The Late Jim Rice Jim Rice of Ballyrafton, Dunmore, Kilkenny was a founder member, former chairman and president of O'Loughlin Gaels GAA Club. He played football and hurling with his native Conahy, but once he settled into farming and married in St. John's, his energies, enthusiasm and loyalties were always with his adopted parish. He played a pivotal role in establishing a club to represent the whole parish of St. John's and thus O'Loughlin Gaels was founded. He was to be its first Chairman and in the next ten years he oversaw its growth from selecting fledgling teams, to purchasing grounds, to building clubhouse facilities, to financing and managing the lot. He greatly enjoyed the initial success at underage, and then through junior and intermediate to senior status. It gave him particular pleasure to see the club with the County Senior Hurling Championship and to see an O'Loughlin's man captain Kilkenny to All-Ireland Senior Hurling success. Indeed that same enjoyment was still evident during his recent illness when the County Minor and under -16 championships were again brought home to the club. He also found time to be a member of the Northern Board and County Boards of the GAA and was for a time trustee for the latter. Though that lifetime involvement sadly ended for this week, many legacies live on. He was truly one of the great characters of the game, a man whose life portrayed all that was serious about it at one level, but who often managed to approach it with a sense of impishness at another. When it mattered, he was as keen about GAA affairs as the next, but his way of thinking included the notion that games were games and maybe there was a place for lightheartedness. He was a man whose objectives, motivations and interests were invariably good but who regularly found it prudent or interesting to test his thoughts, ideas and opinions on others. These were sometimes expressed fortnightly sometimes in a roundabout way and sometimes mischievously. He'll be remembered fondly as one who had the ability to light up company with clear recall of incidents, stories or characters from yesteryear which aptly related to the topic under discussion. He had a facility to diffuse an awkward meeting with a timely intervention, often unrelated to the issue, or to make an otherwise serious mundane, or lengthy meeting lighter, re-direction or shorter. In the GAA world there can often be a noticeable difference between good leadership and good management. The former is about doing the right thing, the latter about doing the thing right. Whilst some would question his methods, few would doubt his intentions. He enjoyed the cut and thrust of politics and was actively involved with is local Fianna Fail Cumann. The past few days were primarily of grief, prayer and ceremony, but many a good story was recalled, relayed and enjoyed. Jim would have liked that. He was a devoted husband and father, a devout Christian, a good farmer and great neighbour. All will miss his dearly. Born on April 5th, 1927, Jim started school in Ballyfoyle National School and moved onto Dunmore NS and finally to St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny. It was at Gaelic football that Jim made his greatest impressing in sport. He was secretary of Conahy Sarsfields Football Club for 15 years and won a county junior medal in 1950 playing at right half back. He was an under -21 selector with Kilkenny in 1981 and 1982. He is survived by his wife Kitty, son Joe and daughters Catherine and Brigid; sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren; brothers Fr Kieran, Joe, Johnny, Martin and Nickey; sisters Sister Peig, Kit and Ann. Courtesy of the Kilkenny People 6th January 2005 Tweet

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