The Late Martin Conway The death took place on November 15 of Martin Conway, late of Ballinclogher, Lixnaw following a short illness. Martin's passing was all the more distressing for his family and friends because he was only 41 years old. For those of us who knew him as a boy, teenager and an adult, qualities of stoicism, courage, endurance, whole heartiness and humour, often black characterised his life. These qualities were most visible in the sporting and social aspects of his life. Before going to live in Dublin at the age of 22, Martin had already won 2 county senior hurling championship with Lixnaw, one of the age of 16 years and 9 months, along with a plethora of under age awards, including the 'Young Kerry Sports Person of The Year' at age 18. Indeed at 17 he was on 17 different teams in all relevant grades with Lixnam hurling, Finuge football and Lerrig Rovers soccer. Such was his enthusiasm for sport that while attending Lixnaw Boys' School and prior to attending Causeway Community College and in the absence of a Lixnaw U14 team, he trained with its Kilmoyle equivalent. While in Dublin he played with and trained with St Marks, Tallaght with whom he enjoyed success and tremendous popularity. Martin had what's now knows as a great engine, even if that engine was sometimes running on fumes from the night before! Martin was also a free spirit, a carefree individual who travelled light, demanded little and never judged. He liked nothing better than to entertain an audience with some favourite songs and some smooth dance moves too, often from atop a table in an establishment whose patrons understood the meaning of the term 'loveable rogue'. In Dublin for 19 years of his short life, Martin worked for the O'Shea family, Annascaul in the Merchant Bar. He was popular with patrons and staff and established a particular affinity with the O'Sheas who treated him like a member of their family. They were a tremendous source of strength and support to him and his family during his short illness. Though naturally gregarious, in moments of quiet introspection Martin regularly surprised with a deep and pragmatic insight into the human condition, often expressed by way of wry commentary and a sharp, sometimes self-deprecating sense of humour. The massive crowd at his removal who came to celebrate Martin's life and honour his passing, both locally from Dublin, other parts of Ireland and abroad marked the memory of a man with an open embracing heart, a free spirit whose spirit is free at last. Martin's father, Paddy died on Christmas Eve 1993. We his friends extend our heartfelt sympathy to his mother Bridget, his sisters Anna Maria, Elizabeth, Christina, Catherine, Bridget and Carmel, his brothers Patrick and Gerard and to his daughter, Marie Clare. We might all be gently reminded as we mourn him, if he could, he might say: "Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. Whatever we were to each other we still are. Life means all that it ever meant." Ar dheis Dhe go raibh a anam. Courtesy of The Kerryman 16th January 2008 Tweet

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