Plunkett, Jim
March 06, 2012Jim's passing, at the age of 82, united the communities of Bagenalstown and Carrigallen. He had been ill since December and was hospitalised in Kilkenny, Cavan and Dublin prior to his death.
A native of Stroke, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim Jim came to Carlow in 1949 when he went to work in the pub, drapery and hardware of Paddy Drea in Fenagh, where Kearney's business is located today.
In 1950 Jim moved to Connolly's of Bagenalstown, where he gave sterling service over some 45 years. Initially, he worked in the grocery department before moving to the wholesale section. Finally, Jim worked as manager of Connolly's Cash & Carry, Tullow Road, Carlow for a long number of years. He retired in 1995 after many years as a highly regarded and valued employee.
Having won a football championship with Aughawillan in his native county, Jim threw in his lot with Muinebheag footballers and later St Andrew's.
He was a good fielder and a scoring wing half forward, winning a Carlow JFC medal in 1952 and a county SFL title in 1955 when St Andrew's defeated Palatine in the final.
After his playing days, Jim devoted his energies to the official side of the club, serving as secretary for more than a decade. He was also a selector and a St Andrew's delegate to Carlow Co Board.
As a club officer he was noted for his efficiency and high standards, insisting that everything be done strictly in compliance with the GAA rulebook.
His life-long friend Micheal Jones, The Parade, spoke with great sadness this week at the passing of Jim. Micheal commented: "Jim spent 63 years in Bagenalstown and his whole life revolved around the GAA."
Micheal was among a group of Jim's former St Andrew's football colleagues who formed a guard of honour at Jim's funeral in Carrigallen, proudly wearing the green and gold jerseys of the Bagenalstown club.
"Jim and myself went to big matches in Croke Park on numerous occasions down the years and we were together in the stand at Dr Cullen Park when St Andrew's won the 2011 Carlow IFC title by beating Clonmore," Micheal said.
"We went walking together every Sunday. Jim would call for me one Sunday and we would walk the Barrow line to The Lock. The next Sunday I would call to Jim on the Royal Oak Road and we would walk to The Barrow Bridge."
As Micheal said, everything about the Leitrim native was "straight down the middle."
Jim was a great friend down the years of the late Willie O'Connor, the long-serving Carlow GAA county secretary, who resided in Bagenalstown for many years before moving to Carlow.
In recent years Jim divided his time between his native county and Bagenalstown, spending two weeks in the west and the next fortnight in Carlow.
A number of people from the Bagenalstown area, including former Connolly work colleagues, travelled to Carrigallen over the two days for Jim's removal, Funeral Mass and burial.
Jim reposed at his home on Saturday, February 25 before removal to St Mary's Church, Carrigallen. The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday by Fr Ultan McGoohan, a cousin of Jim's wife, Lily. During the Mass, Fr McGoohan refereed to Jim Plunkett as "Gentleman Jim' - a description of the man to which the people of Bagenalstown and district would surely subscribe.
Jim was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery, following Mass.
He is mourned by his wife, Lily (nee McGoohan), daughters Mary O'Bryne (Navan) and Carmel Plunkett (Roscommon Town), brothers Oliver and Pappie (both Ballinamore), by sister Lily Burke (Solihull, England) nephews, nieces, brother-in-law John, Carmel's Jack, son-in-law Seamus, by his good neighbours, former GAA colleagues and many friends in Leitrim and Bagenalstown.
A minute's silence to Jim Plunkett's memory was observed before the start of the Carlow v Down National Hurling League Division 2A tie at Dr Cullen Park on Sunday 26 February.
- Courtesy of Carlow Nationalist, 6th March 2012 Tweet
