His removal last Friday week from O’Shea’s funeral home was exactly three weeks after he had taken ill and rushed to hospital by ambulance from the Spa GAA "31" drive at Darby O’Gill’s.

Hopes of his recovery were slim. The funeral home opened at 4.30pm and removal, due at 6.30pm, did not take place before 9pm, as the crowds grew. We had arrived early with Dan and Noreen Warren and met his wife Nora and their family of 19.

During an interval in the game, Johnny, John Wexford Wickham, Dan Moynihan father of Seamus, and myself, were having a chat when Johnny told us he was not feeling well and asked John Wickham to take his place at the semi-final stage with Mick O’Sullivan as sub for Johnny Randles. They went on to win the final.

Johnny Kelly and John Wickham never missed the weekly "31" game at Gneeveguilla, to which they would travel together.

Over the years Johnny loved coming to Kilgarvan for card games and singsongs. He had a great appreciation for the oldtime traditional songs of Danny Con Kelleher RIP and Michael Godfrey.

Only a few weeks earlier he had travelled to Kilgarvan with Johnny Randles, William and Dave Herlihy, and Ambrose O’Donovan and enjoyed his game of cards at the Roughty Valley.

As usual a request would crop up for a song from Johnny Kelly and always there had to be a repeat. We have already read a lovely tribute written by Spa maestro John Kelly, who was a spectator watching our game that night at the Roughty Valley.

Johnny Kelly’s brother Eamon, the seanchai, RIP, had won fame and renown. Our local garda Tom McDonnell once said to us that his wife Mary, on the first night that she played cards in the company of Johnny, gave her verdict that he had as much claim to fame as the storyteller. Ní beidh a leithéid arís.

CONNRADH: We had some interesting comments from some readers of our column last week on the Connradh Na Gaeilge Ard Fheis held in Tralee.

They felt that 13 branches in both Kerry and Cork, two big counties, and two big G.A.A. strongholds, was only mediocre when you consider the large number of GAA clubs in both counties.

Limerick with 14 were just ahead. It was no surprise to see Galway come up with 26 and Mayo’s 16 was very respectable. In Leinster Dublin’s 17 should be greater, with Meath close up with 14. The fact that six counties in Leinster have only one branch apiece shows the province in poor light.

It would appear that there should be more co-operation between the powers that be in the GAA and Connradh na Gaeilge.

It was no surprise to see Donegal have 14. The Six Counties won many favourable comments, with Tyrone 15 leading the way with 15, Down having a good 10, Armagh 8, followed by Fermanagh and Derry, and of course Antrim in top with a strong 22. For the record we should have stated that the three branches in Great Britain are in Liverpool, Wolverhampton and Glasgow, and one of the three USA branches is in San Francisco.

ADDRESS: The GAA President Seán Ó Ceallaigh was listed to address the official opening of the Ard Fheis on Friday night but was engaged elsewhere at a meeting. It was very much appreciated when he came along for the closing session at 12.30 on Sunday when he delivered an inspiring address for which he got a big ovation.

RACE: The Race Nite held at Roughty Village Bar in aid of St Mary of the Angels, Beaufort, was a great success and raised a large amount of money.

 

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