The late Noelie Roche

A much loved sportsman and publican, Noelie 'Spike' Roche, passed away on Sunday following a tragic accident.
Noelie was married to his childhood sweetheart Michelle Hickey in 1991 in Knocknagoshel and was a dedicated father to Larry, Meagan and Clodagh.
Spike was a butcher in his brother Andy's shop in Abbeyfeale for many years and after he married, he opened his own outlet in Knocknagoshel.
In 1995, he became a very successful publican after he took over Hickeys Bar from his father in law, Lar Hickey, where locals could always pop in for a chat and a laugh.
He was renowned throughout the county for his hospitality and his sense of humour and in 2007 he qualified as a gas installer and engineer for Kalor Gas. He enjoyed the hunts and was known countrywide as a keen horseman.
Noelie was a prominent rugby player with Abbeyfeale and played football for Knocknagoshel. He was capped four times by the Munster junior rugby team, won five McElligott Cups with Abbeyfeale and was the proud captain of the club in the 1995-96 season.
He also captained St. Ita's College, Abbeyfeale, to win the inaugural Giles Cup in 1987, when they beat St. Patrick's, Castleisland by 7-3 with Noelie scoring the winning try.
He was also a very successful football player with Fr. Casey's GAA club in Abbeyfeale. He won an under 12 Limerick county football medal and then an under 15 medal during the GAA centenary year in 1984. In 1990 he was on the under 21 team that lost to Newcastlewest. He transferred to Knocknagoshel in 1991.
After he married his beloved Michelle, he continued his successful football career which climaxed in 1997 when Knocknagoshel beat St. Michaels/Foilmore in the Novice county championship and beat Ballydonoghue in the North Kerry League, Division Two with Noelie in the half forward line. After retiring, he was the Knocknagoshel B team manager in 1997 when they won the Cahill Cup and two other trophies.
He was also a North Kerry delegate and an overall community activist. He was one of the founding members of the annual Knocknagoshel Halloween Festival and was rehearsing for the newly formed Knocknagoshel Drama Group with which he was due to perform in December.
He will be sadly missed by his wife Michelle, his children Larry, Meagan and Clodagh, his parents Mai and Michael, his brothers Eamon, Andy, Pat, Brendan, Michael, his sister Bernadette, his many nephews, nieces, his parents in law Lar and Phil, brothers and sisters in law, and all his family and friends.

Courtesy of The Kerry Eye
5th November 2009 Tweet

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