Mitchell, Joe
October 04, 2013On Friday, members of the club formed a guard of honour and carried the coffin containing his remains to St Colman's Church and next day, following Requiem Mass to Mount Cross Cemetery. Fr Frank Larkin PP officiated at the obsequies.
And the Hurling Board Chairman encapsulated the mood of sympathy in the parish, saying "In our Kinvara GAA community, nobody did more for our club than Joe Mitchell. Since the mid-50s he was part and parcel of everything that went on, always there at the front leading and if not leading pushing those who should be leading."
"Over the next few days, we will lament his loss, but in the years to come we will never forget all he did. That will be his lasting legacy, ni bheidh a leitheid ann arise, to Bina and family, to celebrate his life," he added.
Joe Mitchell, from Loughcurra, was there through the club's highs and lows - he was, for example, the Club Chairman when Japan's Crown Prince Akihito and Princess Michiko called in to Kinvara hurling pitch at the start of their visit to Kinvara on a wet and windy day in 1985.
From an early age Joe Mitchell loved to play hurling - and to a lesser extent because of the geographic situation of Kinvara, football. He won numerous medals and honours in both codes.
In 1959, he was member of the Kinvara hurling team which defeated Skehana, 3-9 to 2-4 to win the County Junior Hurling Championship for the first time. In 1962, he played with Kinvara against Gort in the South Board Senior Hurling League final.
In 1966, he played in the South Board Junior Football final against Ballindereen.
In 1966, Joe was member of the Kinvara hurling team and scored a goal at Athenry when Kinvara defeated Oranmore, 1-9 to 2-0, to win the County Intermediate Championship.
In 1983, on the occasion of the opening of the cub's new dressing rooms at Kinvara pitch, he played with Kinvara in the 'Golden Oldies' rematch of the 1966 Intermediate Hurling Championship Final.
Joe's skill at training hurlers became evident in 1957 when he managed the club's victorious juvenile team. In 1991, he was trainer of the club's hurlers who won the County Under-21 B Championship.
In 1959, the year work commenced on the development of Kinvara Pitch, Joe Mitchell served as Kinvara Club delegate on Galway Hurling Board. In that year at Winkle's Hotel, Kinvara, the South Galway Board GAA held its Annual Convention.
Joe Mitchell's administrative skills singled him out and Kinvara GAA Club benefitted from his quiet and unassuming manner in getting thing done. He served as Secretary in 1976; Delegate to the County Galway Hurling Board, 1978 and 1979; Chairman 1985 and 1986, Vice-Chairman, 1994; Chairman 1997 and 1998; Chairman 2002; Vice-President, 2006, President 2013.
Joe Mitchell is survived by his wife, Bina; by his sons, Adrian, Damien, Shane, Martin and Cathal; by his daughter Ruth; by his brother Frank, by son-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, other family relatives and a wide circle of friends.
- Connacht Tribune, 4th October, 2013 Tweet
