The late Joe Bracken "I want to meet my Maker with nothing" were the words spoken by Joe Bracken on Saturday 25 March, 2006 during the final 24 hours of his long and eventful journey of life. Clane lost an esteemed and highly respected member of one of its oldest native families on Sunday, 26 March, 2006, Joe was 85 years of age. Born in 1921, he lived and struggled through the poverty stricken days of the '20s, '30s. '40s and '50s Ireland. He saw men from as far away as Carbury and Edenderry passing through Clane with horses and cart loads of hay and turf on their way to Dublin. Having first worked in the library in Clongowes as a teenager, he revelled in the opportunity to read books and he became a self-educated man. Joe married in his early twenties. His wife Maisie and six children would be his number one priority. With them in mind he would cycle to Ringsend to work and at another stage to Portarlington. For Joe Bracken no task was impossible, no job too big, no job too small. Obstacles no matter how daunting would be overcome. As an employee he was utterly reliable, possessing a huge pride in his work. We hear of him laying a number of concrete floors between 5pm and later hours after others had finished their day's work. Yet he recounted how on numerous occasions he spurned the opportunity of overtime to return to Clane to involve himself in tasks for the benefit of his local Community. In the clane, prior to the days of cars, telephones, apartments and Chinese restaurants Joe's were the shoulders on which the weight of the progress of Clane rested. The GAA Club was his first love. A class footballer, he captained Clane to its first minor football title in 1939, his first odyssey in leadership. Joe was a natural leader of men and women, possessing an in-born charisma. Joe led and others were happy to follow. How could one refuse? Elected Chairman of Clane GAA in 1963 he turned his attention immediately to winning Clane's first senior football championship since 1916, a forty seven year almost barren period. It was quite innovative to bring his squad to London to build spirit and on the return boat journey both he and captain, Pa Connolly, made a pact that resulted in winning the title in 1963. Clane won again in 1967 with Joe as organiser and mentor, no managers as yet. Three further titles were won in 1975, '80 and '84 during his chairmanship, a spell of 25 years. These were the years of the purchase and development of Conneff Park, the building of the pavilion and the dressing rooms. For six to seven weeks each summer in the late '60s and '70s carnivals in Clane were huge. A thousand people dancing in the marquee 3 times per week, their safety, Joe's responsibility. Long days of preparation extended into the nightstand early mornings - often retiring at 3 a.m. Pony races, Field Days, Donkey Derbies, tournaments were all labour intensive. Proceeds were shared with the secondary school development viz the building of twenty pre-fab classrooms on the Prosperous Road. Always respected by the County Board and by all other clubs Joe was chosen from among the hundreds of thousands of members of the GAA in 1986 as the 'National Chairman of the Year,' a just reward for his mighty efforts of leadership and achievements during his quarter of a century at the helm in Clane. Always interested in the work of other organisations he urged Club members to support Community Council, Tidy Towns and all charitable fund-raisers - a man of vision, an inspiration, a source of good example. A man of deep faith, he said "the Mother of God was my anchor when the going was toughest." Experiencing personal tragedies - he lost three members of his immediate family within a two-year period - he still soldiered on even if entering the twilight period of his long life. He prayed during work, he prayed in his car as he drove. Every person's life story is unique and interesting. Joe's story of hard work, hardship, commitment to his family and community markes him quite exceptional. He loved his Clane. He loved its people. He lived for the good of others. It was a pleasure to hear Joe's son, Fr Mike, recount his Dad's noble deeds during his funeral mass in Clane. Fr Mike has worked in South Africa over the past 30 years following in his Dad's footsteps - the welfare of others. Joe the people of Clane salute you. We thank you, a giant among men. Conneff Park will stand as a monument to you forever. Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our live sublime And departing leave behind us footprints on the sands of time Longfellow Ni bheidh a leitheid aris. Solas De da anam uasal. Courtesy of the Leinster Leader 06 April 2006 Tweet

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