The late Liam Reidy One of Kilkenny's most illustrious sporting heroes and business personalities was buried. There was glowing tributes to Mr Liam Reidy, Shandon Park Kilkenny and formerly of College Road, Kilkenny by many sporting and business organisations with which he was associated throughout his life. Former GAA President Paddy Buggy had the pleasure of playing with Liam Reidy on the county senior hurling team and spoke of his skill as a player and above all about what a gentleman he was, on and off the field. "He also played in what was arguably the best All-Ireland of all time in 1949 against a great Cork team," Mr Buggy said. Kilkenny rugby club called off their crucial Leinster senior league game as a mark of respect to the family. Mr Reidy died peacefully at Archersrath nursing home just outside the city. Despite his many achievements, Liam Reidy was a shy man who did not seek the limelight. This was highlighted by Fr Liam Barron in his homily at Mr Reidy's funeral Mass. Fr Barron noted that such a quiet man had touched so many lives in a positive way. Liam began his hurling career in St Kieran's College and collected a Leinster junior colleges' championship with St Kieran's, a Leinster minor medal with the county, three senior county titles with Eire Og and four senior Leinster championship with Kilkenny. On taking up golf in 1951, Liam quickly proved his skill at the game by getting his handicap down to four within a few years and by winning the club match-play championship twice in those years. He represented the club on two Barton Cup winning sides, in 1953 and 1966, and in between also played on the Provincial Towns Cup winning team in 1955. Perhaps his greatest triumph came in 1957 when he won the Waterford Glass Trophy (Scratch Cup) from an elite field. He served as honourary secretary of Kilkenny Gold Club for a number of years, became captain of the club in 1970 and was honoured with the club presidency in the years 1985-86. He became the first Kilkenny member elected to the Leinster branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) and was treasurer of the branch for some years before being elected chairman on 1987. This led to his selection as president of the GUI in 1992, a position which he filled with style and distinction. During that year, Liam presided over the thier successive win for the Irish team in the Home International Championship and a further highlight was when he presented the Irish Close Championship trophy to fellow Kilkenny man Gary Murphy at Portstewart. Liam Reidy had many attributed but most of all was possessed of a great sense of humour and had a great way with people. He was the founder of the highly successful Reidy insurance business on Parliament Street, Kilkenny. Liam was predeceased by his first wife, Mary and is survived by his wife Ann and by sons Sean, Brian, Liam, Joe, Eamon, Ger, Dermot and Brendan and by his daughters in law, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Courtesy of the Kilkenny People 23 February 2007 Tweet

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