Morris, Mick
December 08, 2010
It is a term that is not often used these days, when describing somebody who dedicated a lifetime to the Gaelic Athletic Association.
The annals of the Meath Chronicle over the years have often described somebody, particularly on their passing, as a 'Great Gael'. It maybe a term which has gone out of fashion, but it is one which certainly can be applied to Mr Mick Morris of Bective, who passed away on Wednesday last, aged 74.
Two of his great passions in life were the GAA and politics, and both Cumann Luthchleas Gael and the Fianna Fail party were prominent at his obsequies last week in Robinstown and Dunderry. Deceased was a founder of Bective GFC almost a half a century ago, and was a player, referee and administrator in the intervening years.
A native of Martry, Mr Morris played his early football there and with De la Salle juvenile club in Navan. Prior to the setting up of the Bective club, he played with Dunderry.
In 1998, when Bective was officially opening its newly developed grounds at Cannistown. he recalled the setting up of the club in 1964. He remembered himself and a few others were kicking a football around in a field.
"We sat under a tree on the Cannistown Road to take a break from the sun", he recalled.
"The conversation turned to football and I said we should form our own club in the Bective area and the others all agreed. We used a field that belonged to Mickey Cassidy as our first pitch, and brought a new set of jerseys for 24. Our next pitch was in Bective village and was owned by Pat Lynch. We won our first championship in 1982 from Eddie McKeever's field, and were in another field owned by Seamus Tully before we bought in Cannistown from the Foley family."
While success was slow at coming for the club, Mr Morris was a member of the fledgling club that unsuccessfully contested a junior B final against Skryne in 1967, putting over a point for the Bective side. He played at full back, and the Number 3 jersey was placed on his coffin last week.
He recalled the club being less expensive to run then as it is now. Fundraising dances were held in Kilmessan Hall, making a profit of about £23 per dance, often with just two dances needed in a year to keep the club going. A the very start of the club, the members had to contribute a few shillings to week to buy footballs and the like, he recalled.
Bective won the old Division 3FC twice and Mick Morris was very proud of Ruairi Russell and the team that was crowed Meath JFC champions in 1997. Tom Keating he regarded as the best Bective player he had seen.
Mr Morris served for decades as club secretary and later became chairman, and was country board delegate for almost 40 years. He served as secretary of the juvenile Football Board, and after his playing days refereed a great deal, becoming a major influence on fellow clubman Joey Geraghty who followed in his whistling footsteps.
He was dedicated to the Bective club, and was a constant figure to be seen collecting at the gate or maintaining the grounds.
In 2001 he was presented with the Meath Co Board Hall of Fame award at an event in Kells which saw Ollie Murphy win player of the year for his Leinster and All-Ireland performances of that year. He also received the Bective GFC Hall of Fame award and was honourary president of he club at the time of his passing. In 2006 he was the recipient of a Meath GAA Sean Gael award, and in 2008 received a Meath County Board special merit award from Cathal Seoighe at the Bective GAA dinner dance.
In 2002, along with jockey Adrian Maguire, he was installed on the 'Wall of Fame' at Bective Bar and Lounge joining writer Mary Lavin.
Deceased was also a dedicated soldier of destiny, supporting the Fianna Fail party and was secretary of the Robinstown Cumann for many years. He was also a keen party activist and canvasser.
Mr Morris worked in the construction industry, with Kilmessan builder Cormac Murray and later with Hugh O'Neill contractor of Inchicore in Dublin.
He was predeceased in 1987 by his wife, Dympna (nee Doyle, Balsoon) and is survived by his family, John, Kildare; Shay, Navan; Ada Doyle, Kilmessan; Mikie, Robinstown and Colin, Bective; grandchildren; great-grandsons; daughters-in-law; son-in-law; sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; nephews, nieces, extended family and a large circle of friends.
Guards of honour were provided by the Bective and Dunderry GAA clubs, as well as members of the Defence Forces, colleagues of his son, Sergeant Major John Morris, who is based at the Curragh.
When Mick Morris passed away on Wednesday 8th December 2010, a light certainly went out in Bective GAA Club.
The development of the GAA at all levels since its foundation has been dependent on the efforts of individuals like Mick Morris who have worked so hard to make it what it is today, vibrant and thrilling, and a glowing example of what dedicated voluntary input can achieve.
Meath without question has had its share of such people who had helped to shape the direction the GAA has taken.
Individuals who have been part of a team effort designed to keep the great organisation alive and well in the county.
Without these people the association could not function.
Mick Morris lived for the GAA and for his native Bective and Meath teams. Mick travelled the length and breath of Ireland to see Meath teams playing but his pride and joy was Bective.
Mick started his playing career with Martry, he moved onto Dunderry and in 1964 Mick became a founder member of Bective Club and had been synonymous with the club ever since.
As well as serving the club on the playing field, Mick has been a regular committee officer and has held every position and was club president at the time of his death.
Among the events that gave Mick greatest joy was the opening of club grounds at Cannistown in 1998, the Junior A Championship Final win over Skryne in 1997 and being presented with the County Committee Sean Gael Award in 2006.
There was widespread sadness among the members of the Bective GFC and the wider Meath GAA fraternity on the news of his death.
Mick is survived by daughter Ada, sons John, Shay, Mickey and Colin, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family and wide circle of friends. Suaimhneas síoraí Michael.
- Beag Teach CLG.
Courtesy of the Meath Chronicle
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