Mulhall, Jack
July 03, 2012Mr Jack Mulhall, Fair Green, Tullow, Co. Carlow, who passed away peacefully at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny on Tuesday 8 May, was part of the golden era of Tullow football from the late 1950s up to the mid-'60s, winning a county SFC medal with the wearers of the blue and gold in 1959 and as a panelist in '63 and '64.
Aged 82, Jack was the last surviving member of a large family and was extremely proud of his Tullow heritage.
He was son of the late Pat and Isabella (nee Flynn) - two families who had a strong association with the business life of the town. The Nevin family on his father's side were proprietors of The Irish Bar in the town's Church Street, while the Flynn family on his mother's side is long established in the motor trade.
Jack had only been hospitalised for a matter of days before his passing.
Along with his late brother Tom, Jack was involved in Mulhall Transport Ltd in Tullow. An industrious man, he worked on the mechanical and driving side of the business. Mulhall's was also involved in the haulage business and, for many years, Jack hauled beet to the Carlow sugar factory.
He was also engaged in school transport for a number of years and, as a private bus operator, transported university students to and from Dublin up to the mid-1990s.
Jack Mulhall was a man who lived life to the full.
In his football days, he was a small, wiry, brave corner forward with Tullow, winning his first SFC medal when Tullow defeated Kildavin in the final of 1959, when brother Ben - who passed away in 1991 - was also a team member. The Memorial Park in Clonegal is dedicated to Ben, who served as principal in the local national school. Ben, an accomplished hurler, was a member of the Carlow team which won the All-Ireland intermediate title in 1962.
Jack was never one to show fear. The story goes that, on one occasion, an opposing goalie marked out the territory for Jack before the throw-in, warning him sternly to stay outside the square. It was not long until Jack had goalie and ball in the back of the net!
He played with some outstanding Tullow county senior players of the day - Joe Nolan, Billy 'Buller' Canavan, Sean Nolan, the Jackman brothers, Pat Brophy and Mick Donovan. Jack also won back-to-back Carlow senior football leagues with Tullow as a player in 1958 and '59, thus being part of the league-championship double of 1959. He was also the holder of a Carlow JFC medal, which he won in 1951 with Tullow.
Jack was a keen follower of National Hunt and point-to-point racing. He owned horses in his time, the best being Linden, which finished second to Greasepaint in a valuable steeplechase at Galway. Greasepaint went on to finish second to Corbiere in the Aintree Grand National of 1983.
A lover of Irish music, Jack played the accordion and was a member of Tullow branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. He was also a regular devotee of The House of Song and Storytelling at the Weaver's Cottages in Clonegal. He was also an active member of the local Muintir na Tire in his younger days.
Jack took part in a number of local pantomimes in the late 1960s and early '70s.
Jack also had a deep interest in vintage machinery, particularly cars and tractors. He attended many vintage rallies throughout the country and in England; Stourpaine in Dorset was a favourite destination for Jack in this regard. Over the years, he had built up a good number of business contacts and enduring friendships in England. A miniature vintage tractor was brought to the altar at his funeral Mass, symbolising his interest in the machinery, tractors and cars of yesteryear.
Jack demonstrated his good nature by always being available to help out with the transport needs for outings of the less fortunate in the Tullow area.
His remains reposed at Byrne's Funeral Home, Tullow, before they were removed on Wednesday evening, 9 May, to the local Church of St Patrick, where they were received by Mgr Brendan Byrne, PP, Tullow. Members of St Patrick's GFC, including some former playing colleagues, formed a guard of honour to the church.
Fr Andy Leahy, CC, Tullow was chief celebrant of the funeral Mass on Thursday, assisted by a number of clergy.
The readings and Prayers of the Faithful, along with the bringing forward of the Offertory gifts, were undertaken by family members.
Following Mass, Jack was laid to rest in the local St Patrick's Cemetery, with Mgr Byrne and Fr Leahy reciting the final prayers at the graveside.
He is survived by his nephews, nieces, sisters-in-law Margaret and Molly (both Tullow), brothers-in-law Peter Wiles (Norfolk, England), by cousins, good neighbours, GAA colleagues and many friends.
In a tribute to Jack Mulhall, Joe Nolan, the former Tullow and Carlow goalkeeper, said that Jack and the Mulhall family were stalwart GAA men, who were fully behind Gaelic football in Tullow for the past 60 years or more.
Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist, July 3rd, 2012. Tweet
