Conor Connelly. RIP.

The Community were plunged into shock on Saturday morning when the announcement of Conor’s untimely death was made. Conor passed away while jogging near his home. Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to his wife Claire and their three young children Caragh, Rossa and Owen, his parents Jimmy and Nora, his brothers Robert, James and Darragh, his sister Sharon, their wives and partners, his parents in law Stephen and Aggie Quinn, brothers in law Colm and Stevie, sisters in law Magali and Amy, his nieces and nephews and his many friends and work colleagues.

Conor was a dedicated family man who work hard as a Solicitor with Hussey Fraser Solicitors in Ballsbridge. He commuted daily by train to his Office, which often necessitated long hours away from home. He never the less made time to immerse himself in many community organisations since he and Claire set up home in Moorock Lodge.

Conor was an invaluable member of the Board of Management of Boher National School and was very involved in the building of the new Autistic Unit there.

He was also a Director of Ballycumber Leamonaghan Company Developments, CLG in The Barracks, Ballycumber and was enthusiastic about encouraging new people to get involved. Conor was committed to the recently formed Ballycumber Action Group who are working with Offaly Local Development Company to formulate a plan for future living in Ballycumber.

But, it was as a footballer that Conor was best known and he had a very successful career.

He was fortunate that his teacher in Creggs National School was the legendary Mattie McDonagh, the four times Galway All Ireland winner. He represented his Club Creggs at all levels and also turned his hand to Rugby with the local Creggs Rugby Club. His education journey took him to Roscommon CBS and for two years to St Mels College in Longford. His football career progressed from being fifth last pick for a school league in the CBS to playing midfield on a Leinster Championship winning St Mels team. He spent five years with Michael Glaveys Club in Roscommon when his family had a Pub in Ballinlough. His studies too him to UCD and he played on Sigerson C up teams which included household names like Trevor Giles[Meath], Brian Dooher[Tyrone] ,Derek Savage[Galway], David Nestor [Mayo] and Ciaran McManus fro Tubber. While living in Dublin, Conor joined St Judes GAA Club, winning a League medal and competed in two Dublin senior football semi finals.

Conor represented his native Roscommon and played at right half forward on the Roscommon team who won the Connaught Senior Football Championship in 2001 with  a dramatic win over Mayo and they also accounted for Galway on their path to the final. He also represented Connaught in the Railway Cup competition losing the final to a Leinster team which included his future brother in law Colm Quinn.

In 2007 Conor transferred to Ballycumber and immediately became involved with our Club. He continued playing and gave everything on the field. He didn’t always agree with officials and was the recipient of multicoloured cards. But, Conor operated on the mantra that what happened on the field, remained on the field. After playing on our senior team, including a senior football semi final, he branched into team management and was successful in 2015 when he led Ballycumber to the Offaly Senior B Football Championship Final. In a dramatic match Ballycumber overcame hot favourites Durrow by 3—7 to 0—13 and progressed to the Leinster Championship for the first time, losing out to a strong Castlederrmot team by a point after extra time. He was an important member of our Division 5 team who won the League in 2019 and on occasions came straight from the Train Station, after his commute, to the venue to play a game.

Conor was a committed member of our Club Committee and his advice and guidance on many aspects of running the Club was invaluable and his presence at meetings will be badly missed. He found time in his busy schedule to help with the formation of St Manchan Gaels underage structure in conduction with representatives of Doon, Erin Rovers and Tubber GAA Club. He was delighted with the erection of the electronic scoreboard in our Club grounds and was looking forward to future development of facilities.

Conor was Master of Ceremonies at the Clubs recent Dinner Dance in the Bridge House Hotel and his attention to detail was very evident. On the night the Club remembered teams from 25 years ago and though Conor was not around Ballycumber at that time, he had so much research done that it felt like he witnessed all the games first hand.

Because of the Covid 19 Pandemic it is not possible to visit the family in their home and we are unable to attend Conor’s funeral Mass and burial and members of the Club are unable to help out with car parking and traffic control as would usually be done.

There will be a memorial at some time in the future.

Good bye Conor, you were one in a million and will be sadly missed until we meet again.

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