Tributes have been paid to the one of the great Gaels of Laois, Kilcavan stalwart Jack O’Brien who passed away in recent days just one week short of his 90th birthday.
Jack was one of the founding members of the Kilcavan club in 1946 as a 19-year-old, played for them for many years, was the driving force behind the purchase and funding of their pitch and was either chairman or secretary of the club for the best part of 50 years.
He was also a regular at County Convention for a long number of years, a member of the Football Board at one stage and a close associate and support of former Laois GAA Chairman Dick Miller.
A noted ticket seller – and a huge supporter of county board initiatives – he rarely missed a Kilcavan training session, never mind a match, up until recent years. Indeed after heart surgery in recent years he watched games from a chair on the sideline.
“The club owes Jack a huge debt of gratitude,” says Mary Gorry, a club supporter and a long-time family friend. “He was a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful GAA man and he has done our club some service.”
Mary’s father Jack Dunne was a close friend of Jack O’Brien’s and they were at an event in the club in May of last year as two of the founding members. Jack Dunne passed away shortly afterwards and Jack O’Brien went into a nursing home in Clara.
“Jack was the last man standing,” adds Mary. “He instigated the setting up of the club, he was a footballer of note and he played in all positions of the field and played well into the 1960s.”
Jack was a player on the Kilcavan team that won the Junior championship in 1960 and son Niall was captain in 1993 and manager in 2004 when they won that same title. His other son Enda also played with the club for a number of years and was involved in the 2004 success.
Outside of football, Jack was known far and wide in his role with the Sugar Factory in Carlow and was a visitor to a huge number of farms in the region. It was through that job that he was often fondly referred to as ‘Jack the Beetman’.
Kilcavan GAA also posted a tribute on their Facebook page.
“He was club chairman for most of his life and he was always well known for his management style and fundraising abilities,” it says.
“During his playing days Jack was the back bone of his team for many years at the heart of defence in his full back position. He was awarded with Laois sports person of the year in 1965. He was also a well renowned supporter of laois GAA and was known in every GAA club in the County.
“Jack’s love for Kilcavan was always felt by the players and without Jack O’Brien there would be no club today.
“We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the O Brien family, we are honoured to be able to say that we knew Jack and his memory will always live on and be at the heart of Kilcavan GAA.”
Two guards of honour are being organised by the club at the funeral.
Jack died peacefully in the loving care of the staff of Esker Ri Nursing Home, Clara. Sadly missed by his wife Phyl, daughters Maire, Niamh, Emer, Ciara and Sinead, sons Niall and Enda, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, sisters Clare and Josie (Pittsburgh), relatives, neighbours and friends.
Reposing in his home on Wednesday from 4pm with Rosary at 8pm. Reposing on Thursday from 2pm to 5pm with family time thereafter.
Removal from his home on Thursday evening at 6:15 to St Mary’s Church Clonaghadoo arriving at 7pm. Requiem Mass on Friday at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in St Mary’s Cemetery.
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