Tributes paid following passing of Life President of GAA club in Offaly

THE death has occurred of the Life President of Seir Kieran GAA Club Willie (Billy) Dooley of Kilmaine, Clareen.

Willie, who played minor hurling for Offaly, and also served as an Offaly senior hurling selector, had a lifelong association with his native Seir Kieran Club and his passing will be widely mourned.

Seir Kieran GAA Club paid the following tribute to Willie Dooley.

“It is with great sadness that Seir Kieran GAA is hearing of the passing of our Life President, Willie Dooley of Kilmaine. At one time or another, Willie held virtually every role in our Club, and made a unique contribution at every hand's turn. He was equally a pillar of the Seir Kieran Parish community, a fierce local patriot, and a great Gael.

“Willie played Junior hurling with Seir Kieran from 1962 to 1969 and Senior hurling from 1970 to 1973, winning an Offaly JHC medal in 1969. He also played for Offaly, in the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship of 1964.

“Owing to his job as an ACOT (later renamed Teagasc) advisor, Willie lived away from Clareen from the late 1970s through the 1980s, although he kept up his involvement in various ways. One such occasion was in 1980-81 when Offaly hurling made its big breakthrough. It was Willie (along with the late Joe Hanamy from the Doon GAA club) who brought to the celebrations those hurlers still living from the 1923 and 1929 Offaly Junior All Ireland winning teams.

“Since himself and Maureen came back to live in the district in the mid-1990s, Willie has continuously been on our Club committee. He was frequently a selector as well, including in two of the years (1995 and 1998) when Seir Kieran won the Offaly SHC and took home the Sean Robbins Cup. He was also a selector for the County, with the Offaly Senior hurlers in 1997.

“During Willie's five years as our Secretary at the turn of the Millennium, the Club history since 1887 was published. He was the driving force behind the building of the new Club Rooms (beside the Hurling Field at Clareen Cross), which were completed in late 2005. By the time of the official opening of the Club Rooms, performed by Brian Cowen in April 2006, this facility was entirely free of debt. Willie was keen that it be used for the widest benefit possible, for example as a social outlet for elderly or isolated members of the community. He would later secure funding for, and see to completion, a walking track around the Hurling Field.

“Willie was just as willing to 'put in the hard yards' for the betterment of his native parish. His deep Christian faith found expression in his practical help for other people, the full tale of which will probably never be told. Earlier in life, he had spent two years as a volunteer with the Athlone branch of the Samaritans, a time he looked back on very fondly. He remained a great listener with a consoling and encouraging way of framing things.

“In 1997, Willie was a founder member and secretary of the Seir Kieran Project, which aimed in the first instance to raise awareness of the untapped potential of the monastic site. He invited nationally-renowned experts, such as Professor Muiris O Suilleabháin of UCD, to advise the Project. Over time, this has led to more in-depth study, mapping and conservation works which are still on-going. Willie had a clear view of how all of this work could be drawn together into an attractive visitor experience, in keeping with the landscape and faith traditions of Seir Kieran, and to the future benefit of all parts of the local community. Although ill health was beginning to take its toll, he was still spurring these efforts forward until a few months ago.

“Whether in the Club committee, at the County Board, on the sideline of the hurling pitch, or at the Parish Council, Willie relentlessly planned ahead. He was brilliant at 'roping in' whoever might have something to offer, and cajoling them to get the best out of themselves. He could be acerbic and was never afraid to ruffle feathers, but knew how to leaven this with humour, light-heartedness and kindness. He was a born leader. Like certain mountains, he could make his own weather.

“Willie was Chairman of Seir Kieran GAA from 2014 to 2016, and was elected Life President of our Club in 2022. His passing is a huge loss that will be keenly felt by Parish and Club. The Club extends its deepest sympathies to Willie's wife Maureen, daughter Deirdre, sons Enda and Brendan, daughters- and son-in-law, grandchildren, sister Maureen, brother Joe, extended family, and a wide circle of friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílís.”

Willie's Funeral Mass will was celebrated at Seir Kieran Church on Thursday followed by burial in the local cemetery.