Cordal stand plaqueinhonour of Tom Wrenn
KERRY County Board chairman and Brosna native, Tim Murphy unveiled a memorial, plaque at Cordal GAA Club grounds on Saturday evening.
The unveiling of the plaque has dedicated the stand there as ‘ The Tom Wrenn Memorial Stand’ forever more.
The ceremony took place after the Cordal v Knocknagoshel county league game which started at 6pm.
Along with members of the Wrenn family, the huge attendance included MEP, Seán Kelly and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin,TD.
The newly appointed Minister Griffin wasn’t letting the grass grow under his feet as he had visited this side of the country earlier that day. He has already dropped into An Ríocht AC for the Denny Kerry Community Games Finals in the company of party colleague, Cllr. Bobby O’Connell.
The Cordal GAA Club plaque, of black Indian granite and the work of O’Connor Memorials, Castleisland, features a photograph of the late Mr. Wrenn taken by club photographer, Nora Fealey in 2014 after Tom announced his retirement from countywide refereeing duties.
The late Tom Wrenn died in March 2016 and his loss to family, friends and club and community is still felt – and, evidently, remembered.
If you ever needed to epitomise or personify the oft used phrase A Community Man – then, Tom Wrenn fitted every imaginable category of that broad sweep.
Every baptised child, every holy communion, confirmation, wedding – Tom was there as parish clerk at all the important points in the circle of life of so many people.
With Saturday’s unveiling, Cordal GAA Club members honoured and remembered their chairman, inspira- tional leader, referee, worker and East Kerry Board servant.
Tom was also honoured by the East Kerry Board shortly before his untimely death.
His really proud moment came in the midst of his own community, on his own GAA field in Cordal. This was on the occasion in June 2015 of the visit of Uachtaráin Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Aogán Ó Fearghail to re-open the pitch after an exhausting and intensive fundraising campaign and a programme of drainage and resurfacing work.
Long and loyal service was a hallmark of Tom Wrenn’s life and that extended to his career as a mechanic.
As boy and man he worked with Ahern’s Garage for over 45 years. Ahern’s director, Pat Ahern paid tribute to Tom on hearing the news of his death.
“Tom was one of the main men in the Ahern’s set up. He has been here a lot longer that most of us and he’s known throughout the county and beyond by people who have had vehicles tested here over the years. He’s a huge loss to us and another link with the origins of the firm lost, God rest him,” said Mr. Ahern.
It is appropriate then that Ahern’s are associated with the memorial plaque on the wall of the stand.
There was a lot more written about the late Tom Wrenn at the time of his death and, no doubt, stories of the boundless dedication and energy he put into his local GAA club will be recalled in the years ahead with a glance at the plaque on The Tom Wrenn Memorial Stand.