Long, Martin
June 21, 2011Murt, who was 74 had been in poor health for the past two years but took seriously ill some 10 weeks before his passing. He was hospitalised in St Luke's where he ultimately lost his brave fight.
A native of St Killian's Crescent, Martin was born into a family steeped in the GAA. His brothers Eamonn and Hughie were both footballers of distinction. Murt's late father, Ned Long Senior, known affectionately as 'A Chara' was a former secretary and vice-chairman of Carlow Co Board of the GAA and a highly-respected figure within the broad GAA family. He was a native of Gortnahoe, Co Tipperary. Murt's mother, formerly Bridget Maher, was from Ballingarry. Co Tipperary.
While his brothers were O'Hanrahan's clubmen to the backbone, Murt initially played his football with great town rivals, Eire Og. He won a Carlow JFC medal with Eire Og in 1958, playing at left full forward and scoring in the replayed final against Fenagh which the townsmen won by 1-10 to 1-4. Murt was flown home from England by the club for the game - a major talking point at that time.
Subsequently Murt joined Eamonn and Hughie at O'Hanrahan's clubman. He played at full back and was a very effective number three.
While he did not win a Carlow SFC, Murt did win a SHC medal with Na Piarsaigh in 1963 when he kept no less a man than 'Red' Liamy Walsh in check when playing at left half back for the townsmen. That was a game in which brother Eamonn set a scoring record which still stands for Carlow senior hurling finals, when he notched 5-1.
In the 1960s Murt joined An Garda Siochana and served first in Carrigburn Station at Adamstown, Co Wexford and later New Ross. He played club football with Ballyhogue winning a Wexford SFC medal. He also lined out at senior county level for Wexford playing right half forward.
Murt was subsequently transferred to Crumlin Garda Station and later Sundrive Road, both on Dublin's southside, where he was to spend the remainder of his working life. The Longs lived at Monastery Drive, Clondalkin.
Murt married Zita O'Gorman, a neighbour from St Killian's Crescent.
He was waked at home over the weekend before the removal of the remains on Sunday afternoon to The Cathedral of the Assumption for Requiem Mass celebrated by Fr Brendan Howard, PP Ballon-Rathoe, President of O'Hanrahan's GFC. The con-celebrants were Fr Liam Morgan, CC Askea-Bennkerry and Fr Rory Nolan, Chaplain Carlow IT.
At the end of Mass, Hughie Long thanked people for their consolation and support 'at this sad time'.
He spoke of Murt as a great family man with an easygoing, friendly and good-humoured demeanour - a man "who loved a joke and a bit of fun." Members of O'Hanrahan's GFC formed a guard of honour from the Cathedral to St Mary's cemetery.
He is mourned by his wife Zita, children Damien (Dublin), Breda (Carlow), Martin and Paula (both Dublin), by his brothers Eamonn (Castle Oaks, Dublin Road, Carlow), sisters Joan Fitzharris (Rutland, Bennekerry) and Eileen Dalton (Green Road, Carlow). He is also survived by his five grandchildren Sean, Nadine-Jordan, Courtney and Rachel, by sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, aunts, uncles, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, other relatives, neighbours, friends and by the GAA family of Carlow Town and county.
- Courtesy of Carlow Nationalist, 21st June 2011 Tweet
