William Sweeney, Upper Strand Street, Tralee, Vice President of the Kerins O'Rahillys Club, died on Monday, November 19, at Kerry General Hospital. The club had many loyal followers down through the years in good times and bad and Willie could be counted among them. Willie's family had a long association with the Blues of Strand Road dating back to the 19th Century. Born in 1924, in old Spa Road, he was the eldest of seven children - five girls and two boys - to William and Mary Sweeney (nee Brosnan). Willie donned the blue and white of his club with distinction, winning a county championship medal with the 1939 team in the back line. He continued playing championship football with the club throughout the 40s and 50s. Football had been part and parcel of every day life for the young Willie growing up in Spa Road. Many hours were spent kicking the leather around the street with his late brother Pat Joe and friends . It was a while attending the Christian Brothers Schools in Edward Street and The Green that he honed his footballing skills. A student of great ability, Willie joined the Post Office at the age of 16 on leaving school. His job as a clerk, in which he was highly regarded by his work colleagues, saw him working in Ballybrophy, Roscrea, Mallow, Cork City and back to his native Tralee. Willie gave 44 years continuous service to the company until his retirement in 1984 at the age of 60. Willie and Nora were a very united couple who were very proud of their childrenand grandchildren. They looked forward to the company of friends when they were visiting the Strand Road Club for a little glass of sustenance. Willie enjoyed his retirement from work and was very keen on the fortunes of the O'Rahillys and Kerry teams. He never missed a county league fixture in all grades and was a regular attendee at the club's annual convention. The footballing highlights of course was when the silverware was brought home to the club. County League titles were won in 1999 and 2006, but the returning of the Bishop Moynihan Cup to the street in which he grew up in 2003 was very significant. On that occasion his son Declan donned the goalkeeper's jersey of which Willie was immensely proud. Willie enjoyed good health up until a few months ago. He loved to walk along the canal bank or down the Town Park, where a friendly chat was had with fellow walkers. Both he and Nora travelled many places in Ireland and abroad during those years of retirement. There was a great family get-together to celebrate his 80th birthday and for the golden jubilee of their marriage. His children and grandchildren played a very important part in his life and visits to Strand Street never went without a trip to the nearby shop for sweets on the way home. While sitting in the conmfort of his own home Willie studied all sport on TV whether it was rugby, golf or snooker. Big occasions such as the Heineken Cup or the Ryder Cup were as intensely watched as if it were a county final in Tralee. A man of easygoing disposition, Willie had a good sense of humour and never got ruffled. He could debate the topics of the day as well as football with sharp and astute observation. The removal of Willie Sweeney's remains took place from Hogan's Funeral Home to St John's Church on Wednesday, November 21. Following Requiem Mass the following morning at 10 o'clock, interment took place in New Rath Cemetery. The funeral cortege and hearse were flanked by a guard of honour from the Kerins O'Rahillys Club on both days. Willie was pre-deceased by his brother Pat Joe. He is sadly missed by his wife Nora, sons Liam and Declan, daughters Mary, Riona and Noelle, sisters Eileen, Mary, Monica June and Norrie, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, relatives and friends. No doubt Willie was smiling from on high when the Blues lifted the Tralee Town Senior Championship on Sunday, defeating the Stacks. Courtesy of The Kerryman 2007 Tweet

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