Clifford, Jerry
August 08, 2012The late Jerry (Cal) Clifford
1956-2012
The unexpected and untimely death of Jerry (Cal) Clifford of the Cliff, Callinafercy, Milltown on Saturday morning, July 21, came as a great shock to his wife and family, the local Callinafercy community and friends further afield.
Aged 56, Jerry was born in London, on February 27, 1956 and came to live in Callinafercy two years later when his parents, Mikey Joe and Betty returned home. Educated at Callinafercy National School and then at the Carnegie and Technical Schools, Killorglin, he was very happy living in the townland of his parents.
It was as a youngster kicking football at the back of his house that Jerry procured the nickname Cal, a monicker which he answered to for the rest of his life.
At that particular time there was a famous north Kerry native, Bernie Callaghan from Beale, who played for his local club and donned the green and golf of Kerry. Jerry's style of play, even as a youngster, was considered to be very similar to Bernie Callaghan's and so an abbreviated version of the Kerry corner forward's name - Cal - was what he was better known as.
As a young lad he was also very involved in the local rowing club and was a member of the very successful Callinafercy Seine boat crew. He rowed on the same oar as present chairperson John Joe Sullivan.
Jerry was a great judge of cattle and often bought and sold calves for people all along the Iveragh Peninsula. The esteem in which he was held by these people was evident by their numbers at the funeral.
He loved fishing and shooting and worked as a gillie for a long number of years, he was regarded as top man and everybody wanted Cal when they wanted to go fishing or shooting.
These latter years he spent his summers draft net fishing on the river Laune, this was something very close to his heart and he enjoyed it very much. His son Fearghal is carrying on his legacy. He also had a great interest in horse racing and was known to have the odd winner.
Jerry found love when he met and married Josephine Mulhall from Co Monaghan. They exchanged wedding vows on August 5, 1982 and would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on the Bank Holiday weekend.
Jerry and Josephine were a very united couple and proud parents of their daughter Aoife and son Fearghal.
The birth of his grandchildren, twins Adam and Kate, brought a new dimension and were certainly the light of his life.
Since they were born five and a half years ago, he was always on hand offering to babysit and help whenever he could. He has passed on his love of the outdoor life to Adam, whilst making sure Kate's hair was always looking its best.
The Clifford family would like to thank relatives, friends and the local community for all their support and help during this difficult time, it's greatly appreciated.
Jerry's remains reposed at his residence on Monday evening, July 23, followed by removal to the Sacred Heart Church, Milltown. Requiem Mass was offered on Tuesday at 1pm with burial afterwards in Dromavalla Cemetery, Killorglin.
Courtesy of The Kerryman, Wednesday, August 08, 2012. Tweet
