The Late Colm Kirwan – A Tribute from Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club

John Daly (centre left) of Browne’s Agri Business / Lee Strand making a ceremonial presentation to Desmonds’ Colm Kirwan with senior team captain, Niall Mitchell and his father, John at the announcement in June 2007 of the continued sponsorship of the club by the locally based business. ©Photograph: John Reidy 27-6-2007

Guest of Honour and MC, Micheál Ó Muirchearthaigh pictured with Desmonds GAA Club Chairman Michael John Kearney (left) with Bredna Tangney and club secretary, Colm Kirwan at the dinner to mark the 25th anniversary of the All-Ireland Club Championship win at the River Island Hotel in April 2010. ©Photograph: John Reidy 10-4-2010

The late Colm Kirwan (back left) at the Divanes Castleisland 2016 presentation of a new strip to Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club with, front from left: Paul Langston and Stan Divane, Divanes Castleisland; Pa White, Stephen Bartlett, Tadhg Walsh, Ciarán Breen, Willie Dom O’Connor, Castleisland Desmonds and Gerard Murphy, Vincent Murphy Sports. Back row from left: Colm Kirwan, Babs and Donal Kelliher, Castleisland Desmonds; Denis Divane, MD Divanes Castleisland; Eamonn Fitzmaurice, Kerry senior football team manager; Jimmy O’Connell, club chairman Angela Ring-O’Donoghue and Seán McCarthy, Castleisland Desmonds and John Vahey, Divanes Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy 27-5-2016

Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club Secretary Colm Kirwan (left) providing information on his club to Enterprise Town judge, Eddie Breen on judgement day at An Ríocht AC. ©Photograph: John Reidy 2-10-2018

Castleisland Community College past pupil, Mick Galwey receiving a presentation from teaching staff at the college in 2006. Included are: Jack Nolan (left) Eamon O’Sullivan and Colm Kirwan. ©Photograph: John Reidy 27-10-2006

The late Colm Kirwan announced in 2011 that he was embarking on the huge task of gathering and compiling the history of Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club and other sporting organisations in the area from 1885 to 2010. ©Photograph: John Reidy; 31-8-2011

Last Thursday we woke to an uncharacteristically bright and sunny morning but there was still a sense of shock and loss around the town as we prepared to meet our friend Colm Kirwan for the final time. 

By Eilish O’Leary, PRO

Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club was a huge part of Colm’s life; from playing hurling on the pitch in the early 1970’s to holding the position of secretary of the club for over 16 years, and more recently as assistant secretary

The club was honoured to be part of his final journey out of the town. He was clinical in his dealings, had excellent organisational skills and it has been said over the past few days since his death, that no one could organise fixtures as well as he could. 

Limerick Road Lined

A huge gathering of the public and members of the club lined the Limerick Road in a guard of honour as the hearse turned into the club grounds.

All Colm’s Club friends and colleagues bore blue and white armbands, ones that he had given out at a recent funeral himself and which he stored safely at home.

Colm’s family moved the coffin towards the front of the clubhouse before members of the executive committee rolled it up onto the viewing area – a place where you would always find Colm selling Lotto tickets and laughing and joking with everyone while watching a game.

Tributes to Colm

Club Chairman, Willie Dom O’Connor, welcomed the large congregation along with Colm’s heartbroken wife, Brenda and members of his family.

He paid tribute to Colm, explaining the insurmountable number of tasks he undertook as secretary of the club and how he was delighted that a camogie team was established recently in the area, a throwback to his own time training a team in Wicklow.

Synonymous with Club Lotto

The Desmonds Lotto is synonymous with Colm Kirwan. He spent years organising and collecting money around the town for the weekly draw and it was a very poignant moment when Willie Dom asked his colleagues, who helped him with the Lotto draws each week, to drape the coffin with the Desmonds flag.

Wonderful music and song was provided throughout by Cormac and Art O’Mahony, Aileen Lynch, Julie Twomey, Catherine Greaney, Con Moynihan and Charlie Nelligan.

They sang one of Colm’s favourite songs by Luke Kelly, ‘Raglan Road’- from the poem by Patrick Kavanagh.

Johnny Stack and Tim Murphy

Willie Dom then asked Johnny Stack, chairman of the North Kerry Football Board and county board Chairman Tim Murphy to come forward.

They spoke individually about Colm’s contribution to GAA over the past number of years and particularly during his tenure as Desmonds club secretary.

Beautiful music provided the backdrop to Colm leaving the club grounds for the final time.

His brother Domo and nephews shouldered the coffin from the viewing area into the hearse as the guard of honour stood once again.