South Kerry out in force to say goodbye to a GAA stalwart
“HE was a ferocious worker for the locality,” Dermot Clifford said this week of his late brother, Barry Clifford.
“It’s hard to even talk about. It’s a huge blow to his family and to his locality.”
Barry – a stalwart of Castlecove and its surrounds, in matters GAA and non- GAA – died unexpectedly in Cork University Hospital last week, days short of what would have been his 50th birthday.
His death comes as a tragic blow to his family – including his wife, Ann; and sons, Jim and Tom – but also to the wider community, who paid their respects at multiple points leading up to his Funeral Mass and burial on Monday.
It was this community involvement that Barry will be best remembered for, Dermot told The Kerryman, but while his GAA background with Derrynane, Sneem/Derrynane and South Kerry – whether as a player or officer – is known county-wide, his non- GAA work will not be forgotten either on his home patch.
“He was hugely helpful,” Dermot said. “You’ll know his GAA background, but what’s coming through here, big time, is that he was a huge man for his community. He was the go-to man for most things: he could pull a calf from a cow; he could pull a tractor from a dyke; and what’s coming through is that he couldn’t give ‘no’ as an answer.
“I thought I knew him – but there was more to his bow. He was a huge community man, and it’s hard to put that into words.”
Dermot also described his brother as a decisive individual, always happy to give an underdog a break, and he was fiercely proud of his family. His nephews, David and Paudie, were a huge source of this pride of course – through their footballing exploits in Kerry, East Kerry, and Fossa colours – but the pride didn’t stop there.
“He was ferociously proud of all his family, and all his nieces and nephews. You’ll know about David and Paudie, of course, but he was fierce interested in all of them and in everything they were doing,” Dermot said.
“He did a huge amount for the youth. In latter years, what with his own two boys, he was big involved with Coiste na n Óg having been involved in all levels of the club up to that. I would describe the impact this will have on Castlecove as similar to what Páidí Ó Sé’s death had out in West Kerry. He was like an Árd Rí in Castlecove.
“In the last three months, he was also the go-to man in looking after our mother, Breda, with the COVID-19 lock-down going on.”
These sentiments were echoed by GAA clubs across the county not least his own club, many of whom formed part of the more 500-strong guard of honour at his funeral on Monday. From under-age players who looked up to Barry to his own team-mates at senior level, young and old came to say goodbye to Barry in his native Castlecove. From a distinguished football career in his own right he remained a key stalwart of the club, training the next generation.
“He was the back-bone of the club. We can never replace him or his dedication and commitment. He did more than anyone could ever ask,” said chairman Michael Donnelly.
Such was the loss that the guard of honour stretched from the village to his home near the White Strand on Monday.
The devastating sadness at this death was also seen on Friday as Barry’s remains were brought home from CUH.
A guard of honour stretched along the village of Glenflesk organised by the East Kerry board while in Sneem and Castlecove locals also came out as a mark of respect for Barry and his family as the hearse made its way to his home place
Barry was so well-known that his story was published in ‘Kerry Bravehearts’ a book by journalist Con Dennehy which told of Barry’s battle with cancer, a triple bypass and a serious farm accident – yet Barry never let any of it get him down, and his love for his wife, Ann, and two children, centre to his life and story.
Barry is also mourned by his mother, Breda; brothers, Seamus, Dermot, and Fergus; aunts; nieces and nephews; parents-in-law; sisters- and brothersin-law; relatives; neighbours and many friends. He is predeceased by his father, Jamesey.