The Late Seamus Morris Seamus Morris, one of the most gifted GAA players Wicklow has ever produced, died from cancer on February 2 in Dublin. He was 44. At county level, he won every football championship from U-12 to Senior with Tinahely in the 1970s and 1980s. At inter-county level, he won the O'Byrne Cup with Wicklow Senior Football team in 1986. At national level he won an All-Ireland club senior football medal with Kilmacud Crokes in 1995. His funeral at St. Patrick's Church in Lucan was attended by hundreds of supporters and admirers, many of them from his native Tinahely and home county of Wicklow. Fr. Fintan Morris, his brother, was the chief celebrant at his Requiem Mass which was co-celebrated by 12 clergy with 30 others in attendance representing every diocese. Bishop Eamonn Walsh, apostolic administrator of Ferns, assisted with prayers. Guards of honour were formed by Tinahely, Kilmacud and Lucan Sarsfield clubs as well as children from Seamus's school in Lucan. Jack Boothman, former president of the GAA, and senior management from Wicklow and Dublin County Boards were among the mourners. Sean Kelly, President of the GAA, offered condolences on behalf of the GAA community and Mary Harney T.D. offered condolences on behalf of the government. Senior political figures from government parties such as former ministers Joe Jacob and Hugh Byrne and the opposition such as Billy Timmins and Vincent Blake were present. The N4 (Dublin-Sligo truck road) at the Lucan junction was closed for over an hour to accommodate the sheer numbers of mourners. Seamus Morris was from a football family. His father Des re-established Tinahely GAA in 1961 becoming Secretary after the Club and languished since World War 1. Des further contributed by subsequently becoming selector and trainer of several teams and finally becoming chairman. Seamus's father was essentially the architect of the golden age of Tinahely football. His brother Paudge also had a distinguished football both in Wicklow and Dublin. Seamus was as tough and hardy as the Wicklow mountains where he was born. At school in Carraig na bhfear, Cork, he learned the finer points of the game, honed his skills, and fine-tuned his fitness. Although he won a cabinet-full of honours, one the most important matches of his career was winning the Wicklow senior championship with Tinahely in the GAA centenary Year of 1984. It was a match forever ingrained on Tinahely consciousness. Jim Brophy author of Wicklow GAA 1884-1984 described it as follows: "Micheal Cusack in his wildest dreams could hardly have envisaged a county final showpiece like this one when he sat down to prepare his plans in the Hayes Hotel, Thurles in 1884'. When called to the colours of Wicklow County, he acquitted himself with excellence. He emerged as a key player when Wicklow lifted the O'Byrne Cup in 1986. Selected as full-back,he was good in the air and difficult to knock off the ball. According to Peter Keogh, president of Wicklow GAA, 'Seamus will be remembered as one of the greatest Wicklow footballers of all time'. But Wicklow's loss became Dublin's gain when Seamus became a teacher at Scoil an Chroi Ro-Naofa, Killinarden, Dublin and joined the Kilmacud Crokes, then a GAA backwater. Soon they won the Dublin Senior Football Championship in 1992 followed by the Dublin SFC and League Double in 1994 as well as the St Vincent de Paul tournament. Kilmacud had become the modern-day giants of Gaelic football in the capital. According to the Wicklow People at the time, when Seamus played, Kilmacud never lost a championship match. He reached the pinnacle of football success when he won an All-Ireland senior football club medal with Kilmacud-Crokes at Croke Park on St Patrick's Day, 1995. Seamus gave a typically powerful and blistering performance with shrewd distribution of the ball from his midfield position. It was the first time a Dublin team had won the club championship since 1976. His selfless play led previously to many victories. He was honoured to be Kilmacud Player of the Millennium in 2000. Seamus was blessed with all the natural talent to become a top footballer. Bright and dynamic, he matured to become one of the most revered figures in Wicklow and Dublin sporting history. In the eyes of those who knew him, Seamus was a gentleman with a profound respect for every person on and off the field. He was a role model for young people; his dedication to them was exemplified up to his last day of good health when he was about to train the Lucan Sarsfield U-12 team. Seamus is survived by his wife Aileen, their three children, Jordan, Jade, Dylan, his parents Des and Mary Morris and his brothers and sisters Suaimhneas na bhFiatheas d'anam mor. Courtesy of the Wicklow People 11th February 2005 Tweet

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