A Tipperary GAA stalwart and a man of exceptional talent is remembered on his anniversary
When the news broke of the passing of Micheál Ó Meara on December 4, 2022 it was met with a wave of sadness.
His passing was felt with profound grief amongst those who had soldiered with him through his long career as an administrator and that multitude of people throughout Tipperary who admired and appreciated the huge contribution he made to the promotion of Gaelic Games in the County.
It was said of Jerry O’Keeffe - who was one of the longest serving secretaries of the South Tipperary GAA Board - that he strode across the history of the GAA in Tipperary like a colossus.
The same could be said in many respects about Micheál Ó Meara who succeeded him and whose tenure in office as Divisional secretary from 1971 until the year of the millennium was a remarkable one in terms of dedication, commitment and efficiency in the promotion of the games of the Gael.
Micheál Ó Meara was a man of immense talent, he could have been anything he wanted to be in terms of journalism, high finance or administration but the GAA were lucky that he decided to make his contribution to Gaelic Games for which he had a lifelong passion.
His many publications over his term in office bear testimony to his ability, his Bloody Sunday book to mark the 75th anniversary of that sad event became an important reference for writers in the years following.
His convention reports were a model of what convention reports should be and his radio programme on TippFM Aon Gno Eile showed his talent as a radio presenter and as an excellent communicator and he had an admiring listenership across a number of counties.
In the history of the South Tipperary GAA 1907 to 2007 a book of 782 pages compiled with a committee he left a legacy of remembrance of those who founded the Board and those at every level who kept the flame alive for 100 years.
He was a man who done everything it was possible to do across the wide spectrum of GAA activities.
He was a club player with Clonmel Commercials and St Marys; he played County minor football, U21 and senior football with Tipperary.
He coached and trained the Clonmel Commercials side that won South and County senior football titles in 1969.
He started refereeing in 1962 and refereed many important games around that period. He was appointed secretary of South Bord nOg in 1964 and served until 1970 where he fine tuned his administrative skills for greater things to come.
The legendary figure of Jerry O’Keeffe was in the twilight of an outstanding career in the GAA and he decided to retire as secretary of the South Board in 1970. Naturally there was huge concern at that time as to who was going to fill this great mans shoes.
The Board convention of 1971 took place in the Town Hall Clonmel on Sunday the 17th of January. There were five nominations for the position of secretary, two candidates withdrew and in the election that followed Micheál Ó Meara came through and was the choice of the delegates as the ninth secretary of the South Board.
It was remarkable that both Jerry O’Keeffe and MicheálÓ Meara who between them served as secretaries of the South Board for seventy years could trace their family background to the Parish of Kilsheelan Kilcash.
Micheál Ó Meara blossomed in the role of South Board secretary and for 30 years he administrated the affairs of the Board in a way that made him highly respected throughout the County and beyond.
Fairness and impartiality were a byword in regard to the way that he handled the affairs of the Board and the way he dealt with the clubs of the Division. His knowledge of the clubs and the personnel running them was immense as was his knowledge of the rules of the Association.
His skilful handling of fixtures and finance had the Board running like clockwork during his 30 year term at the helm. It was an education to work with him; he could answer any question at Board level on fixtures or finance or any other matter relating to the Board without reference to paperwork. What stood out also during his tenure in office was his accessibility and availability to the clubs of the division up to all hours.
He served under ten chairmen and had huge respect for every one of them. He always sought their opinion on matters that affected the Board even though because of his experience his own judgement might be far better than theirs.
He revelled in the role and the Board and the clubs of the Division were the beneficiaries of excellent organisation.
His ability to deal with the trials and tribulations of the onerous responsibilities of the office made him stand out as one of the outstanding Board officials of his era and it was as an administrator that he was to leave a lasting impression on the Gaelic Athletic Association. On his retirement from the role of secretary in the year 2000 the highest honour the Board could bestow on him was to confer on him the presidency of the Board. An honour he richly deserved.
He also served as the first secretary of the Sean Gael (now Laochra Gael) awards, which honour people over 70 years of age who during their lifetimes gave significant service to the GAA in Tipperary and he was the recipient of an award himself in 2013.
In 1995 the United Sports panel honoured him with the award of Sports Executive.
He had a wide range of sporting interests and had a great love of greyhound racing and horse racing and in his younger days was an excellent pitch and putt player.
He was fortunate that his wife Nora was an avid GAA supporter and accompanied him to games all over South Tipperary and beyond and her support and that of his children Vincent and Grace were a tremendous help to him in the discharge of his duties.
Micheál Ó Meara can be described as a man of immense talent whose contribution to the GAA is widely acknowledged and he commanded the respect of all who came across him in the Association. He was a fair and honourable man and his memory and his legacy will endure.
Ni beith a leithaid aon aris.
Seán Ó Nuinseain