John Carroll National co-ordinator of the Retired Greyhounds Trust His real passion in life was greyhound racing and so it was with great sadness that followers of the sport learned of the untimely passing of John Carroll on January 22. Formerly of Main Street and Toureen, Croom, John was one of the best-known activists in the greyhound industry in the Mid-West. He was most recently the national co-ordinator of the Retired Greyhounds Trust, which he operated for the Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon) from his own kennels close to Croom. The aim of the trust is to care for retired dogs and it attempts to find them new family homes, both in Ireland and overseas. His work re-homing the dogs took him abroad on several occasions to Belgium, France and Italy. John's family now continues to run the Retired Greyhounds Trust. For many decades, John was also a noted owner/trainer and was a regular at tracks and coursing venues throughout the country. He was also in charge for many years of Limerick County Council's Dog Control Unit in Mungret. The son of the late Jack and Catherine Carroll, John always had a keen interest in sport. In his youth, he took an active part in the GAA, playing hurling with his club, Croom. Later in life, in the 1980's he took over the family butcher shop at Main Street, Croom which was previously run by his father Jack. John's popularity within the greyhound racing fraternity was evident at both his removal from Daffy's Funeral Home, Croom and his funeral Mass at St Michael's Church, Manister. Thousands of mourners recalled their own fond memories of John as chief celebrant Gary Bluett PP, Manister, spoke of his sense of humour, popularity, and of course his real passion in life - greyhound racing. Members of Croom GAA club formed a guard of honour for John at Relig Mhuire where he was interred. John, who died peacefully at home following an illness which he had bravely borne for some time, is survived by his wife, Mary, daughters Murial, Alma and Ursula, brothers Joe, Pat and Donal, sisters Kathleen and Anne, nephews, nieces, other relatives and many friends. John Carroll, born January 8 1943, died January 22 2009 - Courtesy of The Limerick Leader, February 2009 Tweet

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