Lawlor, Lauri
January 31, 2003Portarlington and Laois Gaelic games lost one of its great sons last week with the sudden death of Lauri Lawlor (70) at his home at Kilbride.
He was a true legend for his playing, refereeing, administration, supporting and after match entertainment.
He was one of the last true characters of the game and his passing leaves a void that indeed will be impossible.
Lauri will be remembered for his immense contribution to Portarlington, the county, and his devoted family.
Lauri's late brother Chris's family were more especially associated with the Emo club where his sons, led by Gabriel, become household names.
Youngest of a family of 18 he served his time as a plasterer on the building of the Power Station. He made the Port senior team in '51 and although beaten by Annanough in the final and by Park two years later, It was to lay the foundation for a team that won three of the seven finals they contested in a glorious 12 year period.
They ended a 22-year barren spell by winning the county senior title in '54 and retained it a year later with Lauri usually leading the attack at centre forward.
Beaten in the final of '57 one of their greatest triumphs was to beat the mighty Portlaoise team in the 'Big Win' final of '59.
Bill Bolton paid tribute to Lauri: "as a footballer he was an outstanding club player. He was light but as hard as nails and he would go through you for shortcut. He had a great pair of hands and very few would catch a 50/50 ball with him."
Lauri played with Laois between 1954 and '56. His last senior final appearance was in the '63 all parish final when Portarlington lost to their country cousins O'Dempsey's but Lauri continued playing and was one of the stars of the junior team that defeated Courtwood in the final in '68.
He continued playing with the club until '74 but by this time he had become one of the top referees in the county.
Off the playing fields he was chairman of the social club and starred in the "Port Show' an annual musical review that ran with great success for 13 years.
Lauri was the life and soul of any gathering and it took little persuasion to have him start the singsong.
Lauri was always accompanied by his wife Mary, a Carlow woman, who would liven up any proceedings.
Lauri had hardly missed a single training session since the arrival of Mick O'Dwyer. Mary provides the meals for the team after training in the Park.
Huge crowds attended the removal on New Years eve and the funeral on New Years Day in St. Michael's Cemetery.
Players and officials past and present from the Portarlington club formed a guard of honour.
Club Chairman Maxie McSweeney in a graveside oration outlined Lauri's contribution to the club and community and paid tribute to his lifetime commitment. He remarked how almost every club in Laois was represented at the funeral.
Lauri is survived by his wife Mary, sons John, Lauri, Eamon, Robert, Brendan, Colm, Mark and Ronan and daughters Breda, Mary, Margaret and Trease. He is also survived by his brother Tommy and sister Kitty.
Courtesy of The Nationalist, January 2003 Tweet
