Jack was born in Rusheen, Castlemaine, into a family of eight but due to the untimely death of his uncle and aunt, his family gained an extra family bringing the total of his family to thirteen. These were hard but happy times and this childhood shaped Jack's life. He attended Castlemaine primary school and later attended the Monastery school in Milltown. After leaving school he worked in Laridn's and later travelled to England where he worked in a Ford factory.

Following his return from England he worked in Bord na Mona in Offaly and eventually returned to his native Kerry where he worked as a hackney driver for a while. Around this time he met and later married Peg Brosnan of Dromore, Farranfore. Jack was an entrepreneur of his time and they set up a business in Lyre, Milltown. He employed workers producing hand-made concrete blocks, was also involved in drainage and had lorries doing haulage and Peg was a great help in running the business. They worked hard and had five children. When his beloved wife Peg died in 2005, he continued with life but missed her terribly.

Jack was a proud supporter of Milltown/Castlemaine GAA Club of which he was honoured to hold presidency of the club for many years. During the oil/petrol shortage in 1972, he took all the team and many supporters in the back of his lorry to games. He was always delighted to give the use of his lorry to parade the teams achievements through the years.

He was an iconic man in the Milltown community. Last year was his proudest moment when Milltown/ Castlemaine brought home the All-Ireland Intermediate Cup and he celebrated the win with young and old on the night.
His dedication to the club was evident with the large attendance at his removal and the large guard of honour. Another roll out of his lorry was for the Fianna Fail
rallies.

Jack enjoyed the simple things of life, had good old- fashioned values and was a very sociable and outgoing man. He always loved having the banter with the
locals, was a great neighbour and had many great neighbours. He seldom worried as his motto was to take one day at a time. This was his favourite song, which was beautifully sung at his graveside by his daughters.

Jack classified his main legacy as his family of which he was proud. He travelled many miles in his lorry and he travelled his last mile on Friday behind the Hayes lorry to Milltown Cemetery where he was laid to rest.

He is mourned by his sons Connie, Tom and Scan, daughters Noreen and Mary Rose, sister Kitty, sons-in-law, daughters-in- law, grandchildren, great-grand- children, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces and many friends.

Courtesy of The Kerry's Eye Tweet

Most Read Stories