The Late Darrel Darcy The whole of Tipperary was shocked last week to hear of the sudden death of Darrel Darcy, Woodland Park, Carney, Nenagh who died last Tuesday week following a road accident. Darrel was travelling from Limerick where he was training to be a cabinet maker with FAS, to his home in Carney. The accident happened on the N7 near Bridhill, when Mr Darcy's car collided with a truck near Kilmastulla at around 4.15pm. The driver of the truck was taken to Nenagh General Hospital where he was treated for shock. The body of the deceased was taken to Limerick Regional Hospital where a post-mortem examination was carried out on Wednesday. Darrel was a member of the Tipperary Senior Football side and later on in the evening he had intended to be at training with the rest of the Tipperary Senior Footballers I Dr Morris Park. The previous Saturday Darrel lined out with the Tipperary U-21 side in the Munster Final against Kerry. The following day he came on as a substitute with the senior side in the Allianz National Football League win over Antrim and later that evening he played with his club Shannon Rovers in North Tipp Intermediate League game. On arriving at Dr Morris Park, training for both the Tipp football and hurling sides was immediately cancelled. The Munster Minor football game between Tipperary and Waterford, which was due to be played last Wednesday, was also cancelled and later in the week, the North Tipperary U-21 A Football Final between Shannon Rovers and Silvermines was called off as a mark of respect to the Darcy family. On hearing about the death parishioners from Terryglass and Kilbarron, where Darrel was raised , were in shock and many of them visited his home in Carney, about six miles from Nenagh. Some of them disbelieving. The news seeped through to the other surrounding parishes where Darrel was well known. On Wednesday, a Prayer Service was held in Borrisokane Community School where Darrel was a past pupil. As the week went by work practises were shelved by neighbours and friends as they visited the Darcy home to meet Darrel's family. On Thursday evening Tipperary managers, John Evans (Senior) and Peter Creedon (U-21) along with the full Senior and U-21 football squads arrived at the home of the Darcys in Carney to pay their respects. A tribute arrived from Nickey Brennan, President of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Mr Brennan said that Darrel was an exceptional sportsman, very committed to his club and county. He expressed his condolences on behalf of the Association to Darrel's family, friends, club and county team mates at this very sad time. Darrel's remains were brought to Kilbarron Church on Friday evening. They were received by the chief celebrant Fr Michael Cooney, P.P. Kilbarron- Terryglass. The funeral mass was also concelebrated by Very Reverend, Dr Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Patron of the GAA accompanied by Fr John Slattery P.P. Carrig and Puckane, Archdeacon John Hogan A.P. Carrig and Puckane, Fr Tom Seymour P.P. Nenagh and Fr Enda Burke A.P. Cloughjordan. As the remains arrived in Kilbarron, the officials, hurlers, footballers and camogie players of the Shannon Rovers club formed a guard of honour accompanying the hearse on the way into the village along the Ballinderry road. Many councillors and local politicians were also present. Relatives close to the family packed the church. The forecourt was well full with numerous vantage points taken up as showers of hail and rain fell throughout. As the Mass began, the first hymns sung by the fantastic choir same over the speaker for those outside the church. Later in his homily, Father Michael Cooney said that Darrel had achieved a lot in his short career. He added that he was a model sportsman and despite playing a large number of games Darrel received only one yellow card. Sean Darcy, Darrel's dad spoke at length about his son's life outside sport. After mass, Darrel's burial took place in the nearby cemetery. Darrel is survived by his parents, Sean and Nancy, older brothers, Roy and Lee and his extended family and friends, to whom deepest sympathy is extended on their tragic loss. Ar Dheis de go raibh ar anam. Darrel Darcy, An Accomplished Sportsman Darrel Darcy was an accomplished hurler and footballer. In his short career, he had won many honours with club and school and played minor, U-21 and senior football grades with Tipperary. He first won juvenile hurling and football medals in every grade including a North and County Minor C medal in 2002. At adult level, he won a North Senior Football medal with Thomas McDonaghs (an amalgamation of five clubs) in 2007. He collected two North Tipperary Junior Football medals as well as tow North Tipp Intermediate hurling medals, gaining his first at seventeen years of age in 2004 and 2006. His father, Sean, was manager of the team. In 2005, he scored 2-1 in Tipperary's All- Ireland B Vocational schools final win over Roscommon and added an All-Ireland Vocational Schools A hurling medal with Borrisokane Community College defeating Johnstown of Kilkenny in the final. Later in the year he joined a long list of talented footballers in becoming the North Tipperary Footballer of the year. During the week a prayer service was held for Darrel by fifth and sixth year students at his former school Borrisokane Community College. Many tributes have been paid to him form many members of the Gaelic Athletic Association led by An t-Uachtaran, Mr Nickey Brennan. The Tipperary Senior Football manager, John Evans and the senior panel visited his home at Woodpark, Carney, on Thursday evening. Darrel's remains were laid to rest in Kilbarron on Friday evening after one of the biggest funerals seen in the North Tipp village. He received a fitting guard of honour from officers and playing members of his club and county as well as many representatives from other clubs and counties around the country. On behalf of the Tipperary GAA we sympathise with his parents Sean and Nancy, older brothers, Roy and Lee, as well as his many relatives and friends. May he rest in peace. Courtesy of The Midland Tribune 16th April 2008 Tweet

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