Sadness following the death of Ra th nu re hurling legend Mick
There was great sadness last Wednesday following the death of Rathnure hurling legend Mick Butler.
Mick who had celebrated his 80th birthday on December 21, 2016, died peacefully at his home in London surrounded by his family.
A member of the London Wexford Association and Fr Murphy’s Hurling Club in London Mick was born to parents Jack and Mary Butler and he had a brother Joe and step sisters Maggie and Josie (RIP).
Mick was a loving husband to Bonnie and a wonderful caring father to his sons, the late Michael and John and his daughters Breda and Jean and all his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Growing up Mick played with his club Rathnure, a club that is steeped in hurling tradition.
Back in 1955 Mick was the youngest hurler on the Rathnure team who won the Senior Hurling Championship to break the tradition of St Aidan’s club who had dominated the championship for numerous years. Some of Mick’s heroes would have been The Rackard brothers along with other stalwarts.
Mick came to London in the early 1960s.
He was a hard working man and was a painter and decorator by trade. One of Mick’s passions was to sit and repair broken hurls that is a trait that his grandson Chris Weller has inherited.
During his leisurely time Mick would spend many hours hunting rabbits with his Jack Russell dog ‘Barney’ around the perimeter of the Scrubbs playing fields. Mick was a reserved gentleman and very proud of his faith and his family.
He first club that he joined was the Cú Chulainns then continued on to proudly wear the purple and gold with the Father Murphy club where he won championships with both clubs. In 1963 he won an All-Ireland Junior title with London. Mick was the goalkeeper for the London team in 1971 where they were defeated by Kilkenny in Croke Park in the All-Ireland semi-final of the Senior Hurling Championship.
He was an outstanding goalkeeper and it was something that he continued playing right up to 62 years of age.
Back in 1971 Mick was nominated for an All Star Award, the only exile in London who was ever nominated. Mick was the lifetime President of the Fr Murphy GAA Club in London where he would always come out to support the team with his daughter Breda.
He proudly saw his grandson Chris Weller hold the Bill Reilly Cup after the Murphy’s defeated the Pearse’s in the Intermediate County Championship final last year. Mick was a keen supporter of The London Wexford Association and former New Ross Association where his wife Bonnie hails from.
All his life Mick was an avid follower of the Wexford teams. He would always insist on buying his weekly Wexford papers catching up on all the happenings in Wexford.
His remains will be removed to The Sacred Heart Church, Quex Road, Kilburn, on Wednesday, April 5, at 6pm.
His funeral mass will take place on Thursday, April 6, at 12.15pm, again at The Sacred Heart Church, Quex Road followed by burial at Kensal Green Cemetery