Donegal or the All-Ireland final in the third Sunday in September, Gerard could be counted among the faithful band of supporters who were there in the depths of winter and the warmth of summer.
Darragh Ó Sé, arguably the greatest centrefield player to don a Kerry jersey, had a proud record when it came to representing his county. Darragh made 81 championship appearances and played 95 national league games. Gerard Jennings witnessed each and every one of those games in person, that was football support at the highest level.
Over the years Gerard celebrated the many Kerry victories and when defeat was their lot he took it on the chin in the hop that the following year would prove successful on the playing fields once again.
Wherever Gerard went to made friends, whether it was in Ireland, England or America. He had spent some time working abroad but came back to Tralee in the 70s and lived for a while in his father's home county of Sligo, caring for his aunt Bridie Jennings.
For the last number of weeks Gerard was a patient at the Bon Secours Hospital, Tralee. His many friends came to visit him to tell him of the latest football news and to lift his spirits. Members of the Kerry Football Supporters Club organised for the Sam Maguire Cup to be brought to the Bons. Tears welled up in his eyes when Killian Young, Brendan Casey, Tim O'Rourke, Jerry O'Connor and family members surprised him with the visit.
Such a gesture was befitting a man who kicked the leather on the Yellow Road and followed his heroes to the four corners of Ireland.
At the removal of Gerard's remains from Hogan's Funeral Home on Good Friday, a guard of honour from the Kerry Supporters Club and John Mitchels flanked the hearse. Liturgy of the Word was on Saturday morning at 11.15am with funeral afterwards to New Rath Cemetery. Requiem Mass and offered on Monday morning at 10 O'Clock for the happy repose of his soul.
Gerard is sadly missed by his sister Mary, brother Eddie, relatives and football supporters in general.
Go ndeana Dia trocaire ar a anam uasal.

Courtesy of The Kerryman
April 14th 2010 Tweet

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