The passing of Michael (Mick) Foley on the morning of Wednesday, June 15, peacefully at his residence in Carrigadaggin, Newbawn, caused much regret over a wide area as he was very well-known, particularly in farming and GAA circles.

He farmed extensively all of his life in the shadow of the pinnacle off the main New Ross-Wexford road near Carrigbyrne where he was born on February 5, 1915, and he remained very active up to his 96th birthday as he did his daily chores around the farm and drove his car each day to a local shop to purchase the 'Irish Independent' newspaper which he read diligently and most especially the sports pages.
Hurling was always Mick's greatest passion. He was one of four brothers who lined out on the successful Adamstown teams of the 1930s and early 1940s and possessed six Senior hurling championship medals to show for it.

He also played hurling for Wexford and held the captaincy of the county team which was narrowly beaten by Dublin at Aughrim in the Leinster championship of 1938. He captained Adamstown to win their second three-in-a-row in 1937 and was captain of the team again throughout much of the 1940s.
He played Minor hurling with Glyn before making it onto the Adamstown Junior side.

He captained the Adamstown Juniors in 1935 when they were unlucky to go under to neighbours Cloughbawn on a score of 7-3 to 4-8 when his star brother, John, accounted for 2-7 of their total which prompted the great Tim Flood to state that; 'John Foley was one of the best natural stylish hurlers that I ever saw- the kind that you would never see off balance'.
Mick played in the corner-back position on the Adamstown Senior side later in 1935 and remained there for a couple of years before moving to full-back when John McDonald retired, and he also took over the captaincy in 1937.

More success and another three-in-a-row followed when defeating Ferns in 1940 and '41 when Tom Doyle was captain, and the sweetest of all in Mick's opinion when beating Rathnure in 1942 when he shared the captaincy with Tom Butler.
Mick continued to play a star defensive role until the late 1940s, including a game against Camross 'in the moor across the road' in the Senior championship on June 27, 1943.

All four Foley brothers - Willie, Tom, John and Mick- played on the last Adamstown team to win the Senior championship in 1942.
In latter years he still travelled to GAA matches the length and breadth of Ireland and also attended local games, especially if his native Adamstown was involved.
Past and present members of the Adamstown GAA club formed a guard of honour outside the gates of Coutholyle cemetery before Mick Foley was laid to rest beside his wife Maureen (nee Travers) who passed away some twelve years ago.
A large crowd attended the removal of the remains from the house of the Church of the Sacred Heart. Newbawn, on Thursday evening and the requiem Mass on Friday at 12 noon before the two-mile journey to Courthoyle for burial.

Sympathy is extended to his daughter Siobhan, sons Tom and Shay, brother Willie, sister Ina, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, in-laws and many other relatives and friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Courtesy of the Wexford People
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