Dillon, Aidan
August 29, 2009The funeral has taken place in Birmingham of Aidan Dillon-one of Warwickshire GAA County Board's greatest stalwarts. He was 87 years old.
Aidan was born in Edenderry in Co. Offaly. Work brought him to Dublin where he cycled from Offaly to work four times each week.
He met his future wife, Co. Wicklow-born Mary (known to all as Molly ) in Dublin.
A noted GAA player in Offaly and with Dublin's Western Gaels, Aidan continued his involvement with the sport when he and his family moved to Birmingham in the early 1950's where he became known as the goal-getter with the Tara GAA Club.
Later he took on the role of referee at the Glebe Farm GAA grounds in Birmingham. Every week he and his now deceased Cork-born colleague Dominic Downey became known as the dynamic duo at the entrance to the GAA games.
And woe betide any person who tried to dodge the small but essential entry fee.
Gate duty over, Aidan would rush off to the open-air changing rooms (a clump of bushes!) and don his referee's kit.
Again, on the pitch he was much respected, firm but fair and he always stuck to his decisions. Nobody usually argued- given his reputation his decisions were rarely challenged.
His loyalty to the Warwickshire GAA was outstanding. He was the County Board's much respected registrar for more than 40 unbroken years.
He was a soft-spoken Gael and a proud Offaly man who loved everything Irish. Many times he would accompany his daughter Geraldine and her Irish band to venues such as Birmingham or Corby Irish Centres.
He never drank alcohol and was a dedicated Pioneer, having been presented with silver and gold Pioneer Association lapel pins.
Most of his working life in this country was with George Wimpey as a carpenter and fitter and then a final stint with the Post Office.
Over many years, Aidan was the butt of jokes over his mode of transport- a Reliant Robin three-wheeler - made in Tamworth.
Not having taken his driving test, Aidan was able to use his Reliant on a motor-cycle license. When his family were young Aidan took them on holidays to Ireland and caused traffic jams in Edenderry where the locals kept asking him if he was aware that he had lost one of his wheels!
When Pairc na hÉireann opened his trusted Reliant always took him to the many County Board meetings-and always on time.
He and his Reliant also figured in a somewhat unusual Irish Post competition. When Corgi toys brought out a special 25th anniversary of Del Boy Trotter's Trading Company Reliant in Canary yellow The Irish Post decided to run a competition and offer 25 models as prizes. But we needed and Irish angle to hang the story on. Step forward on hugely delighted Aidan Dillon who became our role model for the competition.
Prior to Aidan's untimely death he and Molly had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
The funeral reception into the Holy Family church in Small Heath last Sunday was followed the next day by the funeral Mass and internment at Woodlands Cemetery.
Collections at both services were donated to two charities - Marie Curie and The British Heart Foundation.
Aidan survived by his wife Molly, son Aidan and daughter Geraldine, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Courtesy of The Irish Post
August 29th, 2009 Tweet
