Kerry soccer loses a true friend and passionate supporter with untimely death of Micheal Carr

TRIBUTES have been pouring in from far and wide following the death of well-known businessman and soccer fanatic Micheal Carr of Pipers Cross, Lisselton.

Micheal passed away after a long battle with cancer at the age of 50.

An astute businessman, he owned the Golf Hotel in Ballybunion and was the main figure behind the Tintean Theatre. He also established the traditional dance group Cheoil Chiarria which has delighted audiences all over the world.

Micheal will be fondly remembered for his interest in soccer and one of his proudest achievements was establishing Lisselton Rovers Football Club.

He was elevated to the theatre of dreams when he set up the club and the team went on to win almost every competition in Kerry over a six-year period.

During this time he had secured some of the best players in the county and beyond and they were almost unbeatable on the local domestic scene. His biggest aim was to try and win the FAI Junior Cup and Lisselton got to the quarter-final stage back in 2009 and were unlucky to lose 1-0 to St Peter’s Athlone.

He did a huge amount of work in the Norh Kerry promoting his favourite sport, but unfortunately the Lisselton Rovers pulled out of the league six years ago as players went their separate ways.

Micheal was very good to the local press and was always available to give interviews after big games and gave a fair analysis of a game whether they won or lost.

Huge crowds turned out to pay their respects at his wake at his family home last Thursday and again on Friday morning for his Requiem Mass at St John’s Church in Ballybunion.

Members of the great Lisselton Rovers side he established formed a guard of honour while Balybunion piper Danny Houlihan led the cortege from the barrack corner to St John’s Church and again from the church after Mass to his resting place at the nearby St John’s Cemetery.

Micheal is survived by his wife Martina, son Jonathan, daughter Ava, mother Maureen, sister Kay, brothers Tahdg, Bryan and Sean.

May he rest in peace.