John Mitchel’s five-in-a-row legend John Dalton laid to rest

THE start of 2019 brought the sad news of the passing of the renowned John Mitchels footballer, and popular local man, John Dalton. Born in Clash, Tralee in 1934, to parents John and Margaret Dalton, John came from a proud railway family.

John grew up playing football with his older brother Noel, who passed away in 2017, and under the watchful eye of his fond older sister Etta (now Dukes), who was a huge part of his life to the end.

As a young man he played football with the John Mitchels club and was a vital part of the team who won the County Championship five years in a row from 1959 to 1963. He captained John Mitchels during their very successful US tour in 1964, which saw them playing challenge matches in New York, Chicago, Boston and Connecticut.

He subsequently emigrated to the US, and while there he won seven New York championship medals playing with the New York Kerry team. An all-round sportsman, John also played handball and basketball, and played in the Kerry team that won the All Ireland Senior Basketball final in 1957.

Before emigrating to New York, John worked in the railway, and thereafter the boot factory.

In New York he worked in construction, and also met his future wife, Dubliner Peggy Keogh there.

John and Peggy returned to Tralee in 1976 with their three daughters and bought their beloved family home in Cloonbeg. In the following years they welcomed another daughter and a son. He relished life back in Kerry and instilled a love of the outdoors, including gardening, nature and outdoor pursuits, in his young family. His love of music and his sense of humour livened up their vibrant family home.

John also continued to be an active member of the John Mitchels club, where he ran the club bar for many years and was a trustee until his death.

He lost his beloved Peggy in 1999, but little did he know that the following 19 years of his life would be blessed with seven grandchildren - Jane, Dara, Cathal, Ewan, Roisin, Peggy and Mamie.

Always polite, modest and considerate, John was best described by his late wife Peggy who used to say that he was “very reserved”. Widely acknowledged as a true gentleman, he will be missed by his surviving family; his sister Etta Dukes, his children Noreen, Annette, Helen, Marie and John, his sons and daughter-in-law, and his seven grandchildren.

John Dalton