Crowley, Sean
September 24, 2009Fear den chéad scoth ba ea Séan, a raibh fiorshuim aige i gcúrsaí, in ár gceol go mór mór in ár gcluichí Naisiúnta - peil Ghaelach agus an iomáint. Le linn a shaoil fhada, bhí sé sáite i gcúrsai Chumainn Lúth Chleas Gael mar imreoir, mar oifigeach agus mar roghnóir ina chlub féin, i Roinn Chaorbre agus san Choisde Chondae.
It is with sadness and regret that we record the recent passing of our esteemed president, Sean Crowley. A man of outstanding qualities, he extolled the virtues of Cumann Luth Chleas Gael. He dedicated his long and active life to promote the ideals and aims of the Association. His love of our national games knew no bounds.
From an early age, he wore the Bandon jersey with pride and with distinction, thus continuing a family tradition as his late father and grandfather had done before him. A man who never boasted of his deeds on the field of play, indeed his exploits on the playing field bore ample testimony to his skill, his courage and his determination. Actions speak louder than words was his dictum.
The skill, courage and sheer determination he passed on to his family, and his sons displayed these outstanding qualities with their club, their division and their county. He once told me how it thrilled him when his grandsons began playing with his beloved Bandon. They were the fifth generation of the Crowley family (or dynasty) to play with Bandon, he recalled with justificable pride.
The stories of Sean's feats are legendary. These are many and diverse. One is worth recording. He once told me that he attended a fair at Rosscarbery, a few days before Bandon were playing an important hurling game.
After the fair he had to walk cattle from Rosscarbery to Butlerstown. When the cattle were delivered , he walked to Courtmacsherry and got a spin from the bread van back to Bandon. A few days later he played very well for Bandon and got his place on the Cork junior hurling team. This story aptly epitomises Sean.
He won county medals with Bandon in junior hurling, intermediate hurling and in junior football, played with Carbery in hurling and in football in between, played senior with Bandon in both codes and also wore the county jersey with honour and with pride. Needless to say he gave of this best, courageously and fearlessly.
It was as an administrator that I got to know Sean. When his playing days were over, he became very involved in the administrative affairs of the Association, at club level, at divisional level and at Co Board level. He was chairman of the Carbery South West Board, when I became a Barryroe delegate t the board.
A highly respected chairman, he was very fair and forthright. There was no kicking to touch with Sean, he went straight for goal. You knew exactly where you stood with him and that's what made him the respected official that he was.
Within the association he had his priorities. First and foremost he was a devoted clubman. As chairman he respected the needs and difficulties of struggling clubs. He had a great understanding and unique insight into sensitive issues. I learned a lot from him. His advice when sought was freely and willingly given and his wise counselling was born of experience.
After his club and indeed all clubs while he was chairman, his next priority was his division - Carbery Division. He supported Carbery teams as loyally as his club when they were playing. As well as that he imbued a sense of pride in the Carbery division that divisional officials or officers should support and give every assistance to teams who represented the division in the county championships.
Carbery's successes in Co SFC in 1968, 1971 and 2004 meant an awful lot to him. However, Carbery's lone SHC success in 1994 was most gratifying he said to me more than once. His sons, Noel and Padraig, played prominent parts in that great achievement. It was some compensation for losing so narrowly in 1956, when he was a selector, he would say.
He was unanimously appointed as president of Carbery on the death of his father-in-law, Andy O'Neill, Bandon, former president.
Sean was privileged and honoured to be selected he said when he was appointed.
Having served Bandon and Carbery with distinction at Co Board, he rose through the ranks, served on many county committees, was on the Co Board Executive for almost thirty years and he was a very active member of the finance committee to raise much needed funds to clear Pairc Ui Chaoimh debt in the late seventies and early eighties.
A Cork selector in 1973 when Cork won the All-Ireland, he was instrumental in re-introducing All-Ireland JFC and IHC.
He was also a selector on the Munster football team that won the Railway Cup after many years in the early 1970s. He served as a Co Board Officer, he was Leas-Uachtaran of Co Board at the time of his passing and was the first person to receive the inaugural Presidential award during Sean O Ceallaigh's presidency.
Sincere sympathy is extended to his wife and to his family. Ar dheis láimh Dé go raibh a anam.
- Star Sport, September 24th 2009 Tweet
