The late John O'Leary Blackwater came to a standstill for one of the biggest funerals ever seen in the parish when Wexford businessman and its best all-round sports man, John 'Jack' O'Leary, was laid to rest. The night before, former team-mates from the four corners of Ireland, all of whom had shared in the 1981 Junior football championship success with Jack, shouldered his coffin in three different relays into the village. The Guard of Honour that night was provided by the Blackwater GAA and Soccer clubs and the Scouts, with the huge turnout on both days, testament to the love, loyalty and respect shown by the local and wider sporting communities towards Jack, who was killed in a car crash on the outskirts of Wexford. The day of the funeral, the biggest guard of honour which the GAA has ever seen was provided, among the ranks being 24 of his former team-mates at county level. Jack's coffin was draped with Wexford and Blackwater jerseys, bearing the number 3 which he wore with such pride. Senan Lillis provided a moving graveside oration on behalf of the club, while Jack's brother spoke on behalf of the family, with his wife's Niamh's sister Siobhean speaking on behalf of the Fahy family. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Hugh Byrne, assisted by Fr. John Paul Sheridan. Fr. Donal Berney from screen and Fr. Jim Butler from Murrinstown were also present. After the formal ceremonies were over, long after the prayers and oration, many hundreds of people stood around, unwilling to leave, still trying to somehow take in the enormous loss to Jack's wife and children, Ciara and Shane, to the community and to the local sporting organisations. Jack's was a formidable sporting career and he was without a doubt the best all-round player Blackwater had. His list of achievements with his native parish was impressive: Under-14 hurling championship in 1971; Under-14 football in 1972; Juvenile hurling in 1974; Co. Junior football runners-up in 1979; Junior football championship in 1981; County Football League in 1987. He also won various other County League and District medals. In 1983, he played on the Wexford District team which was beaten by Starlights by one point in the county Senior football championship final, with his brothers, Bobby and Michael, among his colleagues. His inter-county career began when he played for the Wexford Minor footballers in 1976, and he also played for three years with the county Under-21 team, beginning in Summerhill, Co. Meath, when they played the Royal in 1977. He then progressed to the Wexford Junior Football team, winning a Leinster medal in 1984 and playing on the side which lost the All-Ireland final to Cork in Dungarvan that year. He was picked at corner-back for the next game against Dublin, but was injured on the last night of training. Jack would have marked Joe McNally, who went to town in the game by scoring three goals. Jack later said that it was the first time he had been glad to be injured because it spared him the humiliation. He played in the 1986-'87 league campaign in Senior football, and also in 1987 was drafted in to theWexford Junior hurling panel after the Leinster campaign. Jack played a fantastic match in the All-Ireland final in Thurles against Cork, although the team, was narrowly defeated. He was a permanent fixture on Wexford Junior hurling teams up to and including 1991, and his last game for the county was in the Leinster final of this grade 15 years ago which they lost against Kilkenny. His own club career wound down in the early to mid-90's. Jack was described as a fantastic footballer and fantastic hurler, the best all-round player Blackwater ever had. He gave great service to the club, and was always very popular in the dressing-room and on the training pitch. He had a great sense of humour and had an affinity with younger players. Jack also had that quiet swagger and air of confidence, characteristics necessary for inter-county players. He also got involved last year in coaching under-age hurling and was part of the backroom team which masterminded the county U-12 success, with his own son, Shane, in the forward line. Jack is survived by his wife Niamh, daughter Ciara, who is a fashion student in Italy, son Shane, mother Ellen, brothers Michael, Bobby and Eamonn, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends. He will be greatly missed. Courtesy of the Wexford People 05 April 2006 Tweet

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