A Blues GAA stalwart all his life, John Jones will be missed by both his family, friends and club. Johnny died with a legacy in the football and athletics world behind him but up to his dying day never missed out on what was going on. Born in 1919 on Centaur Street he was the son of Paddy and Kate (Snoddy). He married in 1942 in Rathoe to Nan Dowling and they lived happily for over 61 years. They had nine children, Pat, Oliver, Maura, Una, Roisin, Sean, Liam, Francis and Peadar during that time. For 18 years they lived in Paupish before moving to a new house at Askea bridge in Staplestown where he lived for the rest of his life. A fitter/turner by trade he worked for 45 years with Thomas Thompson and Son Ltd. He changed position from a fitter/turner to a steel erection foreman later in his life and was involved in buildings all over Ireland including Born na Mona factories, Whitegate Oil Refinery, Mosney Holiday Centre and Gortdrum mines. Johnny enjoyed a successful career with O'Hanrahans and Shamrocks winning minor, junior and senior county championships. In the 1930's, he won three minors in a row during the famous period when the club achieved ten titles in succession. A noted athlete he won a senior road race from Tullow to Carlow at 16 years of age. His speciality was between 440 yards and three miles where he won numerous county championships on the track and cross country. In 1945 he won the Odlum Cup when as individual winner he led Carlow AC to victory. He travelled by bicycle to most of the open sports events he took part in with cousins Jack and Podge Phelan and noted cyclists Pa and Mick Reddy and John Monks. When he retired from football and athletics he followed both codes by attending games and meets alike taking great pleasure from seeing his grandchildren competing. Although in failing health he talked about Sonia O'Sullivan in the Olympics and the Derry v Kerry/Laois v Kerry All-Ireland semi finals at senior and minor levels. Johnny will be missed by his children, 20 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, relatives friends and sportsmen from all codes. Courtesy of the Carlow Nationalist September, 2004 Tweet

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