Lawlor, Gerald
February 03, 2011Gerald Lawlor was born in Killahan, Abbeydorney in 1923 to parents Nora (Godley) and Maurice Lawlor. One of six children - three boys and three girls - he was just two when his mother died and he went to live with his aunt, Debbie O'Connor in Lissduff, Ballyheigue. He attended Rathmorrell NS, afterwards working on various farms.
He met Eily O'Sullivan at a local dance, they found love and they married in 1954. They lived in Ballinclemsig. Briefly living in Lisduff then returning to Ballinclemsig when Eily inherited her uncle's farm. They had eight children, six boys and two girls, but sadly in 1969 their daughter Nora Anne died at the age of eighteen months. In 1999 their son Michael also died tragically.
In the early 1960's, Gerald - like many a married man at that time - had to go to England to support his family for a spell. He returned to work on the farm and also worked as relief postman on his bicycle around Ballyheigue before going to work in Kerry Co-op in Listowel. In later years Gerald worked in the tomato unit in Redfield, Causeway.
He had many interests in life, such as hunting, reading and sport but his main love was hurling. In the early '40s he played hurling with Ballyheigue. Because of adverse weather conditions, the 1946 County Championship game was played in April 1947 and which Ballyheigue won with Gerald in the corner forward position. During that period he also won north Kerry titles with the club. He was a very skilful hurler and in his forties he played in goals for Causeway. When his playing days were over he travelled the country to both hurling and football matches with friends and his son.
He had great faith and attended Mass up to three months before he died and he recited the rosary daily. In later years he developed a great interest in card playing, often travelling seven nights a week to card games. Good friends are never far away as Causeway ladies Angela Leahy and Anne Walsh came to the house to collect Gerald to take him to the card games two or three times a week, until three months before his death, for which the family are very grateful.
In 2005, his world was turned upside down when his beloved Eily died after a short illness. They had just celebrated fifty-one years of marriage.
Gerald himself passed away in Kerry General Hospital on January 25th. His coffin was draped with Ballyheigue and Causeway jerseys and a guard of honour was provided by Ballyheigue GAA; he was one of the last surviving members of the late 1946 team. He is survived by his sister Nora in Wales and his sons - Maurice, Garry, Leo, John, Seamus - and daughter Martha, fourteen grand-children, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews and nieces.
May he rest in peace
Courtesy of Kerry's Eye 3/2/11 Tweet
