The Late Jack Dunne The Ballinabranna area of Carlow lost one of its most popular personalities with the passing of Mr Jack Dunne, aged 77, of Craanluskey, Milford. Jack Dunne was a man of many parts, known as a devoted family man, loyal GAA man, staunch Labour Party activist and community leader. His death followed a long period in indifferent health. Born in August 15, 1925 in Raheendoran, Jack attended Ballinabranna National School where his teacher was the late James Brennan, NT. Jack played his football with Ballinabranna, staring out in 1937. He was member of a winning 7-a-side Ballinabranna team which came up against senior opposition in 1957 and won a Carlow Junior Football Championship medal in 1959, when Ballinabranna beat near neighbours Milford in the final. Jack played a corner or wingback. In the mid 1950's he played with Barrow Rovers, an area team, in the Carlow SFC. Rovers embraced Ballinabranna, Fenagh and Myshall. The team reached a Carlow SFL final but lost by two points to the great Clonmore side of that era. Jack held all officer positions within the Ballinabranna GAA Club. It had been one of his greatest ambitions that the club would have its own home and that was achieved when Ballinabranna purchased its own grounds in 1976. A founder member of the St. Fintan's Hurling Club, he also played the game and as with the football club, held all officer positions. It was a proud day in 1971 when three of Jack's sons, Frank, Donal and Raymond, were members of the St Fintan's team which captured the club's second Carlow SHC when defeating Borris in the final, Fintan's having previously captured the 1969 senior county championship. Possessed of a keen interest in badminton, Jack played for the first team in Ballinabranna and held the position of club vice-chairman for eight years. A life-long member of the Labour Party, he chaired many Division Council meetings and held the position of Ballinabranna branch chairman for many years. For his lifetime of service to the party, Jack was the recipient of a silver tray in 1990. A staunch trade unionist all his life, Jack held the position of shop steward for a number of years with the former IT&GWU, now SIPTU. He was a committee member when Rural Electrification was introduced to the Carlow area in 1948 and was also an active member of the first Group Water Scheme committee in the Ballinabranna area, which was established on January 23, 1964. Jack was also a member of the local Graveyard Committee. A man with a great love of the Carlow county colours, Jack had fond memories of the great footballers and hurlers of yesteryear. He would often recall the great Carlow Football teams of the 1940's and was one of the Gaels from the county who cycled to Croke Park for championship matches involving his native county. He held the position of county selector at one stage and represented both Ballinabranna GFC and St. Fintan's HC as a delegate at Carlow Co. Board level. All of Jack Dunne's working life was spent in his local area. He worked with John Alexander in Milford, then with Milford Tannery and finally with the Clogrennane Lime & Trading Company. On a social level, Jack had a great love of music and dancing and would rarely miss a Sunday night at the Ballinabranna GAA clubhouse. He married the former Mai Hallissey from Waterford on January 29 1947 and the couple had nine children- five sons Frank, Donal, Raymond, Noel and Walter, and four daughters Marie O'Leary, Emily Dunne, Annette Kehoe and Colette Brennan. Jack is also survived by his sisters Mrs Emily Hutton (St Killians Crescent, Carlow) and Mrs Nancy Geraghty (Kyleeshall, Raheendoran), by his sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, 29 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren (Lisa, Michael, Oliver, Rachel, Dearbhla, Dylan and Tadgh) nephews, nieces, other relatives and his many friends. The remains were removed to St. Fintan's Church, Ballinabranna, and the funeral mass was celebrated on Monday morning after which burial took place in the adjoining cemetery. During Mass Jack's nephew Leslie Dunne sang two special songs which were favourites of Jack's. Fr. Tom Lawlor, PP Leighlinbridge received the remains and said the Funeral Mass, assisted by Fr Bill Kemmy, CC Arles and Diocesan Chancellor, and Fr Denis Murphy, PP Doonane. The Ballinabranna and St. Fintan's jerseys were placed on the coffin and the two clubs formed guards of honour on both occasions. May the soil of his beloved Ballinabranna rest lightly on Jack Dunne. Courtesy of the Nationalist March 2003 Tweet

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