The late Dinnie Cunningham
As the light passed from Dinnie Cunningham and he breathed his last on Sunday morning he left the earth having lived on it for more than eighty years, living a contented and fulfilled life.
On the playing field Dinnie won a minor western hurling title in 1956. I would have thought that the highlight of his hurling career was his ability to keep Ned Power out of goals as he manned the posts and played in the County Intermediate hurling final of 1972.
He played his part in goals for the footballers as they won the Junior football campaign of 1975. I have two visions of Dinnie in Tallow gear. One is of him in a hooped top from a junior football team from ‘68 which looked like a convict’s uniform in black and white, and the other is that of the 80’s blue and gold jumper that he kept in pristine condition well into the 1990s .
Off the field Dinnie did Trojan work. He was vice-president of the club upon his death. He was chairman, vice chairman and secretary of the club. He acted in various selectorial duties. He sold Déise draw tickets, he was the first man to mow the grass on the new bottom field. He acted as field officer for countless years. He was consistent in his beliefs that he would keep the hurling field in the same manner as his back garden, that of an elegant surface. Up to last week and with illness having engulfed his body Denny still handed his lottery tickets in, in the same jovial manner that he always carried himself with.
On a club tour to Barcelona with his collar up and chest proudly out he belted out ‘Delilah’ to the crowd like it was sung by Tom Jones himself. He did many years coaching in the primary school as his enthusiastic style enthralled the kids as they learned from his knowledge. At the weekend his grandson Oscar played on the Cois Bhríde U14 football team that won the county final and I’m sure if he wasn’t confined to his sickbed he no doubt would have attended the game with pride oozing out of him on the victorious result.
Tallow GAA would like to pass on our condolences to his family, his wife Teresa, daughter Fiona, sons Michael T, Eamonn, Colin and extended family. As he makes his final journey he is no doubt whistling away with a blissful demeanour.
Tá súil againn go dtabharfaidh Dia isteach sa solas é agus é ag beannú dó ar a luach saothair shíoraí.
COIS BHRÍDE
Congratulations to the victorious U14 football team that beat a stubborn Gaeltacht team after extra time in the county final.
TFC
We would like to thank Mike O’Neill for donating a new fuel tank after ours was vandalised last year.
LOTTERY
It’s postponed until next week with all tickets, paper and online, valid for the following draw. As Dinnie Cunningham was one of the founders of the lottery it is only right that it be deferred in his honour.
Notaí Tulach an Íarainn sponsored by Goalpost Ireland.