PJ ‘The Ferry’– family man and proud Skellig Ranger

The Late PJ O’Sullivan, Portmagee

HIS many friends in the Portmagee, Valentia and general Iveragh area were very saddened and shocked to learn of the untimely death of PJ O’Sullivan, New Road, Portmagee and formely of the village Portmagee.

The man widely known in the area as ‘PJ the Ferry’, was a great Skellig Rangers man & in his early days as an underage player in the 1960’s. He played with the Rangers, South Kerry, Cahersiveen C.B.S, Cahersiveen vocational school and Kerry Techs.

In 1965 he was one of the top forwards in the south Kerry under 16 team, that won the first ever county under 16 championship, which also had 8 more of his Skellig Ranger playing colleagues as part of the team & panel .He was also part of the Skellig Rangers minor team, that won the South Kerry minor championship of 1966.

PJ played in Croke park with Kerry techs in the All Ireland vocational school final of 1966, where 5 other Rangers players lined out with him. PJ emigrated to London, as did many of his Team mates of that time. When PJ returned again in the 1970s to settle in Portmagee, he got stuck in again in helping out his beloved Rangers & held numerous positions in the club.

The club had made a start in fundraising for a new pitch in the early 70’s but under a new committee spear headed by PJ & his friend Brendan Casey. They undertook a massive fundraising effort to get Skellig Rangers its first permanent home.

They came with the idea of ‘Tops of the towns’ variety competition between all clubs in south Kerry & it proved a massive success & the purchase and development of the field costing £40,000 was cleared in two years and the pitch opened for its first game in 1981.

PJ was involved in many teams at that time being a selector on the seniors & training under age right down to U12’S. He really enjoyed the clubs successes & there was no prouder man in the club when Skellig Rangers won The All Ireland junior final of 2009 & the South Kerry senior championship of 2006. He followed the underage Skellig Rangers team right up to the present day & also took serious interest in the Senior team. His Green Van will be miss coming in the gate of Pairc Cill Imeallach on the days of matches.

As a family man there was no better provider for his family & he worked in the buildings all over Ireland, England & Germany in order to rear his family & In recent years he worked with the family shellfish business going to France & for the past year he worked on the Skellig boats taking tourist to the rock. PJ will be sadly missed by all who knew him. We offer sincere sympathy to his wife Louise, his sons Noel, Brian & Eoin. His Daughters, Niamh, Orla & Ciara. Brothers Seamie & Paul. Sister Marian, his Granchildren whom he adored & Nephews, Nieces & all other relatives.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

The Late PJ O’Sullivan