The news of the sudden death of TJ Clancy of Cooleregan on Thursday last sent shockwaves around the whole area. TJ was in his early forties and first and foremost was a great family man, a successful dairy farmer and a sports man. He made a huge contribution to Galtee Gaels GAA following in his late father Tom's footsteps as a player.

Tom won a county medal in 1957, while TJ was a member of the Galtee Gaels panel that won the county junior title in 1988 and a player on the U21 team that won the county title in 1988 and 1989. TJ continued his involvement in the Club right up to the end. He regularly lined out for the Junior B team in recent years. As the year moved on the second team would loose players to the first team, hence a call would be made to TJ who would help out.

He never failed to answer the call. He was a keen follower for all sports and he passed this love of sport onto his children Joseph and Aoife. He was for many years a member of the Committee of Galtee Gaels and took up the job of club secretary for two years as the Club was planning the new building and all funding associated with that. TJ's removal took place from O'Sullivan's funeral home Kilbehenny to the church of Mary Conceived without Sin in Mitchelstown. The coffin was draped in the Galtee Gaels colours and the jersey worn by TJ with distinction. Members of the Club past and present came from all corners of the country to form a guard of honour for their former colleague.

Following requiem mass, where the chief celebrant was Canon Tim O'Leary. He was laid to rest in Brigown Cemetery. The gifts at the mass were reflective of TJ's life of sport and farming as were the prayers of the faithful. To his wife Marie, his son Joseph and his daughter Aoife, mother Ann, to his sisters and relatives our sincere sympathies are extended.

(Text courtesy of Limerick Leader 21/07/2012) Tweet

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