Warm tributes paid to late Castleconnor GAA stalwart Bert

WARM tributes have been paid to the late Bert Barrins. Bert passed away at Sligo University Hospital on Wednesday, December 20, surrounded by his loving family.

His local GAA club, Castleconnor in west Sligo, paid a lengthy and touching tribute to the late Bert will be fondly remembered for his contributions not only to the club, but also as a proud representative of the area when on his duties with the county minor team.

The club said: “Bert played football for Castleconnor from a very early age. “There was no pitch in the parish in those days so footballers had to play in Culkins, Mayes, Kilcullen and Flynn fields.

“He played with his brothers Michael and Brendan, Jim Curran, Liam Foody, Seamus Barrins, Atty Boland, Liam Boland, the Maye Brothers, the Finnerty brothers, Ernie Caffrey and the Hanley brothers, just to mention a few.

“He played on senior teams that beat the best in the county at the time, including county champions Tubbercurry and Mullinabreena.

“In 1959, 13 members of the team emigrated and the club ceased to function for a few years.

“Bert emigrated to the US in 1960 where he played in Gaelic Park with Sligo and played handball out at Rockaway.

“He served in the US army for two years and was on standby when the US threatened to invade Cuba.

“He returned home in 1974 and got involved again with Castleconnor, even togging out on the odd occasion alongside Jim Curran when numbers were tight.

“From 1974 on he was involved with club teams. “He was manager in 1980 and1985 when Castleconnor won County Junior Championships and in 1998 when they won the County Intermediate Championship. He was awarded Sligo clubman of the year in Centenary year 1984.

“In 1954 Bert played centre forward for Sligo minors, a fair achievement in those days. That was the year also that Jim Curran and himself performed the first plays/ skits in the parish to raise money to buy jerseys for the team. They also travelled with the play/skits to local parishes by popular demand. “He was Sligo County Board Development Officer for several years also in the late 80s and early 90s.

“He was a member of the county minor team management and he made sure players from Castleconnor and the West Division got a chance to be considered for selection.

“He served in many other roles within the club including chairperson, treasurer, county board delegate and president. He played a major role in securing a permanent pitch for the club and was a trustee until 2022.

“He was deservedly inducted into the Castleconnor Hall of Fame. In his later years he was a great supporter, enjoyed watching grandson Daire and granddaughter Aoibhe playing and hardly missed a game at home or away.

“On one occasion when Bert was managing an underage team the referee was unhappy with the visibility of the lines of the square and refused to start the game until they were improved.

“No lime could be found so Bert resolved the issue when he took a bag of milk replacer (Maverick) from his car boot and used it to lineout the squares.

“Bert has given great service to the club and served in many roles throughout his long life and will be remembered as a legend.

“He was also a great man for the parish outside of the GAA circles, was involved in the community council, community games, local history group, agricultural show and most of all was a great family man.”

Bert was predeceased by his parents Batty and Martha, brothers Michael, Brendan and Noel.

He is survived by his wife Mary and children Bart, Kevin and Fiona, grandchildren Aoibhe, Dáire, Jim and Tom, sisters Sr Delia, Sr Veronica, Emily, and Teresa, daughters-in-law Sharon and Sarah, in-laws, relatives, neighbours and friends. Requiem Mass was held on Friday in St Joseph's Church, Castleconnor. Burial followed Killanley Cemetery. at