Austin English's love of Marlfield and Tipperary hurling endured throughout his many years in New York

It was with profound sadness that members of the Marlfield Hurling Club learned of the death of Austin English, a former player and a lifelong supporter of the club.

One of eleven children, six girls and five boys, Austin was born in Marlfield. His father, Thomas, was a cyclist and encouraged all of his children to participate in sport. His mother Sarah came from Borrisoleigh, a hurling stronghold in Tipperary.

The influence of both parents was obvious in Austin’s love for the sport of hurling. He participated as a player at club and county level and was an avid supporter of the Tipperary hurling team throughout his life.

His brother was the late, great Tipperary hurler Theo English.

Austin attended Marlfield National School and registered there in January1942. Former pupils of the school regularly reminisce about the importance of sport during their time in the school, many years before physical education became a core curriculum subject nationally.

Austin had a friendly personality and many of the pupils in the school became his lifelong friends. These included Tommy Ryan, Michael Gubbins and myself. We cycled together during the summer holidays. The bikes were heavy Raleigh bikes or that style of bike, and the outings included visits to Tramore, the Mitchelstown Caves and local towns within cycling distance. These memories are precious now.

Cycling trips also included night-time cycling, as Austin also loved dancing. The Collins Hall was a favourite venue. The bicycle was parked at Thady Burke’s bicycle park for 6 old pence. Austin was particularly good at waltzing and jiving.

Marlfield Hurling Club was founded in 1946 and Austin played with Marlfield for a number of years before he emigrated to the USA. Austin could drive and had access to a car when many others did not. He regularly collected team mates from outside the Oisín cinema and chauffeured them to “The Lawn” for training or to matches played further afield. He encouraged team mates to train and often collected players in the car from their homes for this purpose.

When Marlfield Hurling Club did not field a minor hurling team, Austin played with St Mary’s Hurling Club. This team won 1952 and 1954 South Tipperary Minor Hurling medals. Although hurling was his first love, he also played football with Clonmel Commercials and was a member of the panel in 1954 that won the South and County Tipperary Football Championship.

Austin was a proud Marlfield man and won junior championship medals with the club in 1958,1976 and 1983. As the club progressed to senior level, so did Austin. He was a member of the team that won the South Tipperary Senior Hurling Championships in 1960, 1962 and 1970.

Following his emigration to the USA, he remained a member of the club and whenever he returned to Ireland he trained with the club and regularly togged out for the club during his holidays.

In 1983, he displayed remarkable loyalty to the club when he returned to Ireland to play with Marlfield in a replay of the South Tipperary Junior Hurling final against Ballingarry.

After emigrating to the United States, Austin played club hurling in New York and won New York Senior Hurling medals in 1962, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1985 and 1989.

He also played for Tipperary. His first game in a Tipperary jersey was in the 1962 Munster Junior Hurling Championship.

In 1962 Austin emigrated to the USA. He arrived at Idlewild (now JFK) Airport and within a few hours played his first hurling game on American soil for Tipperary against Offaly in Gaelic Park.

He wore the Tipperary jersey with honour and distinction In New York on numerous occasions. He was named in a number of New York International hurling teams between 1963 and 1977. He won 1985 and 1987 New York Junior Hurling titles with his native county.

Austin was also selected for the New York GAA Hall of Fame award. His hurling career spanned three decades.

The Marlfield Club extends its sincere condolences to the English family, both in Tipperary and New York, to Mae, John, Patricia and Heather, along with Austin’s grandchildren and extended family.

Ar son Cumann Lúthchleas Gael Inislounaght: Comhbhrón ó chroí ort as bás Austin. Tá sibh inár gcuid smaointe agus paidreacha.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

- Paddy O’Keeffe