A formidable presence at every Cou Unty Board meeting
TARA ROCKS GAA club is in mourning following the death of one of its finest clubmen, William (Bill) Owley.
Bill was one of the storied characters involved in Wexford GAA during a lifetime of involvement, either as a player, mentor or officer, while his presence in the boardrooms, particularly the monthly County Board meetings and County Convention, always ensured a lively and entertaining debate.
Bill taught so many young players as they came through the club, and while they may not have been among the elite, it served as a great community outlet for all the young people of the area.
Despite the struggle to maintain a strong player presence, Tara Rocks was a club that always figured on the Wexford fixture agenda.
In many ways the club was the heartbeat of the area, so much so that Bill in his finest moment helped to officially open their new state of the art clubhouse last year.
Bill epitomised all that was good about Tara Rocks and Wexford GAA.
He was a friend to everyone in the club, inspiring generations of young players with a passion that he brought to the club right up to his final days.
Bill had a way with words that few do. One could always rely on him to introduce some witty sentences that would enlighten many a County Board debate, ensuring that they continued late into the night.
Having covered such meetings going back many years, too many to contemplate, it’s with a heavy heart that I write this piece.
I have observed those rousing contributions in the presence of so many delegates, primed to step up in support, no matter what the subject might be.
The club, he believed, was the bedrock of the GAA. He always felt that County Board meetings should be open and transparent, as he continuously went in relentless pursuit of bringing every discussion to the floor of the County Board.
One can go back some 50 years when the now infamous ‘Ban’ came up for discussion.
The atmosphere was built in the months leading up to Convention at County Board level, and everyone knew that a day of serious debate was i
It was in St. Joseph’s Boys’ C that the great debate took place, contributions from the likes of Bill butions of so many characters, su Jimmy Nolan, Dominic Murphy, To and Whites fame, and many more
Bill was an outstanding clubman for Wexford, he was a regular with
He gave a lifetime of service a loss to the club because club pe not easy to get.
He took great pride in his club, a at club games whether challenge o he was a great club presence at C
The death of Bill has led me to r Board meetings of past years.
The meetings were open and tra were lively and forthright, with all ma in the presence of local media.
Bill was always a great believe and clubs should be aware of the
Association, and the manner of conveying that message was via the local media.
Bill had a formidable presence at every County Board meeting. And what a speaker he was.
He was a man of strong opinion, whether dealing with club problems, inter-county teams, provincial or national issues involving the GAA.
He always made his contribution, and was never one to sit in silence, irrespective of the opinions of the people at the top table.
Bill was a real gentleman. He was an intelligent man with that roguish smile.
We can never replace men like Bill and what he brought to the Association, representing the people at grassroots level with distinction.
As well as his love for Gaelic games, he was also a great family man, and his sons, daughters and grandchildren have also made, and continue to make, a great contribution to the club.
Bill will be sorely missed. Condolences to his family and friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.