Conway, Diarmuid
July 07, 2010Diarmuid Conway was once described by fellow Valentia man Neilie Donovan RIP at Ardnacrusha Power Station where both were employed in the 1970's as a stranger in his own town.
Dairmuid was born on the Old Road Cahersiveen on June 29, 1920 and moved with his parents Johnny and Mary to Valentia in 1924.
His father set up a shop for boot and shoe making located at the 'Foot' in Knightstown. Diarmuid went to school first to Johnny Mawe and later to the Brothers in Cahersiveen.
In his youth, he was a member of the Valentia pipe band. He joined the Volunteers at 17 years of age and on the Monday after Valentia's South Kerry Championship win of 1939 joined the Defence Force for the duration of the Emergency until 1945. While stationed at Castleconnell, Co. Limerick, he met his bride to be, Mary Foley and they were married on June 8, 1944. They lived in the Ardnacrusha area since.
Ever before his family saw the names of his team mates on paper, Diarmuid had often spoken fondly of them all and , to the day could name and place each player in their team positions. He may have left the Island 60 years ago, but the Island never left him.
Diarmuid passed away peacefully on Friday, June 25 surrounded by family and friends. He was laid to rest in Parteen, Co. Clare in a large funeral attended by over 40 grandchildren and another 48 great grand-children.
Diarmuid was predeceased by wife Mary who died in September 2001 aged 83 years and his daughter Moira who died in July 9, 1992 aged 47 years.
Diarmuid is survived by his children, three sons Eoin, Diarmuid and Cyril and his six daughters Dympna, Niamh, Pauline, Esther, Angela and Geraldine along with their partners, grand children and great grandchildren and many friends.
Diarmuid's coffin was draped with the tri-colour to commemorate his service with the Volunteers and Army during the emergency, along with a Kerry scarf. But pride of place on his coffin was his beloved Young Islanders Jersey which was presented to him in 2009 by his grandson Diarmuid Conway Jnr on behalf of the Young Islanders to commemorate of the Valentia's first South Kerry championship win.
The team that won Valentia's first ever South Kerry championship in 1939 against St Mary's of Cahersiveen on a score of 208 to 1-2 lined out as follows: Bernard Condon, Eddie Condon, Mike O'Leary, Bill Scanlon, John O'Connor, Brendan O'Sullivan, Mike O'Driscoll, Hopper Murphy, Mick Cahill, Joe O'Sullivan, Jim 'Curse' O'Shea, Tim O'Connell, Diarmuid Conway, Henry Murphy, Mick Dowling.
May Diarmuid all his comrades of 1939 rest in peace.
Courtesy of The Kerryman
July 7th 2010 Tweet
