Linnane, Pj
May 18, 2011PJ was a native of Kilfinora county Clare and came to Sligo in 1973 with his work in the Forestry and Wildlife Service.
He worked in the Coolaney area for a couple of years where he got involved in training underage GAA teams. In 1975 he set up home in Ballygawley, where he resided ever since.
From day one his community spirit shone through and he immediately got involved in any operation where a volunteer might be needed.
He was one of the founder member of St. Michael's GAA Club in 1983 and was at the heart of everything that is good about the club ever since.
At county level, he was Secretary of County Sligo Minor Board for five years and worked as a selector with the County Sligo under 16 team for a number of years.
In recent years he played a huge part in the development and running of Markievicz Park as part of the Park Committee.
He was also directly involved at a senior level in many community projects such as Community Games where he was one the people who drew up the boundaries of all Community Games areas in the County.
With all his involvements, there was nothing he enjoyed more than a trip away to see his beloved Clare team play in Cusack Park, Pairc ui Chaoimh or Croke Park.
In the St Michael's GAA Club his work was tireless. He did everything down the years from building the club and its facilities, coaching teams to fundraising where since the 1980s he was Club Treasurer.
PJ's greatest assets there were his organisational skills,his loyalty and his low key attitude.
He played a key role in every project the Club has taken on since its inception and without doubt was vital in planning the latest venture to build the new pitch and training areas at Ballintogher.
"Loyalty" was not just to Club, County, Cause or Game as far as PJ was concerned.
It was "The People Involved" that he was interested in and not just as members. He looked out for every person young and old both on and off the field of play over the years and it was that willingness to serve the community, especially if it was for he betterment of young people,that shapped every thing he did.
It was that low key way of doing things that endeared PJ to all who knew him and worked for him. His best work was done in and from the background in that quiet but detemind way.
When planning or doing a job he dealt with the easy bits and pitfalls without overstating either, thus getting a mountain of work done while others would not know where to start.
Dealing with people it was the same, he gave advice to all who needed it in a positive experienced way, be it personal or professional and always quietly.
He did favours for people that only he and the recipient will ever know about.
The throngs of people who arrived to pay their respects at the family home and the Church showed the esteem in which PJ was held throughout his local area and County and the numerous accents from all over the country gave an idea of how far one man's community can reach out to.
His passing will leave a huge gap in St. Michael's GAA Club and in the local community as a whole and those of who knew him well also realise that they are unlikly to meet his like again.
The greatest loss is to his family and as a club we extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Noreen, his daughters Judith and Deirdre and his sons Gerard and David, his Grandchildren and the extended Family. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.
Courtesy of the Sligo Champion
May 18th 2011 Tweet
