The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Mike Rice remembers Georgie O’Callaghan
A SHINING light in the promotion of underage soccer in the county particularly in Castleisland was extinguished with the death of the much loved George O’Callaghan who was affectionately known as the father figure of his native club.
Georgie had been in good health until very recent times and news of his death after a short illness touched the hearts of everyone who knew him.
Georgie was the founder member of the club back in 1973 and over the past four and a half decades has done tremendous work promoting the game in the area.
Georgie was given a huge send off at his funeral with huge crowds turning out for the removal of his remains to Castleisland Church on Tuesday while teams and officials of the club formed a guard of honour.
The small North Kerry town came to a standstill on Wednesday for his funeral Mass. Among the attendance was the CEO of the FAI John Delaney who left a business trip in Europe to attend the funeral of his great friend.
The church was packed with all the players that he coached over the years as well of his huge multitude of friends and neighbours and his friends from the soccer family throughout the county and beyond.
The chief celebrant at the Requiem Mass was Canon David Lupton of Manchester who had built up a great relationship with Georgie on the many trips he made to Manchaster with his young players for the past 45 years.
Fr Lupton paid tribute to Georgie who he described as a man of great faith who made an enormous contribution to the promotion of soccer in Castleisland.
He said he has fond memories of Georgie on all the soccer trips and they built up a great relationship over the years.
He recalled the trip they made to the United States for the Millinium and the great trip to the World Cup in Italy.
He said although Georgie never married he had hundreds of children (a comment that drew laughter from the congregation), who he nurtured for over almost half a century.
He said he was privileged to be at Georgie’s bedside during his final illness and while the last 2 weeks were tough he was touched by the number of people who called to visit him and inquired about his welfare.
At the end of the ceremony the chairman of the Castleisland Club Patrick O’Rourke said Georgie was a true legend who had a huge heart and he instilled discipline and respect in all the underage teams he managed over the past 45 years.
O’Rourke said O’Callaghan lived for the club and was cutting the grass and lining the pitches every weekend and his time keeping for matches was second to none. He was an avid Manchester United supporter and modelled himself in the footsteps of his all time hero Alex Ferguson.
He said one thing Georgie was not happy with was that the club did not have its own grounds, and was pleased to say that Georgie was involved in the negotiations that resulted in the go ahead been given for the club’s new Astra Turf pitch in the town.
It is sad that Georgie won’t be around to see this project come to fruition but no doubt he will be keepng a close eye in that big football stadium in the sky.
Children and teenagers from all the local schools lined the route of the funeral procession after Mass as his coffin was shouldered up the town by members of the Castleisland FC.
Business people in the town closed their doors and pulled down their shutters as a mark of respect to a man who was held in such high esteem in the area.
Clubs the length and breath of the county was represented at the funeral. A huge guard of honour was provided by all the young players he had coached as well all present and past senior players to whom he was legend.
I knew Georgie for over 40 years and got to know him much better when I got involved in this job. I found him to be very accommodating and he had a vast knowledge of the game. I was struck by the huge passion he had for the game and the pride he had in his own club. Wherever Georgie travelled he always wore his green Castleisland Jacket.
As well as producing great underage teams a few of Georgie’s young players went on to play with cross-channel clubs.
Since the KDL entered a team in the U-17 League Georgie provided the ball boys for all the games at Mounthawk Park bringing the lads to the game by minibus and they always did an excellent job under his supervision.
The phenomenal impact he had on the sporting life of young teenagers in Castleisland was recognised nationally in 2004 when he was honoured by President Mary McAleese for his outstanding work in the community. He had very fond memories of the trip to Aras an Uachtarain to collect his award.
He also received awards for his work with young people from Kerry County Council and the FAI.
Georgie has left a huge legacy of cherished memories behind which will be around for many generations to come. He will be a huge loss to the young people of Castleisland and the club will find difficulty in getting a replacement of his stature.
His sad passing will create a huge void in the town of Castleisland and he will be greatly missed by the entire community.
Georgie got the huge send off he richly deserved and his legacy will live long in the memory of those who were fortunate enough to have known him.
He is survived by his twin brother James and sister Mary as well as his extended family to whom deepest sympathy is extended.
Georgie was laid to rest in Kilbanivane Cemetery.