Diggins, Andrew
June 16, 2011The late Andrew Diggins was a respected member of Causeway Community. He served in all aspects of local affairs and was always willing and able to help in any work required. He was a long time member of the Tidy Towns committee and the huge improvements around the village and Marian Terrace in particular are a lasting testimony to his endeavours.
Causeway GAA Club and the health of its hurling teams from underage to senior were at the very top of his priorities. He was also an active member of the sportsfield committee who kept the facilities in top condition.
In the 1970s the local underage teams would all congregate at Causeway cross for a match. One man who always there, five or six hurleys down by his side and a bag of jerseys or 'geansies' as he referred to them at his side. Some of the players knew him, others did not.
Andrew was the lone mentor over the teams back then, serving as manager/selector/first aider/hurley carrier. He hired the bus, he tied the bootlaces and only for him boys would not have had the opportunity to play the game. He always picked the team on the base of the hurley while he used the other side to keep the score, his pencil furiously writing down scores as the match progressed. For the following twenty-five to thirty years Andrew was Mr Hurling in Causeway. He hooped hurleys, washed jerseys and had an involvement in every team from juveniles right through to senior level.
The young boys who hurled for Causeway in the '70s and '80s owe Andrew Diggins a deep debt of gratitude for the work and time he put into the teams and for instilling them with his passion for the game of hurling. Many of those same young boys went on to play in the Causeway side that won four Senior County Championships in a row from 1978-81.
The huge turnout and guard of honour at his funeral were fitting tributes to a man who gave so much to the parish and to hurling.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam uasal.
Courtesy of the Kerry's Eye
16th June 2011 Tweet
