Sadness at the death of treble All-Ireland winner Jerome

THE passing of former Kerry player Jerome O’Shea (87) was greeted with sadness in his native Cahersiveen this week, where he was born and raised. Jerome lived in Terenure in County Dublin for many years with his beloved wife, Margaret. There the couple raised their family. But Jerome always kept a close eye on the fortunes of the St Mary’s GAA Club, and he thoroughly enjoyed the club’s success in recent years.

As well as a National League medal, Jerome won three All-Irelands with Kerry in 1953, ’55 and ’59, having made his debut for the county in 1952. Jerome served as economic advisor and representative of the Irish government at the EEC and the United Nations, and when he retired from playing he presented the GAA World of Sport programme on RTÉ.

His son, Conor, is a former Irish international rugby player and is the current coach of the Italian national side.

Christy O’Connell from the St Mary’s GAA Club paid tribute to Jerome, a man he described as a gentleman and proud of his roots.

“Jerome was a native of the east end in Cahersiveen town, and a gentleman. He was a passionate sports man and was always very proud of where he came from,” said Christy.

“He always kept in touch and followed the fortunes of Kerry and St Mary’s teams. He enjoyed St Mary’s junior and intermediate success in recent years and was in Croke Park to see it. His brothers, the late Pa and Donie, and Ted and Brendan, were also very good footballers,” Christy said.

The Late Jerome O’Shea