Deaths of Clifford and Lynch cast pall over GAA communities

TWO GAA communities are this week morning the loss of two fine men who made a huge contribution to their respective clubs, with Derrynane - and the South Kerry Board - morning the sudden death of Barry Clifford, while the John Mitchels club in Tralee have lost their 1961 County Championship winning captain Fred Lynch.

Barry Clifford, who passed away unexpectedly last week just days short of his 50th birthday, was PRO of the South Kerry Board until the end of last year, and was deeply involved with his club, Derrynane, all his life.

His brother Dermot described him as “an Árd Rí in Castlecove”.

Barry is survived by his wife, Ann (née Drummond); sons Jim and Tom; his mother, Breda; brothers, Seamus, Dermot, and Fergus, extended family and many friends.

Meanwhile, the death of Mitchels stalwart Fred Lynch occured on Sunday last, as another link to the Mitchels five-in-a-row county championship winning team was severed.

Fred was an integral part of all five county championship winning campaigns between 1959 and 1963, and he had the honour of captaining the famed Boherbue club to glory in 1961.

Fred played in the half back line in that 1961 county final, as he did in 1959 and 1962, but he featured in the half forward line in the 1960 county final. He was an unused substitute in the 1963 final.

Fred is survived by his wife Annette, son Richard, daughters Joanne and Blánaid, grandchildren, sister Helen, brothers Pat and Jack, extended family and friends.