O'Connor, Seamus
May 13, 2010Another lovely, bright, shining star has left the west Kerry scene with the death of Seamus O'Connor of Ballyduff, a parish near the village of Cloghane, on Friday the 26th of March.
Ninety-one years young, he was a man of fun and laughter, an eternal teenager. He was the last surviving member of his family and had a fantastic, youthful spirit about him and was still up for the craic until the day he died.
Seamus and his twin brother Eamon were born in Ballyduff to parents Michael O'Connor and Mary Houilhan. They had nine siblings, Tom, Nelly, Morris, Mike, Johanny, Tom, Hanna, Paddy and Maryann.
Soon after their birth, their lovely mother died and it is certainly a credit to her values, to their dad, their brothers and sisters and members of their local community that they were brought up happily and healthily with strong religious, spiritual and moral values.
They grew up on the family farm and attended Ballyduff School. They loved the area and the lifestyle but above everything they loved playing football. They were both very good footballers. They played at a high level and even in their 70's and 80's were still talking about games they played years earlier.
Seamus was a member of the successful Castlegregory team that won the County Intermediate Championship. The final was played at Castle and Seamus scored the winning goal against Kenmare. Eamon was also a forward - the original strikers and there were big celebrations afterwards, just like there was earlier this year when Castle won at Croke Park. Seamus lived every kick as he heard the commentary on Radio Kerry in Dingle Hospital. He was probably the last surviving member of that team.
He often talked of his games and how playing for Castle he was marked by the great Paddy Bawn Brosnan and how he never gave him a kick.
Like so many they had to leave the area when they reached manhood. They first travelled to Dublin where they played for the Geraldine's, appearing in Croke Park on occasions.
They then took of for lovely London where they worked on building sites and played for St Joseph's of Ealing. This team is still strong today but in the decade after the war they were very successful winning the London Senior Championship; a large number of the team were from Kerry.
Reaching retirement age, the twins made the very wise decision to return to their native homestead. They were made most welcome by everyone, particularly Patricia and Pat Spillane and their lovely family who looked after them so well. They treated them like elder brothers.
Seamus was always close to his twin. They were identical and lived together nearly all their lives. They were like schoolboys - always ready for fun, a laugh, a jap, and of course the craic, and they were very funny. They played on the identical appearance and would never let on which one was which. I f someone met one out, and asked him if he was Seamus or Eamon they would get a reply, "I don't know - I'll have to ask me brother."
As well as laughter and football the other great consistency in their lives was religion. They attended Mass every Sunday and fulfilled all their other obligations. They always said their prayers, followed the commandments, and were very devout and very spiritual in their outlook. They were certainly a credit to their upbringing.
Just over two yeas ago Eamon died on the day the Sam Maguire Cup was being brought to Cloghane. As a mark of respect it was brought to the family home for Seamus to hold it.
Soon after this Seamus was taken back to Dingle Hospital where like the other patients, he was treated like a Lord, still making fun - still the loveable teenager.
There is a saying, "that when I'm gone you won't see my like again". How true with Seamus and not only for him but for all that beautiful generation.
Like so many who knew him, in fact everyone who knew, they will smile at the mention of his name, a man of humour and honour and who is now with God still sending love he had when here on earth.
Taken from Kerry's Eye
May 13th, 2010 Tweet
