The unexpected death at the Blackrock Clinic, Dublin, on Thursday, March 7, 2002, of Mr Morgan Burke, Tarbert and Ballylongford and late of Highbury, London, occasioned widespread shock and sadness in the parishes of Tarbert and Ballylongford. Morgan's death shows the uncertainty of life as on the Saturday before he went for his heart operation, Morgan was in Ballybunion at the junior final, then on Sunday he attended the Kerry v Limerick football game in Limerick and on Monday he was in Shannon Park, helping out with the work being carried out there. He went to Dublin Hospital on Wednesday and passed to his eternal reward on Thursday. Aged 70 years, Morgan was son of the late John and Mary Burke of the Bridewell, Tarbert. He emigrated to London in his early twenties where he worked for 40 years in construction and in later years with the Royal Mail. When he retired seven years ago he returned to live in his native Kerry. He was a quiet and unassuming person, always had a smile for everyone and was extremely popular in the locality where he had many friends and will be sadly missed. All his life Gaelic football was his great love and since he came back from London he never missed a Kerry senior game in the league or championship. Before he emigrated in the early fifties Morgan won a North Kerry Minor Football Championship medal with Tarbert and was a bright prospect on the Shannon Ranger senior team. He also played football in London with St. Senan's and Shannon Rovers. He will be a big loss to the GAA in Tarbert where he was the Field Development Officer for the past four years and during his years in the club he worked tirelessly in the development of Shannon Park and also helped out in the lotto each week. Morgan had many interests outside of the GAA and one of his favourites was tending to his flower garden. He enjoyed his daily walks in the wood or to the banks of the Shannon and very special to him was his weekend get together with his friends from the Lower Road. There was a large attendance at the removal of the remains from St Mary's Funeral Home, Tarbert, to St. Mary's Church. The remains draped with the red and black jersey were shouldered to the Church by family members and friends. Huge numbers of GAA supporters past and present formed a guard of honour all along the route to the Church. The funeral mass was con-celebrated by Very Rev Mossy Brick P.P. Tarbert, assisted by Very Rev Philip O'Connell, P.P., Ballylongford. At the mass family members particularly in the readings, prayers of the faithful and offertory procession. The funeral was to Kilnaughtin cemetery and the remains were shouldered from the Church to the entrance of the sportsfield, by friends of Morgan and GAA members, who also provided a guard of honour. Fr Brick said the prayers at the graveside and in a final tribute after the burial his friend and cousin Finbar Carrig, sang one of Morgan's favourite songs "The Old House". Among the attendance at the mass and burial were brothers Georgie and Donie O'Connell from the London-Tarbert Association, County Board GAA Chairman, Sean Walsh and Senator Dan Kiely. He was predeceased by his wife Jenny, son Alan, sisters Anna and Elizabeth and brother Sean. He is survived by his daughter Susan, son Stephen, sisters Teresa, Sarah and Mai, brother Joe, sister-in-law, Mrs Lil Burke, nephews and nieces all of London, friends and Lyndon family, Kilpadogue, cousins in Tarbert and Limerick, relatives and friends. - courtesy of the Limerick Leader Tweet

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