Newtownshandrum GAA mourn club president Jack Madden
THE death occurred suddenly on Tuesday October 29 at his residence of Jack Madden, Newtownshandrum.
The late Jack, who had recently celebrated his 90th birthday, was very well known and liked.
At the time of his death he was the Life President of Newtownshandrum GAA Club. He was at the helm in the club for many years serving as player, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, fundraiser and selector. He was club Vice President from the mid 70s to early 80s when he was appointed Life President.
He served as Avondhu Board delegate in 1975 and was an Avondhu senior hurling selector in 1975 and 1976. He was club Chairman in the early 70s and was Club Treasurer in 1959. He was club Runai in 1981.
Jack was a key committee member in the organising of the club trip to the US in 1977. In 1955 when Newtown played their first game in senior hurling championship the late Jack was their goalkeeper against the famed Glen Rovers who had many Cork players at the time including the late Christy Ring. In 1963 was in goal for the Junior A hurling championship game against Araglin.
He was involved with the ‘Newtown’ club through lean periods and also when they had their many successes including being All Ireland senior champions in 2004 and All Ireland runners up in 2006. Jack was also a Life Long member of the Pioneer Total Abstinance Association and he did his best to promote Temperance all through his life.
Jack was a deeply religious man and was a founder member of the Friends of Mallow Hospital and has been their Chairman for many years up to his death. He was involved in many fundraising ventures and over the past 8 years the Friends of the Hospital have spent more than a quarter of a million euro on hospital equipment. In his very young days he was the Priest’s driver in Newtown and he later became a driver with Newtownshandrum Creamery. In later years he became a Transport Manager with Golden Vale. He was a top member of the I.T.G.W.U.
Jack was also well known as a GAA referee during the 1960s and 70s. He was known to be very fair and nearly always was able to state in his report that it was a well contested game. He took charge of matches in Avondhu, Duhallow, West and South Limerick. He also refereed at County Board level for Limerick GAA also. He took charge of many games in Avondhu including the 1969 Novice Hurling final between Churchtown and Ballygiblin.
Jack was predeceased by his wife
Bernie. His popularity was borne out in the very large and represented attendance that were present at his funeral in Hawe’s Funeral Home Charleville on Thursday.
There was a very fine gathering at St. Joseph’s Church Newtownshandrum. Members of the local GAA and other organisations in the village held a guard of honour as the cortege made its way to the Church. His coffin was draped in the ‘Newtown’ colours. There was also a fine attendance at the Requiem Mass and burial on Friday. There was another guard of honour at the graveyard in Shandrum as the coffin made its way to its final resting place.
To his daughters Margaret (Heffernan), Kay (Anderson), sons-in-law Liam and Michael, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives neighbours and many friends we tender our sincere sympathy.