Redmond, Andy
April 16, 2013The people of Kildavin and the surrounding area were saddened to learn of the death of one of their most ardent supporters, Andy Redmond, after a brief illness on Wednesday, 13 March.
Andy, who was 82 years of age, was known by practically everyone in the immediate area as a result of his work, his love of the GAA, Scor, and his unwavering support for all things associated with his native Kildavin.
Son of the late Michael and Bridget Redmond of nearby Ballinvalley, Andy was born on 27 October 1930. In his youth, he helped out on the family farm but his interest in engineering and specifically in heavy machinery saw him gradually develop a thriving land reclamation business which he eventually concentrated on.
Members of the farming community throughout Carlow and the surrounding counties continuously called on him to avail of his services. Although he had no formal training in this field, Andy was known for his expertise, not alone for what type of machinery to use but the best manner in which to tackle a particular problem.
Andy married the former Dolores Mullins, Coolasnaughta, Myshall in June 1963 and together they moved into a temporary home at Craan, where they lived for three years until their new home was completed at Lackabeg, Kildavin. They had three children, Michael, Brid and Ciaran.
During their time at Craan, the Redmond home became known as a place to go where people played cards, particularly 7s, recounted stories about the area and, above all else, discussed football.
It was as a stalwart of the local GAA club that many people in sporting circles got to know Andy, who was renowned for his knowledge of football. In 1947, the GAA club was formed in Kildavin and in 1953 Andy became club secretary, a position he held for the following 18 years. Today, some of the fruits of his labour can be seen at the local Spellman Park. Lifelong friend Fr Jimmy Doyle recounted at Andy's funeral Mass how the club had come to purchase the ground. In 1967, members discussed the possibility of buying land locally to develop into their own playing pitch.
Unknown to the other members, Andy had selected the site and even gone so far as to purchase seven acres for £1,400. He went home, told his wife and Fr Jimmy what he had done and then said he would have to have the matter raised at the next club meeting to get it ratified, without his friends knowing what he had done.
A decision was taken to proceed, a.s And had guessed, so then the members had to raise funds to develop the grounds. This they did by contacting the-then cardinal of New York, whose grandmother, Ellen Kehoe, came from Kildavin. The cardinal wholeheartedly supported the project and forwarded $2,000 to develop the grounds, which was purchased from Liam Conway and opened in 1970.
Today, following many redevelopments, Spellman Park and the adjoining club facilities are considered among the finest of any club in the country.
No mean player himself, Andy had been a member of the 1957 team along with his brother, Michael, when Kildavin won the County Junior Football Championship and remained very close to his younger brother throughout their lives and Mike's passing on 2 November 2012 caused him great sadness.
The first competition for Scor was held in Carlow in 1970 and, as usual, Andy was anxious to see this develop in his native Kildavin. In 1976, a meeting was called in Kildavin at which Andy was elected chairman of Scor Ceatharlach. His fellow officers were Tommy Murphy, Willie White Brian McStein and Sonny Wilson.
Under their stewardship, the whole concept of Scor spread throughout the county, with teams at various levels competing locally and nationally for honours.
Andy always took great pride in everything local. Both he and his wife had a particular love for Cranavane Well, an
ancient site where coffins were dipped in the well before they were buried. As with a lot of old historical sites, the area had
become overgrown and unused. But Andy obtained funding from leader to develop the site and today it is in pristine condition
where a Mass was held to commemorate all who died in the locality.
Sadly, Andy's wife Dolores died suddenly in 1988. He later remarked that but for the support he received from all his GAA friends he would not have known what to do or how to cope, especially during the long winter nights.
Other interests close to Andy's heart were the local pitch and putt club, of which he was chairman in 1988 and, of course, the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, of which he was a lifelong member. He also expressed an interest in politics and never failed to offer his assistance to the local Fine Gael candidate in either local or national elections.
However, in more recent times his love for horse racing eclipsed all other interests. Although National Hunt was his favourite- he even had a number of horses in training at one time - he also a keen eye for flat racing. He was a frequent visitor to local racing tracks, where he liked nothing better than to pass the time talking to friends from all over the country about racing and GAA.
The esteem in which Andy was held by all who knew him was evident by the large crowds at his removal from his home to the local St Lazarian's parish church on Thursday 14 March, where his remains were received by Fr Joe Fleming and Fr Tom O'Byrne and again at his requiem Mass on Friday 15 March, with chief celebrant Fr Jimmy Doyle. Andy was later laid to rest beside his beloved wife in the nearby new cemetery.
He is survived by his sons Michael (Knockbrack) and Ciaran (Lackabeg), daughter Brid St Ledger (Lackabeg),daughters-in-law Catherine and Bernie, son-in-law Pat, grandchildren, relatives and a wide circle of friends.
Andy's Month's Mind will be held in St Lazarian's Parish Church, Kildavin at 7pm on til Thursday 18 April.
Courtesy of The Nationalist
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