The Late Willie Nicholas The death has taken place of Willie Nicholas, St. John's, Glenfield Road, Kilmallock. A native of Newport, Co. Tipperary the late Willie had lived in Kilmallock for the past thirty years. He took a great interest in the affairs of the town of his adoption and was a dedicated member of the Kilmallock Historical Society taking part in the various field outings, the meetings and being on hand when required to help out at the local museum and any other event in which the Historical Society would be engaged. Willie was also an active member of the Kilmallock tourism Development Ltd., an organisation that dedicated itself to seeking to attract further industry to the town as well as projecting the many positive images of Kilmallock throughout the world, in an effort to attract tourism to the area. A keen follower of sport, Willie like the vast majority of his countrymen, was a devoted follower of hurling and football. A player of distinction with Newport, an area where hurling and football have equal status and Willie excelled in both codes. He was a member of the Newport team that won the County Tipperary Junior Hurling Championship in 1957 and eight years later in 1965. Willie wrote himself into the history books when his last minute goal snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to win the North Tipperary Junior Football Championship for his native Newport. Willie was also an able administrator with Newport GAA club and served three terms as chairman. In 1953 he became the youngest person to hold such a high and onerous office in the club's history and indeed in the history of any GAA club throughout Ireland. Willie didn't confine his interest in Gaelic games to his native county of Tipperary, he also followed the fortunes of Limerick and of course Kilmallock in all their games, proudly sporting the green and white of the town of his adoption Willie was a genteel and kind man who was well liked and respected in the locality, where news of his untimely death was received with genuine sadness and regret. There was a very large and representative attendance at the removal of his remains from McCarthy's Funeral Home to St. Peter's and St. Paul's Church and again next day at his funeral to Ballingaddy Cemetery following Requiem Mass. His coffin was draped in the blue and gold of Newport and in a fine gesture of farewell to their former comrade, his former team-mates and present day club members formed a guard of honour on both days. Willie is survived by his wife, Catherine, sisters, sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nephews and nieces. Courtesy of the Limerick Leader March 2003 Tweet

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